MIGRANT NEWS OCT 2020

www.migrantnews.nz 

WELCOME 

TO NZ 

EXPO 

Settlement Info 

Advanced 

Career 

Planning 

Health 

Employment 

OCTOBER 2020 

Facebook Page: Migrant News NZ 

New Zealand’s first Multicultural Newspaper 

Mob: 027 495 8477 I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I 29th Year of Publication 

Education & Training 

Business 

Opportunities 

AUCKLAND - Attention 

seeking campaign 

billboards at every corner, 

political advertising 

saturating print, online, 

radio and television channels 

– it’s ready, set and 

go for New Zealand’s 

2020 elections. 

As voting begins in 

earnest we took to the 

streets of Otahuhu to find 

out what are the issues on 

the minds of the locals. 

We spoke with 

Krishniel Chand, owner 

of Maharaja restaurant), 

Steven Chae a director of 

Wasabi Sushi and Ronnie 

Singh, chef consultant at 

Menu by Ronnie. 

All three said that they 

would be voting this year 

and have given much 

thought as to who they 

would vote for. We also 

asked them what issues 

are important to them. 

“I think it’s important 

that everybody do their 

part and vote,” says 

Top election issues 

for migrant voters 

Singh. “That’s the best 

thing one can do. You 

have to look to the 

future.” 

Chand said: “For me at 

the moment with the 

COVID virus and everything, 

how the economy is 

going to be affected by 

this virus is important. So 

I’m looking at how the 

next government is going 

to boost the economy.” 

He noted that the wage 

subsidy helped a lot. And 

he is keen find out how 

the political parties are 

going to help small businesses 

like his. 

“I think the main thing 

is how our business communities 

are going to be 

assisted and how our 

employees are going to be 

looked after,” says Singh. 

“So that’s going to be the 

main focus.” 

Singh says that if the 

businesses are doing 

good, and are getting the 

right support and they in 

turn are able to support 

their employees, only 

then are we going to be a 

happy community. 

Chae says that issues 

around health, community 

and immigration are 

important for him. “I’ve 

been voting in NZ for a 

long time,” he adds. “And 

I’ll do it again this year.” 

On the two 

Referendums on legalization 

of cannabis and end 

of life choice 

Chand says he has 

thought about it and will 

BY R OWENA SINGH 

be voting on both the referendums. 

Chae also says 

he will vote for the referendums. 

Singh says that he hasn’t 

made up his mind yet. 

He says that everything 

has two sides to it, so you 

have to look at it fairly 

and you need to take time 

evaluate the pros and the 

cons. 

“At the moment the 

country has taken a few 

steps back,” says Singh. 

“As they say before a 

tiger attacks you have to 

take a few steps back. We 

are going to strive for 

excellence.” 

Singh feels that the step 

taken by the government 

are critical to our future 

well-being. We must not 

focus on the negatives of 

what has happened to our 

economy. The hard decisions 

that the country has 

taken to stop the spread 

of the virus is going put us 

in an advantageous position 

in the future. 

(photos - clockwise from 

top left:) 

Steven Chae, Krishniel 

Chand, and Ronnie Singh 

OPINION 

By JESIL CAJES 

WHY 

ELECTION 

DATE 

WAS MOVED 

TO 17th 

OCTOBER 

WELLINGTON - The 

reason for changing the date 

of the new Zealand election 

is due to the resurgence of 

COVID-19. 

The election is not cancelled, 

it is not even 

delayed, because it is within 

the legal timeframe of the 

required period. 

What the New Zealand 

Prime Minister did was just 

move the date of the election. 

In fact, this is not the first 

time that an election date 

was changed, for example, 

in 1956 we also delayed the 

election due to a national 

crisis. 

Most of us would agree 

that COVID-19 is a national 

and a global crisis, so it is 

a legitimate reason for 

changing the election date. 

It seems to me that by 

moving the election date, 

the health of our communities 

is shown to be the government’s 

priority, while at 

the same time it also gives 

other candidates a fair 

chance to campaign. 

However, it is important 

that the strengths of our 

democratic institutions, 

such as elections, are also 

carried out or maintained. 

I agree with the move, but 

we need to ensure that elections 

will push through, 

because it is important that 

every New Zealander has a 

say in who represents them 

in Parliament. 

• IMMIGRATION RESET 

WHAT NOW? pg 03 

• EMPLOYMENT: 

CAREER POWER SHIFT 

pg 9 

• PROLIFIC FILMMAKER: 

KARPAL SINGH pg 12 

pg 8

P a g e 0 2 w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I F A C E B O O K P A G E M i g r a n t N e w s N Z I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I m o b : 0 2 7 4 9 5 8 4 7 7 

This Filipina’s 

OPINION 

By Dr Lilia Sevillano 

A few days back, hubby and I 

were watching TV and an ad for 

the two coming referendums 

came on. At the end of it I turned 

to him and said. “It’s amazing 

how we take voting for granted. 

It’s hard to imagine a time when 

minorities and women could not 

vote. What great times we live 

in!” 

We are fortunate to live in a 

time and in a country where voting 

is an important part of life 

every 3 years. Yet many of us take 

it for granted and do not actually 

exercise this right. Sadly this has 

The Right to Vote 

left many of our citizens, particularly 

the youth, apathetic about 

how issues are resolved. 

Many seem to think that their 

vote will not matter in a sea of 

other hundreds or thousands of 

votes. If you are of that mentality, 

think again. 

Did you know that one more 

vote could decide which party (in 

the case of New Zealand) or candidate 

(in the case of countries 

with presidential elections like the 

Philippines) wins? That one vote 

– yours – could actually tip the 

balance for one side. 

The other day I attended the 

campaign launch of one political 

party at my local electorate. As I 

sat there observing the supporters 

streaming in, I realized that the 

majority were either middle-aged 

or elderly. 

There were a handful of young 

ones, but these were part of the 

campaign group. Where were the 

‘young’ voters? The dismal lack 

of representation of said group 

seemed to reflect the apathy I 

mentioned earlier. 

It had me thinking and reminiscing 

about my own youth. To 

be honest, elections then seemed 

an event that did not really concern 

me or my immediate concerns 

or interests. And I don’t 

think that attitude has changed 

much, regardless of where in the 

world one lives. 

This was confirmed when some 

young people were interviewed 

recently on TV about voting. 

Most of the responses seemed to 

reveal that they didn’t see how it 

could make a real difference to 

them. And the second main reason 

was that they were not 

informed enough. 

I myself only began to take an 

interest as I gained more years of 

life experience and a better understanding 

of the significance of 

voting. Perhaps what is needed 

for the younger population is a 

more proactive provision of educational 

awareness? 

The coming elections are 

important – as important as previous 

elections - and if there are 

young readers taking the time to 

read this, I urge you to exercise 

the right to vote. 

Collectively, if enough people 

vote, a difference can be made 

and you can be heard. We also 

finally have representation for 

Filipinos in the two main political 

parties. 

Yet another indication of how 

fortunate we are to be in living in 

New Zealand. Voting these days 

has become so much easier: we 

can vote earlier than the actual 

date, there are voting booths conveniently 

located everywhere, 

there really is no reason not to 

take a few minutes 

– because that’s all 

it actually takes. 

In the final analysis, 

vote based on 

your conscience and 

on who you think 

will genuinely best 

move the people’s 

and nation’s welfare 

forward, not on who 

is most popular or 

who kissed the most 

babies or what the 

polls claim or who your family or 

friends are voting for. 

Case in point, hubby and I are 

each voting for different parties. 

There will probably be friendly 

banter and ribbing if either one of 

our choices wins. 

If you haven’t yet decided (and 

there is time), this requires, I 

think, a balance of using heart and 

mind, listening to all sides and 

doing your own research to help 

you reach an informed decision. 

But do not let that vote go unused. 

So many before us were deprived 

of this opportunity and in some 

societies still are. Let’s not waste 

ours. 

Dr Lilia Sevillano is a professional 

Life Coach. 

As more Filipino-Kiwis voice concerns, 

will their voter turnout surge? 

By Queenie Lee Tanjay 

On 17th October New 

Zealand permanent residents 

and citizens will 

exercise their right to 

select the next set of leaders 

in the 2020 general 

elections. 

Although migrants are a 

minority of the population, 

their participation 

has been more critical 

than ever due to the pressing 

issues present, such as 

the global pandemic. 

In this regard, some 

Filipino migrants have 

shed light on their personal 

insights about voting 

and their various inclinations. 

"It's essential to make 

our opinions/preferences 

heard through our voting 

rights. Undoubtedly democracy 

matters for the 

overall electoral results as 

we are part of a wider bigger 

change going forward 

and in the near future," 

Jayvee Lagunda, an active 

voter since her migration 

here ten years ago, shared. 

"It gives me the voice to 

(from left to right:) Dorothea Hawkins, Meggy Bartlett-McBride, Leigh Vidamo and Jayvee Lagunda 

express what I think and 

the changes that I hope 

for," Leigh Vidamo, 

another registered voter, 

concurred. 

With the vast array of 

platforms promoted 

today, migrants weigh up 

different programs and 

contemplate how each 

benefits the migrant population 

at large. 

"I'm interested in housing 

projects that make living 

affordable for more 

people. 

“My vote goes to platforms 

related to arts too, 

as most opportunities for 

younger generations only 

include Pasifika or Maori, 

but not Asians/Filipinos," 

Leigh shared. 

