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Academic and author of a new book Dr Edwina Pio says many New Zealanders think immigrants long to stay in Godzone but this simply isn't the case.
"It's not all a bed of roses living in New Zealand. Immigrants face huge challenges around gaining equal access to employment, and are finding that their friends and family are not excelling with the world's elite achievers."
Dr Pio adds that while New Zealand is a very generous country, New Zealanders continue to be startled by migrants, particularly those who look, speak and behave differently.
"While New Zealand provides many wonderful opportunities for migrants" she says,"the best of the best cannot achieve their full potential here." The AUT University Associate Professor of Management's book 'Longing & Belonging' will be launched tomorrow on Race Relations Day at Te Papa in Wellington.
The book traces the origins of Asians and Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) peoples in New Zealand, lingering on migration stories and aspects of work experience and identity.
The Te Papa launch is being hosted by the Office of Ethnic Affairs which every year hosts an event to celebrate Race Relations Day. A second launch will follow in Auckland hosted by Waitakere City Council and is being held at the Japanese Garden in Henderson.
Speakers at the launch events include Minister of Ethnic Affairs Pansy Wong, Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres and Mayor Bob Harvey.
Sir Paul Reeves in his forward for the book says: "diversity has always been a part of the mix of New Zealand but until recently it could be discounted as it affected only a few of us. Now the unity and connectivity of our nation requires us to prize and embrace diversity."
Dr Edwina Pio, herself an immigrant, has a deep love and a sense of belonging for Aotearoa. She adds that the book topic was bubbling up for three years. She says while immigrants still grieve for their homelands, they long to belong.
Immigrant employment in New Zealand Dr Pio says immigrants find it incredibly difficult to find employment to match their skills in New Zealand.
"They say that they've often found New Zealanders do not seem to accept people who are physically different from them. For some it was easier to start a business rather than gain employment in an organisation."
She uses the example of Filipino nurses who have difficulty getting work in New Zealand with many having to become care workers.
Sending a prospective employer a curriculum vitae, she adds, can be the first barrier many immigrants face. An African man who contributed to the book, says he felt people were concerned about his name on his CV but found when they met him he could convince them of his worth.
Another African man with a neutral accent felt when he met prospective employers they appeared shocked that he was African, adds Dr Pio.
But Dr Pio says it's a myth that immigration of MELAA people to New Zealand is anything new. "The first black African arrived in New Zealand in 1773," she says, "and an Indian jumped ship in 1810 to marry a Maori woman.
"In the 1860s a Japanese ship's captain presented the Maori King Tawhiao with a samurai suit of armour, and the first Muslims recorded in the NZ census were Chinese gold miners in 1874."
Dr Pio hopes her findings will form a think piece for all New Zealanders, from neighbourhoods and communities through to the government and policy-makers.
"It is my hope that New Zealanders enjoy its immigrant population and embraces the vibrant diversity that immigrants bring to our wonderful country."
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Comments
Thats interesting, because
Thats interesting, because white people are still waiting to feel welcome in NZ. Why do all these other guys get to jump the queue? Because they are (brown) not so different to Maori?
I dont buy the whole 'Its because whites are the majority' excuse either - look at South Africa - where people came mostly from Zimbabwe and India for work AFTER the whites settled there - then decided that Zimbabweans and Indians belong there more because they have the correct skin colour.
Why is it legitimate and even desirable, in the PC world to colonize white countries but the greatest evil for whites to colonize brown countries? At least the white colonizer had something to offer. And I thought two wrongs do not make a right.
If it was legitimate for the American Indian to fight against colonization and if it was legitimate for Kingitanga to fight against colonization, why is it evil for whites to fight against being colonized? Or do you PC lot think Indians and Maori should have 'embraced diversity'? It was fine for a legal white immigrant to be scalped or eaten but NEVER EVER EVER tell an illegal brown person to go home...
If Maori can be 'tangata whenua' of land by coming on a waka and killing another tribe and taking it, why can white immigrants not be considered 'tangata whenua' when they LEGALLY EMIGRATE HERE AND LEGALLY BUY LAND? At the same time ILLEGAL Pacific Islanders are being told they are 'tangata whenua' and being given 'Maori passports'. It must be the 'arrogance' of Maori because white immigrants are 'physically different' I guess.
