Hanyang Ge (Star) PhD Candidate

Refugee crisis has swept across the world that affects the social, economic and political development in every continent. There have been long-lasting European anxieties that concern whether religious refugees can and are willing to embrace themselves into European society. Emphasis on religion is critical in understanding refugees with pious beliefs and in turn, comprehending their integration into Western values, particularly in relation to interpretations of secularism. New Zealand as a prominent figure in democracy who shares the same value among other Western societies, has been portrayed uniquely on the world stage in terms of its religious stance. This is not only reflected on its citizens’ everyday practice of religion, but more on the constitutional framework designed on a bicultural structure. The secular nature and values of New Zealand are undoubtedly similar to that of Europe and North America, but the remoteness and isolation and the overpowering needs on bicultural engagement prior to multicultural realization means that the context of New Zealand has the ability to offer certain uniqueness and freshness. Based on a focus on refugee resettlement, my research aims to examine the location of religion in humanitarian discourse in New Zealand. Star is a PhD candidate in Religious Studies at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Star is a PhD candidate in Religious Studies at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.