On the other hand 

Jayvee enumerates more 

than a handful of the projects 

she's interested in. 

"(1) Covid19 response to 

continue to support small 

businesses affected by 

Covid through wage subsidy. 

(2) Justice for keeping 

our communities safe 

and support for victims of 

violence. (3) A boost in 

health funding (cancer, 

mental health, viruses). 

(4) The transportation 

infrastructure (effective 

ways to counter traffic 

congestion and opening 

job opportunities for civil 

construction). (5) Helping 

our whanau with warmer 

healthier homes. (6) The 

promotion of living with 

dignity and good wellbeing." 

"There's a large group 

of nurses, technical and 

construction workers, 

migrant families and 

related people supporting 

these platforms who will 

surely benefit from all of 

these," Jayvee continued. 

Moving forward, migrants 

still feel hopeful for 

better days, regardless of 

the surrounding uncertainty 

in the future, they 

regard their votes as 

sacred and as instrumental 

in driving changes. 

"We look forward to 

platforms that continuously 

help grow the economy 

and support small and 

major businesses. 

“Completing these projects 

will definitely make a 

huge impact and a positive 

difference," Jayvee 

concluded. 

“Just like everyone else, 

we Filipinos would like to 

elect a government that 

can improve conditions so 

that we can all move forward 

as a nation,” says 

Dorothea Hawkins, coordinator 

of the Southland 

Filipino Society Inc. 

“But migrants also tend 

to choose candidates that 

promise to improve the 

welfare of migrants and to 

make their settlement in 

New Zealand easier. 

“For many Filipinos 

immigration is a key concern. 

They would like to 

see the incoming government 

implement favourable 

policies that can 

assist Filipinos to gain residency. 

Another concern is 

the housing situation as 

many Filipinos are trying 

to buy a house in 

Invercargill.” 

“It is so important for 

us to vote as it is the way 

for ethnic New Zealanders 

to participate in the democratic 

process and to 

determine who is going to 

govern this country,” says 

Meggy Bartlett-McBride, 

co-ordinator of the 

Southland Multicultural 

Council. “Our voices need 

to be heard and I guess 

that’s why we have so 

many Filipino candidates 

in this election aspiring to 

become politicians. 

“I believe that immigration 

matters are of great 

concern to a lot of 

Filipinos. 

“We’d like to see the 

government implementing 

more consistent policies 

that will benefit both 

migrants and New 

Zealand.”

w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I F A C E B O O K P A G E M i g r a n t N e w s N Z I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I m o b : 0 2 7 4 9 5 8 4 7 7 

P a g e 0 3 

ELECTION 

2020 

By Gill Bonnett 

Immigration Reporter- RNZ 

New Zealand First 

leader Winston Peters 

says the border will reopen 

sooner than people 

think and mass immigration 

should be consigned 

to the past. 

Labour says there will 

be a new normal - while 

National wants to introduce 

a tech visa, ushering 

in highly skilled overseas 

workers and entrepreneurs. 

The closed border may 

not have killed the immigration 

debate at this election, 

but it has made it 

more complicated. 

Labour said it was not 

realistic to set numbers on 

new residents and temporary 

workers in the current 

climate. 

Immigration spokesperson 

Kris Faafoi said 

Covid has forced industry 

to reconsider where its 

workforce comes from. 

"From the very first 

moment that I became the 

Minister of Immigration a 

couple of months ago we 

Immigration reset 

or a new normal? 

Immigration spokespeople in the 2020 election campaign (from left): Labour's Kris Faafoi; the National party's Stuart 

Smith; Golriz Ghahraman of the Greens; ACT's James McDowall and NZ First leader Winston Peters. Photo: RNZ 

were sending a strong 

message to sectors who 

were crying out for labour 

from offshore that they 

had to start rethinking 

things for the medium 

and long term. 

“As we start seeing the 

effect that Covid has on 

New Zealand workers, we 

start prioritising them 

and the training opportunities 

and the wage opportunities 

that will come out 

of that as well. 

"I do think that because 

of our success with fighting 

Covid in comparison 

to other countries, that 

New Zealand will be an 

extremely attractive place 

for people to want to 

potentially come to. 

“The challenge for New 

Zealand is how to use that 

increase in demand to 

make sure that you're getting 

the right kinds of 

skills in and maximising 

the opportunity to economically, 

culturally and 

socially bounce back from 

the effects of Covid." 

Managed isolation 

(MIQ) is predominantly 

for New Zealand residents 

and citizens, but Labour 

wants to open up a quota 

for skilled workers and 

investors. 

"We do know that 

we've got to make sure 

about our capacity to 

grow, using MIQ capacity 

for that and and that 

looking at what kinds of 

skills and talent we want 

to bring into New Zealand 

is important for us to be 

able to bounce back from 

the economic effects of 

Covid. 

"We are certainly keen 

on making sure that we 

can bring talented individuals 

and companies to 

New Zealand to invest." 

National Party immigration 

spokesperson 

Stuart Smith said immigration 

numbers should 

be led by business needs 

rather than government 

targets. 

The first priority was 

the safety of the border, 

he said, but overseas 

workers were needed to 

fill gaps in the economy. 

"I think that's been one 

of the major failings at the 

moment - we haven't fully 

utilised all of the capacity 

that's available for quarantining. 

And we have 

businesses crying out for 

specialists to come in who 

can't get in the country 

because they just simply 

won't give them quarantine 

space." 

National's technology 

growth policy would see 

fast-tracked processes for 

overseas investors and 

entrepreneurs, and tech 

visas for skilled workers. 

In time the technology 

sector could equal dairy 

in terms of revenue, he 

said. 

continued on page 4

P a g e 0 4 


Immigration reset 

or a new normal? 

continued from page 11 

"We'd relax the 

requirements for an 

investment class visa so 

we could make it much 

less red tape involved and 

make it a very attractive 

destination for those 

high-net worth investors 

and technology entrepreneurs 

to come in and that 

would really help our 

tech sector move to the 

next level." 

National leader Judith 

Collins also announced 

its plans to allow skilled 

and seasonal workers 

back into the country. 

ACT's immigration 

spokesperson James 

McDowall said there had 

been a massive immigration 

reset caused by 

Covid-19 and the country 

would need to find a way 

to attract people back. 

"The reality is we've 

had a great number of 

migrants leave New 

Zealand, those on temporary 

visas. And then at 

the same time we've had 

a lot of New Zealanders 

come back to New 

Zealand so there will be a 

big shift here - immigration 

has basically flatlined. 

"I think we have an 

opportunity to use our 

relatively Covid-free status, 

our ability to manage 

the virus well to attract 

extraordinarily skilled 

people, investors and 

other productive individuals 

to New Zealand. 

“Immigration numbers 

have plummeted this 

year and with all of the 

expat New Zealanders 

coming home, things 

have shifted - the skills 

landscape has shifted 

massively." 

The immigration points 

system was not necessarily 

focused on the right 

things, McDowall said. 

"Immigration today 

has devolved into a complex 

and arbitrary system 

of points and scores 

when what we really need 

to do is look at how we 

can best understand 

where the skill shortages 

are." 

Education providers 

would lose market share 

to other countries if a 

solution was not found to 

managed isolation. 

Britain this week 

reported a record intake 

of students from outside 

the EU, with a 9 percent 

rise despite its handling 

of the coronavirus crisis. 

He described the 

changes made to sponsoring 

a parent as punitive - 

immigrants must now 

earn at least $106,000 a 

year. 

Green Party immigration 

spokesperson Golriz 

Ghahraman said she also 

wanted the parent category 

back on the table. 

Fairness should be the 

priority and refugee 

numbers should gradually 

rise to 4000 - putting 

New Zealand between 

Australia and Canada in 

the per capita number of 

refugees it accepts. 

"Our focus has been to 

get the immigration system 

working on a principled 

sort of basis where 

we're not necessarily, for 

example, delaying residence 

visas to bring down 

numbers arbitrarily. 

That we're providing 

pathways for migrant 

workers or students who 

come here in good faith to 

be both protected against 

exploitation, but also to 

apply for residency and 

have those applications 

processed fairly. 

"The residence programme 

I think has been 

a source of real stress and 

anxiety for migrants and 

it has felt really exploitative 

of New Zealand to let 

people in and have them 

integrate into our system, 

to give their labour or 

their money in terms of 

education and then not 

be able to settle. I think 

setting arbitrary numbers 

by political parties 

has been the cause of 

that." 

New Zealand First 

wants to take the immigration 

portfolio if it is 

part of the next government 

- but leader 

Winston Peters would not 

be drawn on whether he 

wanted to be immigration 

minister. 

He said wholesale and 

low-skilled immigration 

in the last three decades 

created dysfunctional 

supply and demand in 

housing, health and 

infrastructure. 

Global investors must 

also only be allowed in on 

New Zealand's terms, he 

said. 

"Immigration is still a 

serious issue for this election. 

And what we do 

after this, hopefully, is 

not to learn nothing from 

it and go down the same 

pathway as the previous 

Labour and National 

Party governments did. 

"We can run immigration 

properly in our 

interests, that is bring 

people here who we desperately 

need, not people 

who desperately need us. 

“Let me tell you, I can't 

find any other country in 

the free world that's gone 

down the path that we've 

previously inherited, 

which we're trying to 

turn back now." 