If diversity is so great, why is it only being pushed on majority white countries? Does that mean diversity is another code word for "too white"? Before the diversity buzzword we called it 'Balkanization'. (Sarcasm) Is it because NAZI Germany and the Balkans were so successful with their 'diversity' the PC crowd push it on us today?
The PC crowd must love war and conflict because Balkanization was the direct cause of WW1 and WW2 and the fall of Rome, Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Kush, Persia, Greece, Sumeria and Judah (Ancient Israel). Not to mention the fall of the tower of Babel and the flood.
If you took every species of butterfly and blended them all into a single brown species, how would your unnatural 'diversity' look then? The 'melting pot' is the ANTITHESIS of diversity. Any attempts at creating a 'melting pot' have only created 'Balkanization' all around the world, all throughout history. It has nothing to do with whites somehow causing a failure to integrate. It is a law of nature 'birds of a feather flock together'.
Because the PC crowd accept diversity as warm and fuzzy when it means things get browner but reject it as pure evil when it means things get whiter, we all know who the real racists are.
Nicely written Alfred,
Nicely written Alfred, totally agree....
European colonization
European colonization brought so many changes in the world. But the manner of colonization compared to present immigration is very different. European's colonization equates to subjugation, invasion, rape of women. At least we did it the legal way without killing or raping or committing crimes.
Unfortunately true. Bur it
Unfortunately true. Bur it is worse. New Zealand is called “retarded”, but kiwis never her it because such things are automatically censored in New Zealand. The advantages with New Zealand are its free health care, a passport you can freely travel on, and Australia. Pension is a cruel joke, and education of a very low standard, the corruption is disturbing, especially in the official sector. Nobody trusts the courts. I lost track of how many times I heard “can’t wait to get out of here”, and “I bitterly regret I ever came here”. Besides, kiwis are known as laidback and lazy, and can’t be trusted in business and always looking for that free lunch. The racism is infamous. The main industry is real estate speculation. Improvements are needed, but where do we start?
Most immigrants find it
Most immigrants find it incredibly difficult to find employment to match their skills in New Zealand, because they have diffculty understand Kiwi English. May be a 6-month crash course of Kiwi English will help.
Interesting what English
Interesting what English these immigrants speak beforehand I wonder. If talking about the accent it is natural some one immigrating to NZ English been their second( may be not at all) Language at home country they are going to find it difficult. Problem I found with some immigrants is that they expect same privilege status that they had in their home country and some even feel superior to Kiwi's. As a naturalize Kiwi who made NZ home for the last 36 years I say get on with it. If you don't like it you got the option to go back. Only future problem NZ got around the corner is number of Chinese immigrants to the country with Chinas one child policy they are entitle to repatriate the family members.
I totally agree with you. I
I totally agree with you.
I worked in London for a time and I had no problem understanding the people. They speak a very clear type of English and they had no problem understanding me as I have a similar accent.
In New Zealand I have to listen very carefully when the Kiwis speak as I find the accent difficult to understand. I know that it would get easier as time goes on.
I find the Kiwis to be generally good people.
That is not true even if it
That is not true even if it can be cases as that. The real reason is the use of middle men consultants and requiters, and that the New Zealand law supports secrecy. I once interviewed a newbie recruiter, who was shocked at this experience. He was trying to get a new customer and the MD leaned forward and laid down the rules. "You want to work for us and get paid, you don't put forward any niggers, slanteyes, or golden oldies. We are a young homogeneous company and we want to stay that way." He referred to Maoris, Pacific Islanders, Asians, and people over 45 years of age. Such information is called "evaluative" and the requiter never have to disclose it. It is a secrete selection method supporting segregation and racism. People who are "over-aged" are usually classified as "overqualified", and not selected. Remove the secrecy and take the offenders to court will help.
It is a long term
It is a long term "time-tale" thing according to me and it would be not correct to pin point a certain aspect of community or society who ignore new people/immigrants at first sight.
But ignored they are, yes!
According to me its ignorance of the people who do this and perceive another person differently because they choose to do so.
