MIGRANT NEWS Sept 2023

www.migrantnews.nz 

YOUR FREE 

COPY 

Vol 5 

2023 

Mob: 027 495 8477 I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz I 33rd Anniversary I Facebook page: www.migrantnews.nz I Print & Online Edition 

Political parties offer 

parent-friendly visas 

WELLINGTON - With the 

elections just around the 

corner, fresh immigration 

policies have been 

released by three political 

parties which look to 

enhance opportunities for 

parents and grandparents 

to visit Kiwi family members 

in New 

Zealand. 

National’s 

plan is to introduce 

a ‘multipleentry 

Parent Visa 

Boost’. The visa 

would allow parents and 

grandparents to stay with 

their family in New 

Zealand for five years, 

with the ability to renew it 

for a further five years. 

Those under the Parent 

Visa Boost would not be 

eligible for entitlements 

such as NZ Super. They 

would need health insurance 

and “must be 

sponsored by their children 

or grandchildren,” 

said Erica Stanford, the 

National Party spokesperson 

for immigration. 

The policies of Labour, 

ACT and the Greens are 

featured on page 5. 

pg 5 

NEW ZEALAND ASIANS SPEAK OUT 

ABOUT EXPLOITATION IN WORKPLACE 

Every person who chooses to leave their home for New Zealand’s shores 

comes in pursuit of the same dream, a dream of a better life. 

Migrants arrive in a foreign environment that has a different language and 

culture, knowing that pursuing this dream will inevitably involve many challenges. 

They work hard, study diligently and persevere, hoping that they will 

receive fair treatment for 

pg 12 

their contributions and 

efforts. 

How difficult can the journey 

be? 

Asian Family Services 

(AFS) was established in 

1998 to provide services to 

people of Asian background 

who are affected by gambling 

harm, addiction and 

mental health issues. 

AFS operates a national 

telephone service (Asian 

Helpline) for Asian individuals 

and families. 

Read this indepth article 

on page 12. 

pg 02 

TURN YOUR 

CV INTO A 

JOB OFFER 

MAGNET 

WOMEN’S 

SOCCER 

WORLD CUP 

pg 11 

pg 15 

ASIAN 

CENSUS 

RESPONSE 

RATE 

SUPPORT 

FOR CHILD 

CARE COSTS 

WELCOMED 

pg 08 

FILIPINO NEWS 

www.filipinonews.nz 

filipinonews@xtra.co.nz 

FB: Filipino News 

FILIPINO HEROES 

filipinoheroes.nz 

filipinonews@xtra.co.nz 

FB: www.trabaho.nz 

MIGRANT NEWS 

migrantnews.nz 

migrantnews@xtra.co.nz 

FB: Migrant News NZ 

Ethnic Media. Filipino Hero Awards. Multicultural Events.

P a g e 0 2 w e b s i t e : w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I T r a v e l G a l o r e : www.travelgalore.nz 

Women’s Soccer World Cup Fever 

By Ricky Matthew 

AUCKLAND - As the 

world prepared for one of 

the largest international 

sporting events, the FIFA 

Women’s World Cup, the 

passion and enthusiasm of 

fans from different ethnic 

communities was impossible 

to miss. 

For many supporters, the 

tournament, which was held 

in Australia and New 

Zealand from July to August 

this year, was not just a 

showcase of athletic 

prowess, but a celebration of 

their heritage and culture. 

From colourful displays of 

national flags to boisterous 

chants, fans rallied for their 

respective teams, proudly 

showcasing their cultural 

identities. 

The addition of eight new 

spots to the group stage of 

the cup led to an array of 

debut teams and further 

pushed the theme of cultural 

diversity and richness, making 

it truly the ‘World’ Cup. 

The teams making their 

debut were the Philippines, 

Haiti, Morocco, Panama, 

Portugal, the Republic of 

Ireland, Vietnam and 

Zambia. 

Migrant News spoke to 

‘FIFA Community Champions’, 

representing several 

of the debut teams as well as 

long standing national 

teams. 