New Zealand First took 

credit for keeping Immigration 

New Zealand in 

check over the last three 

years. 

"[There has been] a far 

closer examination and 

inspection of what the 

Immigration department 

is doing. 

“Countless challenges 

to them, nearly on a 

monthly basis to how 

they're preparing the 

information; disquiet 

expressed to them about 

the way their information 

was so poorly assembled; 

and in the end by saying 

we want that portfolio 

after the next election. 

“Why? Because no way 

should a system like that 

have been allowed to run 

down so badly." 

Among parties not currently 

in Parliament, the 

Maori Party promised 

this week it would halt all 

immigration until housing 

supply catches up 

with demand. 

The New Conservative 

Party also has a Net Zero 

immigration policy while 

housing demand eases, 

with student visas and 

seasonal workers excluded. 

The Opportunities 

Party would hold a Royal 

Commission into immigration 

needs and effects, 

and meantime restrict 

visas to jobs in areas of 

skills shortage and students 

at postgraduate 

level.


P a g e 0 5 

Politicians campaign 

to Asian Kiwis for 

voter engagement 

By Lee Seabrook-Suckling, Asian Media Centre 

The COVID-19 lockdowns in New Zealand have 

thrown a spanner in the works for face-to-face 

political campaigning. How are Asian New Zealand 

politicians reaching their audiences? Asia Media 

Centre reports on the challenges and opportunities 

on voter engagement in our Asian Kiwi 

communities, complimenting new research about 

how Asian Kiwis plan to vote in October. 

AUCKLAND - New 

Zealand offers new 

migrants a democratic 

opportunity unique in the 

Western world. Unlike 

Australia or the United 

States – which require citizenship 

for voting rights 

– migrants here are legally 

enfranchised to vote 

after just one year of permanent 

resident status. 

There are 707,598 Asian 

New Zealanders residing 

in this country, according 

to the 2018 Census 

(though a lack of reporting 

shows it’s not known 

how many of these Kiwis 

are eligible to vote, nor a 

registered to – the Electoral 

Commission doesn’t 

collect data on ethnicity 

except for those identifying 

as Maori). 

With the General 

Election set for less than a 

months’ time, Asian New 

Zealand politicians are 

actively campaigning for 

votes within their communities. 

A scarcity of community 

events due to 

COVID-19 has put a 

spanner in the works of 

physical campaigning, 

but National list MP 

Melissa Lee is using technology 

to her advantage. 

In her Mt Albert electorate, 

she decided on a 

unique tactic just before 

New Zealand’s Level 4 

lockdown in March 2020. 

“One of things I did is 

walked around Mt Albert 

and engaged with ethnic 

shop owners to get their 

Paulo Garcia, National MP and the first Member of Parliament in New 

Zealand of Filipino descent (pictured in the centre of the photo) 

information and create a 

WeChat group,” Lee 

explains. 

This enabled her to stay 

abreast of her electorate’s 

needs and concerns and 

actively keep in touch 

with them for the months 

New Zealand was in full 

lockdown mode. 

“For business owners 

there were a lot of COVID 

questions and confusion. 

A lot of worries with their 

essential business status; 

who was and who wasn’t 

‘essential’”. Social media 

chat apps came in very 

useful, Lee says, though, 

“it’s not really active campaigning 

along party 

lines”, she notes. 

Physically campaigning 

in the form of door 

knocking, town hall-style 

events, shopping mall visits 

and community and 

cultural festivals, are a 

mainstay for reaching 

ethnic minority communities. 

“There is never a 

weekend free,” Lee adds. 

Auckland councillor 

Paul Young, an independent, 

hosted 22 seminars in 

2019. The August 2020 

Level 3 lockdown in 

Auckland has kiboshed 

such opportunities. 

“I had 3-5 seminars 

planned in Auckland, but 

they’re all on hold,” 

Young says. “I had a 

Zoom community meeting 

last weekend, but it’s 

not the same. With digital 

life, it’s not the same as 

face-to-face.” 

When it 

comes to 

Asian Kiwis 

and voting 

in elections, 

language 

plays an 

integral 

part. 

Young, 

born in Taiwan, 

says, 

“English is 

not my first 

language, 

and for me, 

that’s a disadvantage” 

on the campaign 

trail 

amongst all 

New Zealanders. 

“So, I 

use my other languages as 

an advantage.” 

“I speak most of the 

Chinese languages; Mandarin, 

Cantonese, some 

Japanese, a little 

Korean…” Being able to 

communicate with voters 

in their native tongue 

helps break down a barrier 

in getting first-generation 

migrants to vote. 

This is consistent with 

findings about the 

Chinese New Zealand 

community in a 2017 

Victoria University study, 

which found respondents 

believed “the onus should 

be on government and 

political parties to communicate 

with immigrant 

communities in their own 

language and, importantly, 

via key 

community 

channels, such 

as churches 

and community 

leaders.” 

Yet are non- 

English native 

languages in 

Asian Kiwi 

communities 

the only roadblock in 

campaigning? The 2017 

Victoria University study 

suggests not. While there 

is usually trust in the New 

Zealand political system 

amongst migrants, factors 

from their home countries 

change their opinions on 

just how valuable their 

vote is. 

There’s scepticism 

about whether an individual’s 

vote actually makes 

a difference; it is suggested 

this is a learned experience 

whereby elections 

might not have always 

been meaningful in a 

migrant’s home country. 

Paulo Garcia, National 

MP and the first Member 

of Parliament in New 

Zealand of Filipino 

descent, says first-generation 

Filipinos move to 

New Zealand with an 

egalitarian notion of the 

way their new home functions 

democratically. 

However, “they have an 

ingrained ‘my vote doesn’t 

count, what does it 

matter?’ mentality,” he 

explains. 

“It has to be a re-education,” 

he says, which is 

why with first generation 

Asian Kiwis, he doesn’t 

necessarily campaign 

along the National party’s 

political lines. “It’s more 

elementary than that. It’s 

convincing them that 

their vote counts. That 

they should be enrolled. 

(For that reason) I 

haven’t been campaigning 

to them with party 

messages (and) party values. 

They have to get over 

the hurdle of thinking 

their vote doesn’t matter 

first.” 

Young has the same 

experience. Naturally, he 

wants his constituency to 

vote for him, but he’s 

more focussed on getting 

them to vote – period. 

Labour MPs at Romy Udanga’s campaign launch event in Takapuna. 

“Most important is the 

going out to vote for Asian 

migrants,” Young says. 

“Maybe they don’t have 

election experience. 

They’ve never voted 

before. This is the reason I 

promote voting.” 

Polling data suggests 

Asian New Zealanders 

have become more and 

more active in the last few 

years as grassroots political 

campaigning reaches 

wide audiences. 

Auckland-based firm 

Trace Research released 

new data on 25 August 

2020 finding 78 percent of 

ethnic Chinese New 

Zealanders voted in the 

2017 election, putting the 

group on par with overall 

national voter turnout (79 

per cent in 2017). 

This follows a trend 

from Trace’s previous poll 

data from 2017, which 

looked at the 2014 election 

turnout and found 

similar levels of voting by 

Chinese Kiwis to all other 

Kiwi ethnic groups. 

What is driving this? 

Andrew Zhu, the poll’s 

author, says ethnic media 

is encouraging political 

literacy and this is having 

a positive effect on voter 

turnout amongst Chinese 

New Zealanders, which 

are the most populous 

Asian Kiwi group. 

“There are more than 

30 Chinese media outlets 

in NZ by June 2020, and 

every one of them publishes 

(sponsored or nonsponsored 

by political 

parties) news about elections, 

political issues and 

educates Chinese voters 

to vote etc.,” he says. 

“Language barriers for 

past non-voters have been 

gradually removed, so the 

current high voter turnout 

among ethnic Chinese 

New Zealanders at a 

national level is not a surprise 

for me”, he adds. 

Non-Chinese Asian ethnic 

groups have smaller, 

but growing, sources of 

local media. As news outlets 

grow in budget, popularity, 

and reach (particularly 

for Indian and 

Filipino New Zealanders, 

which are the second- and 

third-most-populous 

Asian communities in 

New Zealand, respectively), 

it’s likely that Asian 

Kiwi political engagement 

will only continue to trend 

upwards. 

- Asia Media Centre 

Now - three Filipino 

community newspapers 

www.filipinonews.nz 

www.pinoynzlife.nz 

www.filipino.kiwi

P a g e 0 6 w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I F A C E B O O K P A G E M i g r a n t N e w s N Z I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I m o b : 0 2 7 4 9 5 8 4 7 7 

Why did they get into politics? 

Auckland candidates have their say ... 

BALA BEERAM, 

National Party Candidate, 

Kelston (above) 

MN: Why did you get 

into politics? 

I have been working 

with communities for 

more than 10 years to help 

new migrants settle into 

New Zealand. They face a 

lot of issues like accessing 

affordable housing and 

secure permanent 

employment. 

Being an MP gives me 

the opportunity to take 

their issues and concerns 

to parliament and find 

reasonable solutions. 

MN: And what is a key 

policy of your party that 

will resonate well with 

migrants? 

National plays a high 

value on the major contribution 

that migrants 

make to our society, to our 

culture, to our economy 

by securing our border 

and having strong contact 

tracing capabilities we can 

begin allowing more people 

into New Zealand safely. 

