Abstract
This dissertation is a brief examination of New Zealand's position as a resettlement country for refugees from the Russian Empire I Union of Soviet Socialist Republics after World War II. Three groups of refugees will be examined. These will be elderly refugees who resided at Nansen Home, Lower Hutt, Russian Old Believers who settled in Southland, and Soviet Jews who were brought to New Zealand through the work of the New Zealand Jewish Community. Much of the onus on bringing refugees to New Zealand was on voluntary religious groups, but whether or not to accept refugees was the prerogative of the New Zealand government and public. One of the most important questions in this study is whether or not New Zealand's attempts at refugee resettlement can be considered a success. [Preface]