Making their FIFA 

Women's World Cup debut 

in 2023, the Philippines 

have long been active in the 

Southeast Asian women's 

footballing scene - winners 

of the 2022 AFF Women's 

Championship. 

Seresa Lopez, a Philippines 

representative, said: 

“It’s so inspiring to see fellow 

women be at the forefront 

of sports, especially in 

the Philippines, considering 

that our men’s team hasn’t 

made it to the World Cup 

Migrant News: 

MIGRANT NEWS 

(33rd Anniversary) 

www.migrantnews.nz 

Facebook: Migrant News 

FILIPINO NEWS NZ 

(23rd Anniversary) 

filipinonews.nz 

JOB BOARD 

www.trabaho.nz 

All material (including ads) appearing in 

MIGRANT NEWS and it’s related websites: 

migrantnews.nz, 

asiannews.nz, halohalo.nz, travel. 

galore.nz are COPYRIGHTED and 

cannot be reproduced unless written 

Ethnic communities provide 

passionate team support 

yet.” 

“I’m not sure if you’ve 

met a Filipino before, but we 

may be small and short, but 

we have a massive energy 

inside of us. We are very 

loud people and as a community 

I promise you we 

will bring the noise. We may 

not have a chant like the 

Argentinians, but we will be 

screaming all the way 

through the game.” 

Team Philippines played 

Switzerland on 21 July, and 

went head-to-head with NZ 

on 25 July and played 

against Norway on 30 July. 

Featured in this World 

Cup were four African teams 

- Zambia, South Africa, 

Nigeria and Morocco. 

Zambia and Morocco which 

were making their debut at 

permission is given by - Migrant News 

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 

the World Cup. 

Evelyn, an African supporter, 

expressed her excitement 

by saying: “We are 

very excited, because this is 

the first time in New 

Zealand that we are hearing 

the names of our African 

countries mentioned in a 

story that isn't about starvation 

and war. 

Zambia, South Africa, 

Nigeria, and Morocco have 

qualified forinto this tournament. 

It is beyond belief.” 

After surprisingly emerging 

as Africa’s sole representative 

in women’s football at 

the Tokyo Olympics, the 

Zambian ‘Copper Queens’ 

have defied the odds once 

again to book their place at 

the World Cup 2023. This is 

the first time the nation will 

Print • Web • Tablet • Facebook • Instagram 

FOOD / EVENTS 

www.halohalo.nz 

TRAVEL GALORE 

travelgalore.nz 

Published by: 

Migrant News Ltd 

migrantnews @xtra.co.nz 

Advertising: 

027 495 8477 

Publisher: 

Mel Fernandez 

Reporter: 

Ricky Matthew 

Please email your 

Community News, 

Photos and Feedback to: 


text: 027 495 8477 

Migrant News 

Hero Awards 2024 

To nominate your 

Hero of the Year for 2024 

please contact us at: 


027 495 8477 

and claims in the editorial matter or 

advertisements appearing in the above 

mentioned publications and related 

websites. 

Migrant News Ltd. T: 027 495 8477 


be represented 

at the FIFA 

Women’s World 

Cup. 

D i a n a 

Simumpande 

works with 

‘Zambians in 

Aotearoa’. “I 

work with an organization 

called Zambians in 

Aotearoa,” she said. “It is all 

about empowering Zambian 

communities in New 

Zealand. We want to make 

sure that Zambian voices are 

represented on the world 

stage.” 

She further spoke on community 

engagement in 

Auckland, saying: “The 

Zambian team is being hosted 

in Hamilton. However, 

they do have a game in 

Auckland. We are going to 

be having a welcome celebration 

event at Morningside 

Tavern to have a place for 

the Zambian community to 

celebrate in Auckland.” 

The Zambians played 

Japan on 22 July, vs Spain 

on 26 July, and went headto-head 

with Costa Rica on 

31 July. 

Winners in 2011 and runners-up 

in 2015, Japan has 

solidified its place in 

women’s football history. 