One main reason that can be attributed to this is that because NZ economy is fairly small compared to the rest of its developed countries/counterparts.
My perception of being here for only almost 1 year has been that people have been satisfied and happy with what they had - economically and its a very rare that one could have found a sense of competitiveness. Where employers usually look for hiring people they know (what they call is 2 degrees of separation) because they can trust that person to work with them rather than looking out people with equal or higher calibre who could be your unfortunate immigrant.
There have been various personal instances where I have felt a sense of insecurity for myself, being an immigrant and that is why I think, the way I feel right now is legitimate.
Two instances that I would like to share here are -
1) At an interview for a part-time job with a small market research company, while I was studying, I was appreciated with the kind of exposure I had on my CV and my command over English language. I was told that they were positive and asked me to come back tomorrow to sign papers to start training. 10 minutes since then, on way back home, I receive a phone call from them saying that they apologise and are now not interested in me because I am just 2 months old in the country and dont understand the demographics.
I was furious and didnt argue but hey.. havent they heard of successful money minting outsourcing/ITES companies who dont discriminate on this??
2) 2nd instance was when a recruiter called me up, appreciated me for my CV again but said cant hire me and ended the call by politely giving me a piece of advise that if I had to get a job here, I either have to use an abbreviated name or a pseudo name so that people can understand and get encouraged to interview me.
I never felt so gutted about having a name for so many years, a name, that couldnt help me earn my living!
Lets face it, globalisation has come of an age now and if corporates still find it tough for themselves to get used to it, I strongly feel that NZ Immigration, in near future would not have a strong immigration statistics to boast off that contribute to the economy through student/temporary visas that they are currently proud of!
my command over English
my command over English language.His own words
asked me to come back (tomorrow) should it be written as next day
Case in point grammatical and spelling mistakes in this writers comment.
Len, your own poor English
Len, your own poor English skills make your comment barely intelligible. Feel free to use a comma, apostrophe or semicolon before having a go at others' command of the language.
@Len. Could do better, see
@Len.
Could do better, see me after school.
Please remember to use speech marks please when quoting.
"my command over English language" [space] His own words [Please add a full stop]
asked [new sentences start with a capital letter, Len] should it be written as next day [if this is a question Len? if so use a ? otherwise re-phrase to - it should be written as next day.
Case in point grammatical [poor grammar] and spelling mistakes in this writer[']s comment.
Man, what makes you think
Man, what makes you think immigration statistics are something to be proud of? Most NZers would probably be happier with lower immigration figures; the government is NOT the people.
And you can't put the difficulty you have finding a job completely down to being an immigrant: I'm a born and raised New Zealander with a strong academic and work history, with great references (from overseas), and the only job I can get is one a factory making sliced bread.
But what I really want to say to you is, don't expect a welcome based on economic principles. I would rather have a happy, functioning society than one where everyone has a new PlayStation and there kids spend eight hours a day in daycare.
It infuriates me that people assume money-making is a good enough reason to be accepted.
@Toby: I do agree to the
@Toby:
I do agree to the comments and concerns that you have highlighted and your point of view is completely valid.
It's from a local perspective and they definitely makes sense and I do appreciate a healthy discussion towards my comments.
I know that they were not taken in best of the spirits and have been taken more personally in some cases but well everyone has a chance to voice out their opinion.
It's for the first time where I have been vocal about what I had felt for being at a complete diverse place for me and the topic suited me to do so.
It would be unfair for someone to say that 'I am here and I demand a job'; even its unfair for me; may be my timing or approach was incorrect to vent myself.
Long story short, I am not concerned about personality traits of how one perceives the other because one needs tolerance to do so but about the corporate trends which, may be, I still might take some time to understand - something that the author of the book has tried to touch on in a more subtle way!
It seems that maybe some of
It seems that maybe some of the previous commentors (commentators?) concerns regarding their difficulties in getting hired might find a solution in improving their command of the English language. One cannot expect to be taken seriously in a professional or managerial capapcity, if one cannot master the difference between singular and plural, for example, or how to conjugate verbs.
Being able to ask directions, exchange greetings, and/or carry on a rudimentary conversation does not qualify a person for a high level job. There is nothing racist about a recruiter choosing to hire someone with a better command of English.