National is focused on 

growing the economy and 

creating jobs through our 

job start and business 

start policies which will 

benefit all. 

WELLA BERNANDO, 

TEA Party Candidate, 

Manurewa (right) 

MN: What made you 

decide to throw your hat 

in the ring? 

I’ve always been known 

in our community and in 

other communities where 

I help people. I thought 

that I would take this 

advocacy to a higher level. 

I’ve actually set up a 

confidence centre before 

to help people gather their 

confidence and to give 

women proper care so 

that they can give themselves 

some self-love and 

be more productive. 

I thought, why work on 

a smaller scale? My work 

could be on a bigger scale 

where I am helping more 

people. 

MN: What are the key 

policies in your Party that 

will resonate well with 

Filipinos? 

We have two policies 

that will make the Filipino 

community very happy. 

Since Filipinos are known 

to work in the healthcare 

system we have one policy 

in place that talks about 

having increased wages 

for people in the healthcare 

sector and in the 

frontline sector. 

The second policy is for 

teachers. We want more 

teachers to apply as 

skilled migrants to New 

Zealand. I think that will 

be beneficial for our community. 

ROMY UDANGA, 

Labour Party Candidate 

for the North Shore. (top 

right) 

MN: So Romy, what 

made you get into politics? 

I have always believed 

in the dignity of man and 

that the government 

should support and 

enhance the dignity of 

man. 

The only way that you 

can do that is by supporting 

a good government 

and by working with a 

good government on policies 

that will be good for 

the well-being of the people. 

That is the reason 

why I want to win the 

Election. 

MN: What would you 

consider is a key Labour 

policy that will resonate 

well with Filipinos? 

If I am going to pick one 

it will be education. 

Because we Filipinos 

believe in the need to prepare 

our children for a 

bright future and the way 

we look at this is to make 

sure that they are well 

educated. 

MONINA HERNAN- 

DEZ, Labour Party 

Candidate for East Coast 

Bays. (bottom left) 

The pathway to 

improved health and wellbeing 

for all is a holistic 

government policy that 

would address econmic, 

social and environmental 

issues. 

This is the main reason 

why I am in politics, to 

advocate for people’s 

health and the determinants 

that affect it. 

Interviews conducted by 

Migrant News reporters. 

First-time voters prove top of the 

class on Election 2020 referendums 

Alex Perrottet, 

Checkpoint reporter 

New Zealand's 2020 general 

election could be lifechanging, 

with two referendum 

questions for voters to 

answer, on top of the usual 

two ticks for parties and 

electorate MPs. 

The Electoral Commission 

has sent out information 

on the referendum 

questions about end of life 

choice and the legalisation 

of cannabis, but how many 

people have read up on the 

issues? 

More than three million 

New Zealanders are 

enrolled to vote, with thousands 

of those first-time 

voters still at secondary 

school. 

RNZ's Checkpoint visited 

Auckland Grammar 

School in the Epsom electorate 

- the seat of ACT 

leader and End of Life Bill 

author David Seymour - to 

see if they knew what the 

election is all about. 

Year 13 students at the 

school who spoke to 

Checkpoint 

were not 

warned about 

the media visit. 

Nonetheless 

their knowledge 

of the end 

of life choice 

and cannabis 

referendums 

were comprehensive 

and 

considered. 

One student 

with detailed 

knowledge had 

read the Electoral 

Commission 

information that was 

sent out. How many people 

his age would do that? 

"Not enough. I'm kind of 

worried about that." 

"I'm not a huge fan of 

cannabis, I think New 

Zealand has got a bit of a 

problem already with alcohol. 

I understand the reasons 

why people might 

want to legalise marijuana 

– trying to crack down on 

illegal supplies and so on, 

so forth – but I think it's just 

adding to the problem 

we've already got here," 

Auckland Grammar School students discuss 

the upcoming referendums which 

New Zealanders will vote on at the election. 

Photo: RNZ / Nick Munro 

one student told Checkpoint. 

The topic of euthanasia 

was "a tricky issue," he 

said. 

"Obviously we don't 

want people to be suffering 

but that being sad there are 

some important ethical 

questions to be asking. 

"For example, terminal 

illness, you've got about six 

months of life left … these 

lines that are being drawn – 

unbearable suffering or no 

possibility of improvement 

– you need to also be asking 

the important ethical 

questions: Who is drawing 

these lines? Are these the 

only lines we can draw? 

"It is a grey area obviously 

because suffering by its 

very nature is not an 

absolute." 

"If I were to vote tomorrow 

I'd probably vote for 

(legalisation of recreational 

cannabis)," another classmate 

said. "I just think if it 

is controlled and policed 

reasonably strictly then it 

does take the power out of 

the black market." 

Down the road 

from Auckland 

Grammar on Newmarket's 

Broadway, 

the general public's 

awareness of the 

two referendums 

was mixed. 

"I do think it's 

probably important 

for medicinal use. 

There seems to be a 

lot of evidence," 

one said. 

But the referendum 

question on 

marijuana is about 

whether it should 

be legalised for recreational 

use. 

"I don't really follow politics, 

but I know who I'm 

going to vote (for)," another 

said. 

"Medicinal marijuana I 

agree with because it will 

help people with pain and 

things like that but the normal 

smoking of marijuana 

– I don't believe in smoking 

anyway," another member 

of the public said. 

The Auckland Grammar 

students' advice for the 

public? Read the information 

at the government's 

official referendum information 

webpage. 

Here are the two referendum 

questions: 

Do you support the End 

of Life Choice Act 2019 

coming into force? 

You can choose 1 of 

these 2 answers: 

Yes, I support the End of 

Life Choice Act 2019 coming 

into force. 

No, I do not support the 

End of Life Choice Act 

2019 coming into force. 

Do you support the proposed 

Cannabis Legalisation 

and Control Bill? 

You can choose 1 of 

these 2 answers: 

Yes, I support the proposed 

Cannabis 

Legalisation and Control 

Bill. 

No, I do not support the 

proposed Cannabis 

Legalisation and Control 

Bill. 

- RNZ 

Editor - You can enrol to 

vote right up to and including 

the day of the election, 

October 17. 

For more news, views 

and interviews please 

check out these ethnic 

Election information channels: 

www.migrantnews. 

nz and www.pinoynz.live

w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I F A C E B O O K P A G E M i g r a n t N e w s N Z I Job Board : www.asia2nz.com 

P a g e 0 7 

B Y A B H A R A O 

Run a little faster, 

jump a little higher 

Coming to a new country 

is fairly disorienting for a 

new migrant. With a shaky 

grasp of English and an even 

shakier grasp of the local 

culture, they are strongly 

disadvantaged in the job 

market. 

The Advanced Career 

Planning Workshop organised 

exclusively during the 

Migrant News - Welcome 

to NZ Expo held nationwide, 

reaches out to the disenfranchised 

newcomers 

and gives them a step into 

the employment world. 

In the course of the seminar, 

participants are led 

through CV and cover letter 

writing, searching for jobs 

through various media 

sources, interview strategies, 

employment contracts, and 

even Kiwi English. 

Participants come in 

jaded, tired, and losing hope, 

but by the end of the seminar, 

they are more confident 

and prepared to face the real 

world. 

Why is it so difficult to 

find a job? A native Kiwi 

takes, on average, three 

months to find a job - this 

figure is exaggerated for 

migrants. Part of the problem, 

is that the jobs generated 

are often in very specific 

fields, such as senior hairdressers 

or yacht riggers. 

Employers spend only 

seven seconds looking at one 

application, and the key is 

New Zealand experience 

and English communication 

skills. Applicants with little 

or no experience, or poor 

English skills, are dismissed 

summarily. 

The NZ Experience issue 

is akin to the chicken and 

egg problem. Without NZ 

experience, it seems impossible 

to get a job, but without 

a job, how does one go about 

gaining NZ experience? A 

new migrant has to gain 

experience through a volunteer 

job - although it is difficult 

for a new comer to 

spend a few months without 

pay, the eventual returns are 

well worth it. They can also 

work through a contractor or 

a temp agency. 

As for improving English, 

the new migrant needs to 

register with the local college 

or ESOL for classes. He 

or she also has to spend time 

outside talking with locals, 

and listening to the local 

radio and watching local television 

to try and improve 

their knowledge of English 

and its accent. 

Another important, but 

often overlooked factor is 

presentation. Proper presentation 

is essential - whether 

in the form of a CV or cover 

letter, a telephone conversation, 

or in the shape of an 

interview. 

They all need to be clean, 

neat, confident, and without 

excess. They have to show 

that the applicant is all there, 

and perfect for the job. 

Not surprisingly, a large 

section of the job search 

seminars are devoted to this. 

Participants saw slides of 

CVs and cover letters written 

by other people, and 

through discussion, decided 

what was and was not needed, 

such as age and residential 

status. 

They need to have confidence 

when they answer the 

phone, and this confidence 

needs to be evident to the 

caller. While New Zealand is 

a fairly informal society, it is 

imperative to dress formally 

for a prospective job, for a 

well-dressed person shows 

preparedness. 

A sensitive, but significant 

topic, is prejudice. Kiwis 

are, in general, friendly people, 

but an unfortunate number 

are prejudiced against 

migrants. 