They are also the two-time 

Asian champions and have 

won a silver at the 2012 

Olympics in London. 

The president of the 

Japanese Society of 

Auckland, Keiko Kano, 

shared: “Our team is very 

good. They won the World 

Cup in 2011. It was right 

after the Great East Japan 

Earthquake, and they gave 

us great hope. We are probably 

going to watch the 

matches live. They don’t 

have any matches in 

Auckland, but one is in 

Wellington and one is in 

Dunedin. We hope that they 

are going to make it to the 

tournament stage.” 

The Japanese played 

against Zambia on 22 July, 

Costa Rica on 26 July, and 

played Spain on 31 July. 

Winners of the FIFA 

Men’s World Cup, 

Argentina, made their 

fourth appearance in the 

Women’s World Cup this 

year. ‘La Albiceleste’, a 

nickname referring to their 

white and sky-blue coloured 

jerseys, is still looking for its 

first win in a major international 

tournament, but 

proved their team spirit in 

their performances against 

Japan and England at the 

2019 FIFA Women’s World 

Cup. 

An Argentine Supporter, 

Ignacio, said: “You will hear 

a lot of our crowd singing all 

the time. “Vamos, Vamos 

Argentina!” for 90 minutes 

or more than that. If 

Argentina do not win, we 

will be happy if one of our 

South American brothers 

make it. Go Brazil, go 

Colombia, go Argentina, go 

South America.” 

Saione Greer, a representative 

of the Latin American 

community, rated the Latin 

teams very highly. “We are 

football crazy. 

“I’m originally from 

Tonga, but I’m here representing 

the Latino community. 

Brazil, Colombia, 

Argentina, and Costa Rica 

are playing in this World 

Cup.” 

He also spoke about the 

community engagement in 

Auckland, saying: “We are 

waiting to see what will happen 

with regards to fan 

zones around the city. 

Hopefully we will be able to 

have a Latin party as part of 

the celebrations around the 

beginning of the tournaments.” 

Our Migrant Community Partners 

We are proud to be the media partner 

to the following high profile migrant 

community and business groups : 

• The Filipino Society Inc (Auckland) 

• Kalinga Organization of NZ 

• Southland Filipino Society Inc 

(Invercargill) 

• Igorotak NZ (Palmerston North) 

• Mina De Oro (Mindorenos in NZ) 

• Alpha Phi Omega (Auckland) 

• Pinoy Adventurers NZ (Auckland) 

• NZ Business Association (Auckland) 

• Multicultural Assn Hawke’s Bay Inc 

• Banyuhay Aotearoa (Auckland) 

• The Filipino Childrens Library 

(Auckland) 

We are interested in networking with Migrant 

Community Groups in order to publicise your 

events and activities in Migrant News. 

We welcome short reports with photos about 

events happening throughout New Zealand from 

community groups and freelance contributors. 

Kindly forwards details well in advance to meet 

our publication deadlines. 

Text, email: migrantnews @xtra.co.nz, 

mob: 027 495 8477

w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I email: migrantnews@xtra.co.nz 

P a g e 0 3 

Showcasing Asian New Zealand Artists’ Perspectives on 

Belonging and Cultural Evolution 

Auckland – June 15 

marked the opening of ‘A 

Place to Call Home’ – the 

first group exhibition of contemporary 

New Zealand 

Asian art, curated by the 

Bergman Gallery. 

This groundbreaking exhibition 

aimed to highlight the 

generational presence of 

Asian New Zealanders and 

the pivotal role their art 

plays in shaping the country’s 

contemporary cultural 

landscape. 

Through various artistic 

mediums such as paintings, 

photography, sculpture and 

ceramics, this exhibition 

showcased the artists’ exploration 

of ancestral legacies 

and the concept of home and 

belonging within the context 

of New Zealand. 