I assure you guys, this has
I assure you guys, this has nothing to do with language. It is just a cop out to cover up racism and discrimination. Most jobs do not need high level English kiwi style, which is not true English anyway but a mutation, and New Zealand has one of the worst records in the OECD when it comes to command of the English language. Those who get the jobs, those who are NZ born and have the right mates, but often has less English skills than those who get rejected in the discrimination process.
Well said that man! I think
Well said that man!
I think it is because the recruiters feel intimidated by superior skills and intellects. How many migrants have been asked to dumb-down their CVs in order to get a job? How many accountants and engineers are driving cabs to make a living?
They are all manifestations of xenophobia and Tall Poppy Syndrome being alive and well in New Zealand.
I work at a major South
I work at a major South Island bread plant where I'm not sure anyone in the office can put together a coherent sentence. Shocking English skills are very much part of our existing management structures.
Why should we be welcoming
Why should we be welcoming so many immigrants? I am not against immigration (my wife is an immigrant from Burma, and I have lived in her country for several years), but we have pressing issues of our own to address, such as the anti-white sentiment in public bodies here.
The white culture(s) is the one that isn't being protected – it's assumed to be the same as the commercial culture that is eating away most of what was good in the country, but it isn't.
Most of the immigrants here are part of an economic plan, which is not working to make our country better (growing GDP isn't making our lives better).
I think the problem is just the closed nature of New Zealand society; the way we tend to keep to ourselves. (You know, the way some people complain about children on planes.)
If immigrants don't like it, go. There's nothing wrong with leaving. I know my wife and I will be.
I also agree with an above
I also agree with an above comment: "diversity" only seems to be pushed as a good thing in predominantly white countries.
It seems like there is now such a thing as being "too white". No wonder NZ is divided.
I am a white immigrant with
I am a white immigrant with tertiary qualifications in the IT industry. I was granted permanent residence before moving to New Zealand. Now that I am here I just can't find work, I don't expect to be treated as royalty, I just want to be given a chance. I would be very happy if my work and the knowledge I am very happy to share in the work place can contribute to creating more jobs for New Zealanders. Economies need skilled people in order to grow. I am here to make a positive contribution. Before I came here I only heard positive things about New Zealand and I refuse to believe that it was all just lies.
Sadly, you are just one of
Sadly, you are just one of many that have been cheated. Get out, that is the best advice I can do. A middle aged Chinese woman, perfect in English, was in charged of the entire redesign of the waste water system in a city in China three times the New Zealand population before she immigrated to NZ. In NZ she can not find a job, she is called "over qualified" everywhere, in plain language it translates, "bugger off, you are not one of us and you are too competent. We might look like we are incompetent." Probably true. I got thousands of stories like that. It will get much worse if you pay tax and later get retired. WINZ top task is to screw you to the max, especially if you choose to live overseas. That you brought a education with you free to NZ does not count of course. Sorry, just turn and run, best advice. NZ has not earned the nick name "Nigeria of the South Pacific" for nothing. harriss.rick@gmail.com
Funny you mention "over
Funny you mention "over qualified", because that is exactly what I get all the time. I can't believe it, is it maybe possible that NZ people see highly qualified people as a threat? Could it be that government want clever hard working people to compensate for the average local idiot (many of them on the south island), but then the normal business just see foreigners as people who can do the 'dirty' work that they are too lazy to do themselves?
As a threat, partly, but I
As a threat, partly, but I think also it is a variation on racism. Even WINZ have told people do "dumb down" their CV if they want to get a job. It was in the papers. I have heard that New Zealand now is called "retarded" overseas. One guy told me his story, he was a successful computer salesman, got an MBA, and when the boss found out he was fired. Welcome to Godzone. You just can't be "overqualified", you must present yourself as "retarded",
Somebody told me that in
Somebody told me that in Auckland the Kiwis are outnumbered to about 4 to 1.
I wonder if landing an IT job there will be easier than in Christchurch, maybe the people there are more open-minded.
I can’t help to feel very frustrated as I have spent over a hundred thousand dollars already in settlement cost. I came here not only with good qualifications but with money too, only thing is that it will not last forever. I need to find an income.