They may mistake lack of 

English as lack of knowledge, 

or poorly accented 

English as stupidity. They 

may also be acting out of 

fear, or self-protection of 

one’s jobs or interests. Some 

participants also believed 

that their dark skin worked 

against them. Since changes 

in attitude take a long time; 

the best that one can do is to 

show their friendly face to 

society. This may convince 

any potential employer that 

your position is non-threatening, 

and even advantageous. 

The seminars are as much 

lecturing as participation. 

All the participants actively 

involved themselves in discussions 

and exercises, and 

all of them like the interactive 

nature of the seminar. 

The participants may be 

asked to complete assignments 

such as completing 

their CV or contact list, by 

Education Booth at the 

‘Migrant News’ Welcome 

to NZ Expo 

searching through various 

sources for jobs. Each participant 

is given individual 

feedback on their exercises 

and provided contact names 

and numbers by the director 

of the program. Practical 

concerns like the Employment 

Relations Act and 

minimum wages are also 

discussed. 

On the last day a little 

Maori culture may be shared 

with them. 

The seminar was about 

finding a job, but it was not 

just about finding a job. 

Everyone was given confidence 

and faith in their abilities, 

strategies to overcome 

obstacles, hope to find the 

perfect job, and a few 

laughs. 

Editor - The Advanced 

Career Planning Workshop is 

an upgraded version of the 

‘OrientatioNZ Job Search 

Seminars’ run by Mel 

Fernandez since 1991. 

It was one of the first program’s 

of its kind designed 

specifically for newcomers. 

Contact Mel at: migrantnews 

@xtra. co.nz 

More Settlement Support 

articles and videos at: www. 

migrantnews.nz

P a g e 0 8 w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I F A C E B O O K P A G E M i g r a n t N e w s N Z I Job Board : www.asia2nz.com 

BY ROWENA SINGH 

migrantnews.nz 

reporter 

Cyber bullying has 

increased significantly in 

Australia, NZ, the Pacific 

and internationally during 

the COVID 19 pandemic. 

This increase has resulted 

in teen suicides, according 

to Glen Campbell, 

foun-der of BillyGuard - 

an organization that fights 

cyber bullies and trolls. 

Campbell who hails 

from New Zealand says 

that the reason for the 

increase over the pandemic 

is because so many people 

have been forced online 

for work and education. 

“Cyber Bullying is bullying 

that uses technology – 

such as phones, computers, 

tablets etc. 

It includes sending, posting, 

or sharing negative, 

harmful, false, or mean 

things about someone else. 

It can include sharing 

personal or private information 

about someone that 

causes embarrassment or 

humiliation,” he adds. 

Campbell says that some 

of the more common 

places where it happens 

are: 

• Social Media such as 

Facebook, Insta-gram, 

Snapchat and Tik Tok. 

• Text messaging and 

ONLINE BULLYING 

RAMPANT DURING PANDEMIC 

The reason for the increase over the pandemic is because 

so many people have been forced online for work and education. 

messaging apps on mobiles 

or tablets. 

• Instant messaging, 

direct messaging and 

online chatting over the 

internet. 

• Online forums, chat 

rooms and message 

boards, such as Reddit. 

• Through e-mail. 

• Online gaming. 

“In NZ Women aged 18- 

19 are the most cyberbullied 

victims,” says 

Campbell. 

“1 out of 3 children in 

NZ are affected by it. 

“Older New Zealan-ders 

are also affected by it – 

27% of 20-24 year olds, 

22% of 25-29 year olds, 

13% of 30-59 year olds. 

Approximately 1 in 10 

kiwi adults are attacked 

online.” 

“68% of educators 

believe that bullying 

begins very early (between 

pre-school and year 4). 

“School bullying in NZ is 

Bullies need to know that there 

will be a zero tolerance policy for 

cyber bullying. 

This is important, because one of 

the consequences of cyber 

bullying is suicide. 

one of the worst 

in the world (this 

is an older stat – 

from 2013 – but 

all indicators are 

that this is still 

true). 

“NZ Suicide 

rates are at their 

worst recorded 

levels and have been trending 

upwards.” 

Campbell says that there 

are a number of ways that 

we can keep children safe 

from cyber bullying. Because 

a lot of cyber bullies 

are also physical bullies, it 

is important to keep a distance 

from them. 

Bullying is often antagonistic 

by nature – do not be 

tempted to say something 

back or to retaliate on the 

same forum. Tell the bullies 

that what they are 

doing is not ok and that it 

hurts you. 

The victim needs to 

know that there are people 

they can go to and report 

it. They need to tell someone 

else who they trust to 

help them. 

The victims can also use 

a service like BillyGuard 

(billyguard.com), who will 

act with haste to cut off the 

bully’s ability to use technology 

to bully others. 

Campbell says that, 

unfortunately, cyber bullying 

will never be eradicated, 

however, what we can 

do to minimise it is to have 

consequences in place for 

bad behaviours. 

Bullies need to know that 

there will be a zero tolerance 

policy for cyber bullying. 

This is important, 

because one of the consequences 

of cyber bullying 

is suicide. 

People can access 

BillyGuard by simply 

going to billyguard .com. 

Campbell says that the 

overarching driver for 

BillyGuard is to save lives 

and to minimise the impact 

of cyber bullying. 

Call: 021 531 881 

Or order via Facebook page: Madrid Foods 

JOB BOARD 

Administration. Manufacturing. 

Building. Retail. Electrical. 

Marketing. Nursing. Cleaning. 

Handyman. Home Help. Farming. 

www.asia2nz.com 

Job seekers check out this popular 

job board for new listings. 

Employers list your jobs super fast. 

Call: 027 495 8477 or 

email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz 

An established immigration consultancy with more than 

20 years’ advisor experience in visitor visa, student visa, 

work visa, resident visa and appeals. 

Why consider us? 

Client Endorsement 

MIGRANT NEWS 

(29th year of publication) 

migrantnews.nz 

TRAVEL SEAsia 

travelgalore.nz 

Published by: 

Migrant News Ltd 

migrantnews@xtra.co.nz 

027 495 8477 

Managing Editor: 

Mel Fernandez 

melfernandez@ 

xtra.co.nz 

Associate Editor: 

Sheila Fernandez 

Sub-Editor: 

Kirsty Hotchkiss 

• Print • Web • Tablet • Facebook • Instagram 

F a c e b o o k P a g e : Migrant News NZ 

w e b s i t e : w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z 

New Zealand’s first Multicultural Newspaper 

Mob: 027 495 8477 I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I 29th Year of Publication 

Reporters: 

Rowena Singh 

Queenie Tanjay 

Bernadette Basagre 

Aileen Cunanan 

Columnists: 

Jesil Cajes 

Dr Lilia Sevillano 

Noel Bautista 

Copyright Matters, Terms & Conditions of Publication 

Graphic Designer: 

Merniel Acob 

Illustrator: Harold J Belen 

News, Photos & Feedback 

email:migrantnews@xtra. 

co.nz 

text: 027 495 8477 

or via Facebook 

Migrant News NZ 

All material appearing in MIGRANT NEWS and it’s related websites: www.migrantnews.nz, www.asia2nz.com, 

travel.galore.nz, including advertisements, is COPYRIGHTED and cannot be reproduced unless written permission is given 

by the publisher - Migrant New Ltd. 

Views expressed in the above mentioned publications and websites do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher. 

The publisher does not accept any responsibility or liability for views and claims in the editorial matter or advertisements 

appearing in the above mentioned publications and associated websites. 

• Established immigration firm 

with a proven track record of 

success in NZ 

• Two licenced immigration 

advisors registered with IAA – 

New Zealand Immigration 

Advisors Authority 

Ke (Kiera) XU, IAA: 201200465 

Sophia Cheng, IAA: 200901737 

• A robust client base created 

and built up through word of 

mouth 

• Multilingual communication 

skills 

• Deep understanding of local 

and target offshore markets 

• Conveniently located office in 

the inner city centre, adjacent 

to Sky Tower 

“KIERA has successfully helped 

a number of our employees to 

obtain work visa, which have 

done our business a great 

favour in terms of 

uninterrupted business 

operation and cost saving!” 

“SOPHIA has worked on my first 

New Zealand visa, the 

following temporary visas until I 

got my residency, and my 

partner and children’s visas. 

They are trusted immigration 

professionals and they don’t 

overcharge you:).” 

For initial consultation, we offer 

half an hour free of charge services. 

Phone or email us today 

to make an appointment! 

Tel: 09 309 9987, Email: info@lander.co.nz 

Address: Level 10, 16 Kingston Street 

Auckland 1010, New Zealand


P a g e 0 9 

By Queenie Lee 

Tanjay 


TAUPO - “It’s never too 

late TAUPO to start - “It’s a new never life.” too 

late This to is start the a cliché new life.” that 

This exactly is mirrors the cliché the motivating 

mirrors journey the of 

that 

exactly 

motivating Loretta Manalad journey 

of towards Loretta becoming Manalad 

a model towards Filipino becoming 

migrant a in model the 

Filipino community. migrant 

in Notable the community. 

being a connois- 

for 

seur Notable of European for 

being cuisine a for connoisseur 

now of in European New 

years 

cuisine Zealand, forwho years would now 

in have New thought Zealand, that who she 

would devoted have most thought of her life that to 

she another devoted career. most of her 

life For to another 14 years career. Loretta 

worked For 14 foryears the Loretta government 

in the forPhilippines the govern- 

as 

worked 

ment a registered in the Philippines professional as 

accountant. registered professional 

accountant. In 2014 she made a 

power In 2014 shift she in her made career a 

power by exploring shift New her career Zealand. 

exploring “I started New with Zea- 

a 

by 

land. visit visa “I through started my with sister 

in visa law, through however, my it was sis- 

a 

visit 

ter difficult in law, to however, find a job it with was 

difficult my previous to find qualification, a job with 

my so I previous enrolled for qualification, a diploma 

so in culinary I enrolled arts,” for a she diploma said. 

in Indeed, culinary arts,” in two she years said. 

time Indeed, she gained two a diploma years 

time in international she gained a culinary diploma 

in arts international level 5 from culinary the 

arts level 5 from the 

Career Power Shift: 

Accountant dons chef’s hat 

Cornell Institute of 

Business and Technology. 