The narratives expressed 

by the participating artists in 

‘A Place to Call Home’ resonated 

with traditions from 

across the Pacific and Asian 

continent, embracing 

diverse cultural influences 

from Korea, China, India, 

Sri Lanka, the Philippines, 

Malaysia, Persia and the 

Middle East. 

These traditions have 


Bev Moon’s artwork portrays a 

Chinese New Year feast, 

symbolizing family gatherings 

and honouring her heritage. 

merged with their New 

Zealand values and identity, 

generating a commanding 

dialogue with distinct voices, 

stories and perspectives. 

The exhibition presents a 

biographical exploration of 

cultural evolution within the 

broader New Zealand population. 

Louie Bretaña, a Filipino 

artist, shared his perspective 

on the artworks he contributed 

to the exhibition. 

“It’s all about exploring the 

differences. My pieces at 

this exhibition are all exploring 

the narratives of our precolonial 

deities.” 

Bretaña’s artworks depict 

the safety of fire and volcano, 

the symbolism of 

nature and the representation 

of local stories intertwined 

with Filipino aesthetics. His 

works draw inspiration from 

Filipino cultural heritage 

and merge it with the local 

New Zealand context. 

Another featured artist, 

Bev Moon, a Chinese artist, 

discussed the motivation 

behind her artwork in the 

exhibition. Her artwork portrays 

a Chinese New Year 

feast, symbolizing family 

gatherings and honouring 

her heritage. 

Moon explained: “The 

black settings represent my 

mum, my dad and my sister 

who passed away. The fish 

and chips in my dad’s hand 

symbolize his 32-year-old 

business. The artwork also 

includes a dollar sign, representing 

my father’s journey 

from having nothing when 

he arrived in New Zealand to 

providing for his family and 

loved ones.” 

Moon’s artwork incorporates 

locally sourced materials 

and knitted elements, 

reflecting her personal connection 

to her Chinese heritage 

and the traditions 

passed down through her 

family. 

Both artists emphasized 

the significance of their art 

in reflecting their cultural 

identities and the transformative 

experiences they’ve 

had since coming to New 

Zealand. 

“The Maori and Pacific 

nations here in New Zealand 

have opened my mind to 

looking at my own cultural 

identity separate from colonial 

influences,” shared 

Bretaña. “It’s about taking 

everything out and leaving it 

purely Filipino.” 

Moon echoed this sentiment, 

adding, “Arriving in 

New Zealand has opened my 

mind to different perspectives 

and helped me honour 

and celebrate my Chinese 

heritage in unique ways.” 

'A Place To Call Home' 

invited viewers to engage 

with the artworks and to 

experience the diverse narratives 

and rich cultural tapestry 

of Asian New 

Zealanders. 

The exhibition showcased 

not only the artists’ creative 

expressions, but also their 

shared experience of finding 

a sense of home and belonging 

in New Zealand. It was a 

celebration of cultural diversity, 

resilience and the power 

of art to foster understanding 

and connection.


Sports hero nurtures 

a new wave of Kiwi 

table tennis athletes 


AUCKLAND – In the 

world of sports there are 

certain individuals whose 

journeys go beyond the 

ordinary to make a lasting 

impact on the sporting 

landscape. A fine example 

of this is Kiwi-born 

Filipino, Alfred Dela Peña, 

23 – a bona fide legend of 

his sport. 

For over a decade this 

young and vibrant talent 

has honed his skills in the 

fast-paced world of table 

tennis. Starting at the tender 

age of ten, he found his 

passion ignited within the 

walls of Waitemata Table 

Tennis Club. Fast forward 

to the present and he not 

only represents his club on 

the national stage, but also 

represents his country on 

the international stage. 

Alfred is no stranger to 

winning. He has proudly 

represented New Zealand 

at the highest level for several 

years, competing in 

prestigious events such as 

the World Junior Championships, 

2023 ITTF 

World Championships 

Finals, ITTF World Senior 

Championships and in 

numerous domestic tournaments, 

including winning 

a gold medal at the 

North Island open. 