I would think so,
I would think so, Christchurch with the "Cantabrians" are known to be stupid, closed minds in a closed shop. A sort of "exclusive association for mutual admiration". I think you would be better off in Wellington or Auckland. A good way is to find a good headhunter, not a firm but a person, and work with them. Many IT companies are outside the centres too. If you find one, do as the Romans "dumb down your CV" and target it to what they are looking for.
I will give that a try. The
I will give that a try.
The recruitment agents don't seem to be effective. At one agency the agent, a woman (barely 20 years old by the looks of it) even asked me where I learnt to speak English, as if I am stupid. I can speak 3 languages, and then I am able to understand German too. I should have said something nasty to her in another language with a polite smile, she wouldn’t even have known.
It is very obvious that she did not know that in order for me to get PR, I must be able to speak English, I would have been interviewed by a New Zealander from immigration in English as well, and this immigration agent will then decide if I will be able to communicate with other English people.
I think that agency is just pathetic. Whenever I see a job-add on Seek from that particular agency I don’t even bother to apply.
Anyway, as if the Kiwis can speak proper English, the weather-man on TV3 the other night said: “The weather is good and it is just getting gooder”. What type of a word is gooder?
Another thing that is really bothering me is the quality of the schools. My children are laughing at the work they do. They think this is just great because now they don’t have to learn anything. The only thing that is really bothering them is the lack in discipline of fellow students.
You walk in Christchurch on a weekday and you will find school girls in school uniform walking in the streets, smoking and swearing out loud, I was shocked the first time I saw that.
Then the amount of pregnant teenagers I see here is just as shocking, does these people have no moral standards at all?
Trevor, sounds like you
Trevor, sounds like you should hurry up and leave. We are not nearly worthy of your company.
Sounds like you are
Sounds like you are admitting that all Kiwis are this way. I was hoping that someone will tell me that it is not the case.
Trevor I can tell you that
Trevor
I can tell you that not all Kiwis are like that. There is some legislation in place that does give the youth way too much freedom and this is a concern to some of us, especially when it being abused the way it is.
Like all others countries we have our problems too, look at the boy racers for example. Alcohol abuse is of great concern as well. On the positive side, our government is aware of these problems and are thinking about ways to do something about it, whereas a lot of other countries would just though a blind eye at it.
If you look at a country like South Africa, the crime is really bad, among the worst in the world, their government does not seem to care because if this stops, people would not have to go and re-buy stolen goods and pay tax on it, they would also be able to pay less insurance money because of a lower risk factor, of course this would also mean less tax revenue to the government, for a government like that crime really pays. New Zealand is not like that, I have met many South Africans and have heard many horror stories. Many people leave for better countries, like New Zealand.
If you “Google” best cities to live in, you will frequently find New Zealand Cities in the list, this should tell you something, don’t you think?
The matter of getting a job can be daunting, even for Kiwis. The fact of the matter is that New Zealand is a small country, to find many layers of management here is uncommon, the focus areas of jobs are smaller than that of big countries, so you don’t have to ‘dumb’ up your CV to look stupid, all you need to do is to lessen the content and focus it to the job at hand. If a company is looking for a JAVA programmer for instance, don’t add a brag list on your CV of ten other programming languages you have mastered. Just stay focused on what is required.
I can tell you that New Zealand is worth giving a chance, the emotions you feel now are normal, most people in your position go through them, don’t pay too much attention to the pessimists. You came here with good intensions, focus on that and stay positive. All will work out in the end.
If NZ is so good to
If NZ is so good to immigrants, why are some 80% leaving within a few years. (recent Auckland Uni study). It did not used to be this way. It once was a very good country. Now NZ is one of the worst rip-off countries in the world (NZ Herald), a corrupt public sector (read about Auckland using fines as a business), and a highly censored media (f. ex. Siemer case), and corrupt courts (read www.kiwisfirst.org). Why have 40% of skilled Kiwis left (KEA study), why are skilled kiwis not coming back (they are unwanted, Herald article) and why is there a stampede to get to Australia, and why is the pay in NZ 20% to 50% lower than across the ditch for the same job? Last one out, turn off the light please. I am a kiwi who took flight myself.
