ABOUT MCT
Migrant Connections Taranaki (MCT) in New Plymouth is a point of contact for migrants and their families who come to live in New Zealand and choose to make Taranaki their home. We are a Community based initiative aimed at a broader migrant focus which includes skilled and non–skilled migrants and families.
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MCT will assist you to get accustomed to the shift in culture, to overcome challenges in a new country and integrate into the local community, by providing ongoing support on a case by case basis with the skills, tools and networks you require to do so.
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Migrant Connections Taranaki Governance
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Migrant Connections is governed by a Charitable Trust Board, which consists of five elected Trustees, and the day to day work is carried out by our Coordinator, Geetha Kutty.
Geetha Kutty
MCT Coordinator
Geetha is of Indian origin, lived in Bahrain and migrated to New Zealand in 1998. She worked in Bahrain for 19 years in various jobs with a worldwide range of cultures. She holds a degree in Economics from India and Post-graduation in Marketing and Sales Management with a gold medal in Public relations from UK. She also acquired a Diploma in Small Business and Project Management from New Zealand.
In her previous jobs as New Plymouth Volunteer Centre and Settlement Support New Zealand (Immigration) Coordinator Geetha worked closely with local people, migrants and refugees encouraging and supporting their participation and inclusion in the community and helping them to achieve their goals.
She is very much involved with the Taranaki Multi - Ethnic Council and is very passionate and has enthusiastically worked with migrants and refugees in Taranaki in order to help them to successfully integrate in their new community.
Geetha was involved with the New Plymouth Soroptimist International organisation. Again, here she was committed to services at local, national and international level working for and with women to promote human rights, equality, development and peace to create a more equitable and secure world for everyone.
Geetha is very enthusiastic about her work with migrants and refugees in Taranaki and to help them settle successfully in New Zealand.
Geetha is a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand.
Meet our Trustees
Sonja Barrett
Chairperson
Sonja Barrett is the current Chair of MCT and has been involved with the trust since its inception. Sonja is a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand. Originally from Germany, Sonja has an understanding of the challenges migrants face when coming to a different country. She is passionate about people and being positively involved in the local community. Sonja has a background in hospitality and has been working as an Insurance adviser in the Financial Services Industry for the past 13 years.
Duncan Yeow
Trustee
Duncan is currently the Managing Director of Global D’Bay Resources New Zealand an International Consultancy company. Originally from Malaysia, Duncan comes with a wide experience in hospitality and hotel management for the past 18 years. He speaks 3 different languages and is passionate in helping new migrants and their families integrate into the Taranaki community. Duncan is skilled in organizing local and International sporting events and is also a certified Badminton coach.
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Marcia Paurini
Trustee
Marcia is currently Coordinator of Taranaki Rural Support Trust and is passionate about supporting farmers, including migrant farmers, to reduce their stress before anxiety and depression create a mind that is too overwhelmed. As well as being a Trustee for Migrant Connections Taranaki New Plymouth Injury Safe - two organisations that inform her role at Rural Support in terms of farmer safety and farmer wellbeing. Marcia has a Bachelor of Business degree and has been employed by BNZ, Inland Revenue and a local Accountant firm so has a wealth of experience and knowledge related to mediation, financial and tax matters.
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Carol Allen
Trustee & Secretary
Carol has a wealth of experience gained through working with international students and migrants through her previous roles as International Director at Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki and through working as a Licenced Immigration Adviser. She has a proven understanding of the challenges migrants face when coming to Aotearoa New Zealand and is passionate about local community.
Carol sees the Trustee role as a way of giving back to the community through supporting migrants and their families to successfully integrate into the Taranaki community. Carol is skilled in relationship building, strategic planning, marketing and business strategy and event management.
Jonathan Petterson
Trustee
Jonathan works for Taranaki Community Law as a junior solicitor. He was born in Papua New Guinea and moved to New Zealand as a young boy. He is married to a wonderful woman from the United States. He enjoys being a father, working in the garden, and surfing when he gets the opportunity. Jonathan is passionate about seeing people who have moved to New Zealand thrive and find their turangawaewae.