Her gallant decision to 

derail from her comfort 

zone, as it turns out, 

emerged from her ambitions 

for her children. 

“It came to the point 

when I kept thinking 

about my kids. Everything 

in the Philippines 

was getting expensive, but 

I still wanted to send my 

kids to a good school. 

What I was earning was 

just enough back then and 

most likely I would have 

ended up up taking out out a loan a 

loan or getting or getting credits for 

that,” she said. 

That is why when she 

Loretta Manalad is a dedicated mother of two 

children and the current head chef of Lone Star 

- Taupo. 

She amassed experience from Thoroughbred 

Sports Bar and Restaurant, Sudima Hotel - 

Auckland Airport and Nando’s Takanini. 

(left:) Loretta Manalad, 

Head Chef at the Lone Star 

was That given is the why opportunity when she 

to was have given a new the opportunity life here in 

NZ to have she never a new lost life sight here of in 

her NZ goals. she never lost sight of 

her Through goals. the years 

Loretta Through gradually the moved years 

her Loretta way gradually up by handling moved 

different her way jobs up by in handling order to 

set different herself jobs up in to order handle to 

larger set herself roles. up “I to regard handle 

every largerstep roles. of my “I career regard as 

a every milestone. step of I my did career heaps of as 

jobs a milestone. in restaurants I did heaps night of 

and jobs day, in restaurants from being front night 

of and the day, house from to being the head front 

chef. of the house to the head 

chef. “I bore in mind that I 

should “I bore not in give mind no for that anI 

answer should not should give duty no forcall 

an 

and answer should prove duty call my 

worth and should each time prove at work. my 

worth “Eventually each time I developed at work. 

myself “Eventually in training I developed people 

and managing a kitchen,” 

“For aspiring migrants: 

do your best, know what 

you are doing and pray 

for it. If it scares you, 

then it means that you 

will achieve something 

good out of it.” 

- Loretta Manalad 

she myself said. in training people 

and Things, managing however, a kitchen,” started 

she to said. unfold quickly when 

the Things, immigration however, climate start- 

changed to unfold in quickly 2016. when This 

included the immigration the accumulating 

changed of additional in 2016. points This 

climate 

and included the passing the accumulating 

of exam. additional points 

of an 

English 

and “I immediately the passing hired of an a 

lawyer English to exam. assess my qualifications 

“I immediately and they suggested 

lawyer that to assess I move my quali- 

from 

hired a 

Auckland fications and to they Taupo suggest- 

if I 

wanted that to catch I move up before from 

the Auckland new rules to took Taupo effect,” if I 

she wanted relayed. to catch up before 

the According new rules took her, effect,” the 

English she relayed. test was like 

shooting According for the to moon, her, the as 

she English recounted test her was struggle 

shooting to cope for with the an moon, urgent as 

like 

schedule she recounted and her to struggle provide 

herself to cope with with ample an preparation 

schedule time. and to provide 

urgent 

herself In those with times ample she prepa- 

kept 

thinking about how she 

ration time. 

could In those not times afford she to kept let 

such thinking opportunity about how dissipate 

could right not in afford front of to her. let 

she 

“I’ve such seen opportunity the life here; dissipate 

seen right how in front good of her. the 

I’ve 

system “I’ve seen here the is. My life goal here; is 

to I’ve get seen my residency how good soon the 

so system I can here get my is. My kids,” goal she is 

continued. to get my residency soon 

so But I can as the get famous my kids,” quote she 

goes, continued. “When you want 

something, But as the all famous the quote universe 

goes, conspires “When in you helping want 

you something, to achieve all it.” the Loretta uni- 

gained her residency in a 

short verse time conspires and is in currently 

you enjoying to achieve staying it.” Loretta with 

helping 

her gained kids her in Taupo. residency in a 

short In this time and light is Loretta currently 

enjoying into introspection 

staying with 

dived 

her about kids her in Taupo. journey 

and In this the light exciting Loretta 

dived events into that happened introspection 

along about the way. her journey 

“My and story the maybe exciting is 

events different that from happened other 

along people's, the but way. the goal 

is “My the story same. maybe Foris 

different aspiring from migrants: other 

people's, do your but best, the know goal 

what is the you same. are For doing aspiring and 

pray migrants: for it. If do it scares your you, best, 

then know it what means you that are you doing will 

achieve and pray something for it. If it scares good 

out you, of then it,” she it said. means that 

you Loretta will hopes achieve to inspire something 

people good out into of it,” begin- 

she 

more 

ning said. a new life and experiencing 

Loretta their hopes struggles to inspire 

a 

different more people light. into “If beginning 

a new to life be and experi- 

you 

it’s 

meant 

deserve encing their it, it shall struggles be given in a 

unto different you,” she light. ended. “If it’s 

meant In the to be forthcoming and you 

years deserve she it, it sees shall be herself given 

immersed unto you,” in she more ended. volunteer 

In work, the helping forthcoming others 

in years her she own sees way herself and 

spending immersed in more more quality volunteer 

with work, her helping family others here 

in New herZealand. 

own way and 

time 

spending more quality 

time with her family here 

in New Zealand.


Emotional intelligence 

in this time of crisis 

(above:) PLIVIA ALABA 

Trainer 

CHRISTCHURCH - 

Living through this pandemic 

period is like wading 

through thick mud; clearing 

out emotional disruptions 

while moving forward 

feels more elusive 

than at any other time. 

This explains the emergence 

of various mental 

health discussions these 

days to help ease the psychological 

impacts brought 

about by the pandemic. In 

this light, one of the 

notable topics covered is 

'emotional intelligence'. 

In an interview with now 

NZ-based Filipino trainer/graphic 

artist, Plivia 

Alaba, she shed more light 

on the definition of emotional 

intelligence. 

"Emotional Intelligence 

is the capability of individuals 

to recognize their own 

emotions/feelings and 

those of others, discern 

between different feelings 

and label them appropriately 

and manage emotions 

to adapt and achieve one's 

goal," she described. 

"It is a key feature of a 

strong leader and a very 

useful people skill. 

Through this a person can 

manage conflicts, deal with 

changes, allow better 

teamwork and handle confrontations." 

She names its basic 

building blocks, namely: 

self-awareness, self-management, 

social awareness 

and relationship management 

and how these take 

part even in the simplest 

decision made. 

"When we understand 

the origin and source of 

these emotions, especially 

when working in a team, 

we are more attuned to 

each other. Emotional 

intelligence becomes more 

significant in cross-cultural 

and global teams due to 

the increasing complexity 

of interactions and the 

expression of emotions," 

she added. 

Furthermore, in these 

unprecedented times, 

when there is a grey area 

between personal spaces 

and workspaces, emotional 

intelligence is applicable. 

"When we improve our 

emotional intelligence and 

take active steps to make 

changes, we'll find ourselves 

more productive and 

build more meaningful 

relationships around us," 

she said. 

In the context of shifting 

to the new normal paradigm 

emotional intelligence 

plays a vital role. 

"Being emotionally intelligent 

enables us to 

adapt easily to a new 

environment and the 

changes that come 

with it. 

“It facilitates our 

capacity for resilience, 

motivation, 

empathy, reasoning, 

stress management 

and communication 

and our ability to 

read and navigate a 

plethora of social situations 

and conflicts." 

Plivia shared her 

journey towards 

learning more of the 

breadth of human 

psychology and 

behaviour despite 

the differences in the 

profession. 

Reinforced with various 

training, including neurolinguistic 

programming, 

transactional analysis, 

emotional 

freedom 

and emotional 

intelligence, she has 

managed to translate her 

learning through talking 

sessions and mentoring. 

"It really changed my 

perspective on things and I 

wanted badly to share this 

knowledge with my 

kababayans because it has 


Tanjay 

helped me a lot, not just 

for managing myself, but 

also for managing my relationships 

with people. 

Plivia Alaba 

(pictured 

extreme left) 

training hotel staff 

One of my projects was 

the motivational speeches I 

conducted for distressed 

OFWs back in 

the UAE," she 

shared. 

Plivia, along 

with other 

speakers, will 

talk more about 

this in a session 

called 'Surviving 

the Crisis' (the 

scheduled date 

was postponed 

due to the Level 

Two lockdown), in 

the attempt to 

provide relevant 

information and 

tips to cope with 

the stress 

brought about 

the pandemic. 

Plivia is a crea 

t i v e 

director/graphic designer 

with experience in marketing 

and sales and building 

websites. She graduated 

with a bachelor's degree in 

Advertising, Fine 

Arts and Design at the 

University of Santo Tomas 

in Manila. 