I think this book is just
I think this book is just another form of Muslim propaganda decorated with half truths to stir up the masses and gain momentum. There is nothing wrong with the attitude of the average Kiwi, they are very humble people in fact. Are people really treated different because they are Muslim, or does the Muslim community want everything to bend their way?
If you don’t go along then you are accused of being a racist, this worked in other countries, especially in Africa. The communists have used this technique for years against the capitalists.
What happens with Christians in Arab countries? They get their heads chopped off, really. So if you are a Muslim in New Zealand and don’t like the culture, go back to where you came from.
In Muslim countries I have
In Muslim countries I have always been treated with the deepest respect and dignity, in NZ likewise, Asians that visited NZ has been treated like criminals, subhumans, have their background investigated, families investigated before given a visitors visa, and interrogated at the border. Just very personal observations and experiences. Why are Kiwis called rip off merchants, well maybe they are humble too, but those who are members of criminal gangs they also think there is nothing wrong with just their attitude. Maybe it is just different, maybe the Kiwis are just different too. Leave, if you don't like it is a good advice, I took it and it seems like 40% of the skilled Kiwis and 80% of the immigrants are taking the advice too, and leaving.
NZ is a small country people
NZ is a small country people need to understand it. 4 million is not alot and we are a colonial pioneering country who love our way of life. Migrants must come here for the lifestyle and not think that we offer 500k a year jobs in management for highflyer executives cause we are not that kind of economy. The provinces are crying out for people, Why dont migrants go farming or make pottery on the beach in a country town like many kiwis do. It seems all migrants go to auckland wanting corporate jobs or to send there kids to uni here to achieve there parents dreams of becoming lawyers and doctors that applies to asians who are status based migrants but kiwis dont live like that. I think you should have to have a job offer before comming as residency before arrival means we are not filling the skill shortage just getting more high end migrants fighting with kiwis for unskilled jobs while the skilled jobs dont get filled.
NEWSFLASH The jobs dont excist for migrants or kiwis so stop the crap.
The problem is not that, but
The problem is not that, but that immigrants do not get ANY job at all, anywhere, and are frozen out of the business as well. Besides, Singapore is also a small country, almost without land, and immigrants do very well. The answer to the problem is more called racism, discrimination and incompetence. Also, there is an old parasitic old boys network in New Zealand of lawyers and accountants. Read Paul Holmes latest blog.
NZ is a small country people
NZ is a small country people need to understand it. 4 million is not alot and we are a colonial pioneering country who love our way of life. Migrants must come here for the lifestyle and not think that we offer 500k a year jobs in management for highflyer executives cause we are not that kind of economy. The provinces are crying out for people, Why dont migrants go farming or make pottery on the beach in a country town like many kiwis do. It seems all migrants go to auckland wanting corporate jobs or to send there kids to uni here to achieve there parents dreams of becoming lawyers and doctors that applies to asians who are status based migrants but kiwis dont live like that. I think you should have to have a job offer before comming as residency before arrival means we are not filling the skill shortage just getting more high end migrants fighting with kiwis for unskilled jobs while the skilled jobs dont get filled.
NEWSFLASH The jobs dont excist for migrants or kiwis so stop the crap.
What I have experienced so
What I have experienced so far is that the youth has got no discipline at all, they have respect for nothing and nobody. The average older person is easier to get along with, but then they are very narrow minded. I think NZ greatest problem is that they are very scared of anything new, they hate change and try to fight it. The lack of moral standards is something to worry about too. the one thing that I just can't get used to is the lack in hygiene, for God sake Kiwi people get yourself a toothbrush please, and then USE IT. Take a bath at least once a day. Teach your children some manners. Whenever I get into a bus I will rather sit next to an Asian than a Kiwi because most of the time the Kiwi would smell really bad and the Asians are far more polite than the Kiwis. No wonder most of the "well behaved" Kiwis leave for Australia.
How many taxi drivers have
How many taxi drivers have you met with degrees etc! that you know are from a weetbix packet! Or what ever cereal they eat! Also which ever city I have been in I always tried to speak the language! When in rome do as the romans!