Proposal for an Emergency Protection Framework for Refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand w/ UoA's Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies' Dr Timothy Fadgen: 24th June, 2026

Globally, we’re seeing a large increase in the number of people who have been forcibly displaced - by the end of 2025 we saw numbers that were three times those from 15 years ago. Looking forward, estimates are that by 2050 we may see up to 216 million people displaced globally.

However, these increases have been accompanied by a decrease in protection - funding has shrunk from meeting just over half  of requirements in 2024 to just over a third in 2025.

Given this need, and the crises we’re witnessing globally, researchers at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Asia Pacific Refugee Studies  - alongside World Vision New Zealand - have argued that New Zealand’s current ad hoc approach is not enough. Instead, they’ve proposed the adoption of an Emergency Protection Framework for Aotearoa New Zealand that would provide a more efficient, fair, and transparent pathway for refugees, consistent with New Zealand’s international, humanitarian, and ethical obligations.

So, to hear more on the need for this framework  - and what it would look like - producer Theo spoke with one of the authors of this proposed framework, the University of Auckland’s Dr Timothy Fadgen.