In her leisure time she 

plays basketball for the 

Royals Women's Division 1 

for the CBA (Canterbury 

Basketball Association) 

and volleyball for 'Fusion', 

a Filipino team based in 

Christchurch. 

Apart from those she 

also displays a penchant 

for make-up, playing the 

drums/guitar, decorating 

and hosting. 

She has now lived here 

for around two and a half 

years, working for a software 

company. 

For more details about 

this seminar please contact 

Pinoy C.A.R.E.S Canterbury 

via their Facebook 

page. 

With masks becoming a 

necessity in today’s day 

and age, Filipinos are 

joining in and creating 

masks for the community. 

Two ordinary Filipinos, 

Dennis Sayat and 

Kathryn Matencio, are 

creatively joining in and 

making masks for the 

community. 

“At the start I created 

the masks for my personal 

use only, but when I 

posted them on social 

media I got so many 

requests that I thought 

that there might be a 

demand for them, so I 

started making different 

designs for other people,” 

says Dennis Sayat, creator 

of Sayat Masks. 

Other than making 

masks for Sayat Masks, 

Sayat is a bridal machinist 

in Parnell which 

explains his experience 

with sewing in design. 

Sayat began his venture 

in making masks first and 

Migrants take 

initiative to make 

in demand masks 

By BERNADETTE 

BASAGRE 

foremost for his protection, 

“but being a designer 

I also wanted the masks 

to look good,” he says. 

“I know that we are in a 

pandemic but people 

don’t want to go around 

looking like hospital 

patients!” 

On the other hand, 

Kathryn Matencio is pursuing 

a career in becoming 

a vet, but sews as a 

hobby, learning from trial 

and error, Youtube videos 

and reading sewing 

books. 

She originally made 

masks for her family in 

her free time and later 

decided to make more for 

sustainability. 

“I understand how 

much more sustainable 

and eco-friendlier the 

reusable fabric masks are 

… I wanted to contribute 

to a less wasteful option,” 

she says. 

The use of masks has 

become common in New 

Zealand, with it being 

mandatory when using 

public transport. 

New Zealand is currently 

at Level 2, meaning 

that public gatherings are 

restricted to 10 people for 

Auckland (50 for funerals/tangihanga) 

and 100 

people for the rest of the 

country and that social 

distancing must be maintained. 

Due to demand, both 

Sayat Masks and 

Matencio’s small mask 

business have seen an 

overwhelmingly positive 

response from their followers. 

“I did not expect so 

many orders coming in, so 

I can say that in its own 

way, as small as it is, it is 

still a success,” Matencio 

says. 

“The response is overwhelmingly 

positive. I 

have received so many 

orders and made numerous 

deliveries in just the 

first week after I posted 

Dennis Sayat of Sayat Masks 

on social media,” says 

Sayat. 

Currently 

Matencio is selling 

her masks for $5 

in plain black calico 

fabric and $10 

for printed fabric 

masks. 

For Sayat, he is 

selling 5 styles of 

masks at $20 each and 

they can be ordered from 

his Facebook page (Sayat) 

or Instagram (@d_sayat). 

“Honestly, I think the 

demand will last for only 

as long as the pandemic is 

a threat … in the meantime 

I am here to use my 

talent and skill through 

these masks, to help motivate 

people to stay safe by 

helping make masks that 

are fun and fashionable,” 

Sayat says.


P a g e 1 1 

Businesses bouncing back 

in Otahuhu town centre 

By ROWENA 

SINGH 

AUCKLAND – Small 

businesses are still hurting 

because of the restrictions to 

trading during the lockdowns 

and the plummeting 

demand for their goods and 

services. 

Migrant News spoke with 

Richette Rodger, Manager 

of Otahuhu Business 

Association to get insight 

into the trials and tribulations 

of small business owners 

faced when the business 

world went into a tailspin 

because of the pandemic. 

Q: How many businesses 

have closed down in 

Otahuhu due to COVID ? 

A: Within the Otahuhu 

centre, fingers crossed, we 

have had none. Everybody 

came back, doors opened 

after the first lockdown and 

the second lockdown. 

Q: How are the businesses 

in Otahuhu affected by 

the COVID? 

A: Businesses were hugely 

affected by COVID and 

obviously to make things 

even harder for them, the 

Otahuhu Town Centre was 

going through an upgrade 

and there were roadworks 

everywhere. 

Most of our businesses 

were able to apply for and 

receive the wage subsidy 

which was phenomenal for 

our businesses. 

Some have also in turn 

applied for a government 

loan but it’s been hard. 

All of our businesses were 

closed in level 4, very few 

businesses were able to open 

in level 3. We don’t have 

many businesses that have 

websites or online ordering 

availabilities so most of our 

businesses were not able to 

open until level 2 the first 

time and the second time. It 

was a complete loss of revenue 

during that time. 

Q: How is the Otahuhu 

Business Association helping 

the local businesses 

survive? 

A: One of the things we 

did in the first lockdown is 

we created the Otahuhu 

Support Local campaign, 

we had some stencils made 

which we went out into the 

wider area of Otahuhu, we 

went to our parks and sports 

ground and we sprayed the 

footpaths with Otahuhu 

Support Local. 

We run the Otahuhu 

Facebook page and we have 

the Otahuhu Support 

Local group where we 

showcased businesses of different 

areas whether it be 

clothing, whether it be food, 

whether it be our car yards, 

our mechanics and we went 

out and we tried to make 

sure that we were advertising 

all the businesses that 

were open whether it be in 

level 3 or level 2. 

We were encouraging people 

to support local. We also 

have an advertising partnership 

with Media Works and 

we advertise on Mai FM, 

More FM and the Breeze. 

Unfortunately, this year 

we had to cancel our food 

festival. So we were able 

to put those extra 

resources and a little bit 

of extra budget into making 

sure we had a really 

solid advertising campaign 

for supporting our 

local businesses. 

Q: Is there any help for 

the businesses from the 

government, the council or 

the landlords to help with 

the downturn? 

A: One of the things that 

we have been doing is that 

we are working closely with 

our landlords and our retailers 

and our business owners 

and we created some templates 

that they were able to 

use to take to their landlords 

which was quite helpful for 

those for whom English is 

their second language. 

They were able to take 

those templates to the landlords 

requesting rent rebates 

or OPEX rebates (operating 

expenses for a business – for 

instance rates, insurance, 

water, body cooperate fees 

that businesses have to pay 

on top of their rent.) 

Some businesses were 

able to get 50% off their rent 

for a couple of months. 

Some people did 25 % off 

their rent. Don’t know of 

any landlord that gave 100% 

off. 

But there were definitely 

some phenomenal landlords 

out there that were able to 

pass rent rebates onto their 

businesses. 

We helped a lot of businesses 

applying for the wage 

subsidy which was fantastic 

and we’ve also helped businesses 

apply for the one year 

interest free loans that the 

government was providing. 

Q: Have you got any 

plans to drive customer 

traffic to the Otahuhu 

town centre? 

A: One of the things that 

we are continuing to work 

on is the Support Local campaign 

coming up to 

Christmas. 

We have phenomenal 

plans for Christmas. We 

have got some fantastic 

competitions and promotions 

that will be running in 

the months of November 

and December leading up to 

Christmas to get people to 

come into Otahuhu, to buy 

their Christmas presents in 

Otahuhu. 

We have lost a lot of international 

spend, $200,000 is 

what’s normally spent in a 3- 

month period in Otahuhu by 

international customers and 

that income is all gone. So 

we need to figure out a way 

of how we can help our businesses. 

Not only make up for 

that $200,000 in loss spend 

but also to create an even 

bigger spend. 

So lots of competitions, 

lots of promotions, lots of 

advertising, lots of buskers 

and street movement and so 

on and so forth that we’ll 

have in the town centre that 

we are creating that early 

Christmas buzz and hoping 

that we can give people a 

Christmas that is enjoyable 

and fun in such a bad climate 

that we’re in at the moment. 

By ROWENA 

SINGH 

AUCKLAND – Over 

the years we have seen 

migrant businesses mushroom 

in the Otahuhu 

township, catering to the 

predominantly multicultural 

population that 

dwells in and around this 

bustling south Auckland 

neighbourhood. 

The shops – a mix of 

grocery stores, ethnic 

eateries and clothing outlets 

– have been hit hard 

with the lack of customers 

due to the pandemic. 

“The COVID virus has 

affected the business too 

much - because our business 

is mainly catering 

and the catering is shut 

down as there aren’t any 

gatherings. As a result my 

business has plunged by 

50%,” confided Paramjit 

Singh, Manager of 

Chaska. 

Singh, who came to New 

Zealand in 2002, has been 

working in this business 

for more than 10 years. 

“The government has 

supported us with wage 

subsidies for the employees. 

Whatever we get from 

the government we give to 

them. In fact we paid 80% 

of their salaries when the 

Selina - Aberdeen 

Asian Food Cuisine 

Migrant 

businesses 

in Otahuhu 

hit hard by 

pandemic 

country was at Level 2, 

even though we could only 

operate the takeaway 

business to generate 

income. But we did everything 

possible to ensure 

that staff retained their 

jobs. 

“But it is tough running 

a business in this climate. 

