From having to start afresh as a refugee in New Zealand to adjusting to a whole new life as a new amputee - Naeem Hashemi's life is a remarkable story of grit and faith.

Starting life afresh in New Zealand as an Afghan refugee wasn't easy for Naeem Hashemi but within a month of arriving, he was dealt an added challenge - the amputation of his arm. Listen to his remarkable story of grit in this week's Here Now episode.

This month on Here Now, we are marking World Refugee Day with some special stories on remarkable journeys refugees undertake, and their stories of overcoming difficulties and rebuilding lives in New Zealand.

Refugees like Naeem Hashemi rely heavily on the support they receive from volunteers and community members in resettling in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Red Cross is one of six organisations that provide community settlement support to former refugees who have arrived in Aotearoa under the government quota system, which works jointly with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Different providers in New Zealand include Kāhui Tū Kaha, HMS Trust and the Safer Mid Canterbury Charitable Trust.

Refugees have no choice where they get resettled once they've left their homes.

New Zealand Red Cross Community Engagement Lead Aklilu Habteghiorghis said whatever the option is, they will accept it. "And once they come to New Zealand, most people love it here."

As former refugees like Naeem Hashemi begin a new life in New Zealand, the Red Cross will work with them for up to two years. Habteghiorghis said in the last decade, New Zealand has been settling people from more than 25 countries and of more than 50 different ethnicities.

"Each ethnicity, each nationality has a different need."

Cross-cultural workers help provide language support while they learn English, supporting their right to inclusion.

"Culture is another shock, barrier and struggle," Habteghiorghis said. "Imagine moving from city to city and how you can struggle. These people are moving from country to country; it's a whole new challenge."

Habteghiorghis pointed out some former refugees were living in large urban cities before moving to New Zealand and have to adjust to small towns here. Others have lived in refugee camps for years.

"It's a life totally different in big cities or towns. Some people who come from refugee camps can't turn on the heat pump as they have never used one before."

Overcoming challenges

The Red Cross has several engrained programmes for assisting with building a new life in New Zealand. This includes the pathway to settlement and pathway to employment. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details