We are not getting the 

supplies we need and 

prices have been rising. 

For example, capsicum 

which used to be $6 to $7 a 

kilo shot up to $20 dollars 

a kilo. We could not cover 

the price hike by increasing 

the price of food as 

many of our customers 

are struggling having lost 

their jobs due to the pandemic.” 

During the lockdown 

the bustling streets and 

lively atmosphere characteristic 

of Otahuhu was 

replaced by a sombre 

atmosphere, with some 

shops on the verge of shutting. 

“So to begin with, when 

COVID started a couple 

of months ago and 

Auckland was put on alert 

level 4, the business really 

picked up because everyone 

was at home. This was 

really good for the business,” 

observed Tanzin 

Khan, Assistant Manager 

at Family Food Mart. 

“Then when we moved 

to the second phase under 

the 2.5 lockdown, business 

activity died down even 

though most of the businesses 

were open. Given 

that our business is in the 

South Auckland region 

where most of the cases 

were detected, customers 

were reluctant to leave 

their homes and some 

started making their purchases 

online.” 

Tanzin came to New 

Zealand from Bangladesh 

in 2014 and has been 

working at this store for a 

year. 

During the lockdown 

restaurants were particularly 

hard hit as friends 

and families could not 

gather together due to the 

restrictions. 

“It was tough,” admitted 

Aranya Clark, the 

Owner and Manager of 

the Secret Thai Garden. 

“During the lockdown the 

restaurant couldn’t open. 

But at the next level with 

restrictions we could open 

but had to space out the 

tables. That meant fewer 

customers at each sitting. 

A lot of birthday bookings 

were cancelled.” 

Clark has been operating 

this restaurant for 

around 18 years. 

“Business has been very 

slow and at times it is a 

struggle. The sooner we 

get to Level One the better 

it will be for businesses 

- that’s for sure,” she 

concluded. 

“During Level 3 we 

were only allowed takeaway 

business and at that 

time the business was very 

bad. Not that many people 

were willing to come out 

to buy food,” says Davy, 

the Otahuhu Ethnic Food 

Court Manager. 

“Under Level 2 we were 

able to open, but we had 

to undergo a lot of limitations. 

We kept the tables 

at 2-metre distances and 

all the customers who 

came in needed to register. 

(top:) Paramjit Singh, 

Chaksa (above: Davy, 

Otahuhu Food Court 

Manager 

Hopefully when it goes to 

Level 1 it’ll be back to 

normal.” 

Editor: Interviews by 

Rowena Singh. Watch the 

video online at: www. 

migrantnews.nz


Prolific filmmaker 

whose star shines brightly 

By MEL 

FERNANDEZ 

NZ On Air’s 2018 

Diversity report reveals 

that Asian producers are 

underrepresented in proportion 

to their population 

– just three per cent 

of its funded projects featured 

a pan-Asian producer, 

five per cent featured 

a pan Asian director, 

and seven per cent 

featured a pan-Asian 

writer. 

The good news is that 

in the shadow of the big 

budget international productions 

companies and 

Hobbit there is a small 

but dynamic group of 

Asian creators in New 

Zealand – Karpal Singh, 

Roseanne Liang, Shuchi 

Kothari, Selina Joe and 

Marc Laureano, to name 

By ROWENA 

SINGH 

Income stream from this 

sector vital to jumpstart economic 

growth, employment 

and progress, say insiders 

There have been strident 

voices calling for New 

Zealand’s borders to be 

opened up so that international 

students can return 

and drip feed a substantial 

amount of money during 

their stay here which will 

help jumpstart our sluggish 

economy. 

“I see the future as 

very positive 

because there are 

thousands of stories 

that we need to tell 

from Aotearoa and 

from around the 

world.” – Karpal 

Singh 

just a few – who are passionate 

about making 

content that resonates 

with the migrant population 

and also wows mainstream 

audiences. 

Migrant News reporter 

Rowena Singh interviewed 

a member of the 

inner circle – prolific 

filmmaker, Karpal Singh 

whose star shines brightly 

in the industry and is 

an inspiration for neophytes 

who might feel 

some trepidation towards 

venturing into the 

Pakeha dominated celluloid 

world. 

There are pros and 

cons of being an ethnic 

filmmaker in New 

Zealand says Singh. “I’ve 

been privileged to work 

on many national and 

international productions 

on various roles in the 

last 3 years after studying. 

“Some of the cons are 

that it is still a challenging 

field; not going in the 

racism aspect at all, but 

Karpal Singh on extreme 

right. Photo supplied. 

An inspiration for neophytes who might feel some 

trepidation towards venturing into the Pakeha 

dominated celluloid world 

The loss incurred to the 

economy and to universities 

because of the border closure 

has been quite substantial. 

Questions are being 

asked why we are not tapping 

this income stream 

when New Zealand may be 

in a good position to manage 

the return of the international 

students safely. 

In late April, there were 

13,101 students from China 

in the country, 12,226 from 

India and 2788 from South 

Korea. The US was the only 

country with fewer students 

with valid study visas in 

New Zealand, 870, than out 

of New Zealand, 1064. 

The figures highlighted 

the downturn of about $5 

more around the culture. 

When you look at the 

percentage of the Asian 

population of NZ and 

compare it with how 

many of them are in the 

creative world, it is quite 

a shocker. 

“But I feel times are 

changing and this is the 

right time to ride that 

wave. I believe there are 

a lot of individuals choosing 

this field as a career.” 

Editor: Karpal Singh 

can be contacted on 021 

352185. 

Why NZ should open borders 

to international students 

billion from the international 

student industry. 

Universities New Zealand 

Chief Executive Chris 

Whelan said in an article, 

which appeared in 

Insidehighered.com, that it 

would cause New Zealand’s 

eight universities a loss of 

around $200 million in international 

enrolment this year 

FINDING HIS ROOTS 

VIA FILMMAKING 

By ROWENA 

SINGH 

AUCKLAND – Karpal 

Singh is a Sikh from West 

Bengal, India, who came to 

NZ in 2001. He studied hospitality 

at MIT (Manukau 

Institute of Technology) for 

two and a half years. He 

then worked in the hospitality 

industry for 6 years but 

being a bit bored and alone, 

he decided to move on to a 

different industry. 

He restarted his career in 

the banking field. “I started 

as a bank teller in 2006 and 

continued in the banking 

industry for 10 years,” says 

Singh. “In 2016 my role was 

made redundant. But I think 

it was a blessing in disguise 

because it gave me a chance 

to reflect on what I really 

wanted to do in life. So I 

took that opportunity; I was 

35 at that time, to follow my 

passion.” 

Singh joined South Seas 

Film and TV School (now 

Yoobee Colleges). He was 

one of the few senior students 

there and says he was 

supported by his tutors and 

school, otherwise he wouldn’t 

have gone down that 

path. He eventually graduated 

with a double major in 

Production Management 

and Drama Directing. 

Singh’s student short film 

‘Best of Both Worlds’ was 

part of the Cannes Film 

Festival (on-demand platform) 

was picked up by an 

American based film distributor, 

and later played on 

the Amazon (In the US and 

the UK). Currently the film 

is available on YouTube. 

The concept for ‘Best of 

Both Worlds’ was drawn 

from Singh’s own life journey 

in New Zealand. “It was 

an arduous journey for me 

trying to blend in with Kiwi 

and that the loss would double 

next year if graduating 

international students went 

home and no newly recruited 

students were allowed in 

to replace them. 

The loss applies also to the 

international students who 

miss out on their education 

and to the multi-cultural 

community that they contribute 

to New Zealand. 

International students 

could pay for the 14-day 

accommodation while they 

are in managed isolation if 

they are able to do so. In 

society. At times you feel 

that you have lost your bearings 

in terms of who you 

are. So the realization of 

missing my own culture and 

reconnecting with my roots 

is where the story for my 

first film came from,” says 

Singh. 

Currently Singh is part of 

a TV drama series called 

‘Mystic’, which is a co-production 

between UK 

between UK and NZ that’s 

on TV and on TV On 

Demand. The first 8 

episodes of this show are 

now available on TVNZ On 

Demand. 

“The second stream of my 

work is my passion project. 

It is my second short film 

called ‘Impossible’, which 

is supported by the NZ Film 

Commission. It is another 

cross-cultural film. 

“We will be making a feature 

film of the same story 

for which we have the script 

ready,” says Singh. My role 

in that film is as the producer 

and I’m working alongside 

a well-known Kiwi producer, 

Belindalee Hope. 

Belindalee has worked on 

many big Hollywood as 

well as NZ productions, 

including such films Peter 

Jackson’s The Lord of the 

Rings and Hobbit trilogies. 

“The third stream of work 

is my own production company 

called Kapow NZ. I 

make promotional videos 

for small to medium companies,” 

says Singh. “I have a 

team that works with me – 

camera, sound and editor – 

and I act as director, producer 

and writer.” 

Singh says that as a creative 

person, you have to 

satisfy your soul, as that’s 

the reason you are in that 

industry, but you also have 

to earn a decent living. 

some cases this could be 

considered under the hardship 

grounds and paid for by 

the New Zealand government. 

As international students 

bring colossal amounts of 

revenue to the economy 

through enrolment, food and 

accommodation some commentators 

feel that supporting 

their quarantine costs 

would be deemed an investment.

MIGRANT NEWS OCT 2020

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?