Alfred has moved up in 

the latest ITTF World 

Ranking List. At #95 he is 

the first Table Tennis New 

Zealand male player to 

ever make the top #100 in 

the world. 

Alfred exemplifies the 

unwavering commitment 

to excellence and the dedication 

needed to achieve 

remarkable success. 

However, his story goes 

beyond personal accomplishments. 

Alfred has 

been coaching and inspiring 

young table tennis talent 

in Auckland for the last 

few years and is a key figure 

in the Waitemata Table 

Tennis association. 

In an interview with 

Migrant News Alfred 

talked about his passion 

for table tennis and about 

raising a new generation of 

stars. 

“I have been playing 

table tennis for 13+ years 

now. It was my father that 

got me into table tennis. He 

plays casually. 

“I started playing 

around the age of ten for 

my club, Waitemata Table 

Tennis and later I represented 

my high school, 

Liston College. Now I am 

actually the facility manager 

at my club, I am on 

our club committee and I 

am the association’s head 

coach. 

“I have been playing at a 

national and international 

level. I’ve been to three 

World Junior Championships 

and I’ve been a representative 

of the men’s 

team for 4 or 5 years now. 

“At the moment I play 

mainly as an individual. 

But when it comes to team 

events, we do have a team 

that plays at national and 

international events.” 

In order to compete at 

such a high level, table tennis 

has become “a full-time 

job”. He reveals that “on 

average, I’d probably 

spend about two to three 

hours training each day”. 

Alfred Dela Pena - Filipino-Kiwi ‘Sportsperson of the Year’ 

Despite his achievements 

and training regimen, his 

passion goes beyond personal 

accomplishments. He 

is dedicated to inspiring 

young talent to help them 

reach the level that he has. 

“To give back to the 

community, I’m actually 

coaching a lot more than 

training now. I have junior 

coaching groups weekly, 

four times a week. And I’m 

also an individual coach. 

“I don’t think that there 

are many Filipinos getting 

into table tennis here. I 

found a few Filipinos in NZ 

who enjoy table tennis 

here. However, there are 

many more enthusiastic 

people who like to play 

table tennis in the 

Philippines. 

“When it comes to selection 

for national teams I 

think that Filipinos can 

fare better. 

“Compared to basketball, 

height is not such an 

important factor. It is 

speed, skill, hand-eye coordination 

and reflexes that 

really matter.” 

Having a key role in the 

table tennis community, 

Alfred has seen the number 

of players and opportunities 

grow in the recent 

years. 

“I know that table tennis 

is now growing in our community, 

which is good. I 

think that there’s a good 

opportunity for people out 

West to do well, given that 

we had a new stadium built 

and a player like me 

around who’s very keen to 

coach.” 

Alfred indicated that he 

sees himself continuing to 

focus on table tennis. “I do 

see myself continuing in 

the sport for many more 

years. I mean, at the 

moment, I’m still pretty 

young, so I think I still 

have a few more good 

years in me.” 

Keeping fit is the name 

of the game. “Well, apart 

from table tennis, I do like 

to play different sports as 

well. I enjoy going to the 

gym and playing basketball.”


P a g e 0 5 


With the elections just 

around the corner, fresh 

immigration policies have 

been released by three 

political parties which look 

to enhance opportunities 

for parents and grandparents 

to visit Kiwi family 

members in New Zealand. 

PARENT VISA BOOST 

National’s plan is to 

introduce a ‘multiple-entry 

Parent Visa Boost’. The 

visa would allow parents 

and grandparents to stay 

with their family in New 

Zealand for five years, with 

the ability to renew it for a 

further five years. 

Those under the Parent 

Visa Boost would not be eligible 

for entitlements such 

as NZ Super. They would 

need health insurance and 

“must be sponsored by 

their children or grandchildren”. 

Erica Stanford, the 

National Party spokesperson 

for immigration, said 

"New Zealand needs to 

attract and retain skilled 

people, but other countries 

have more pro-parent visa 

options, making them more 

attractive options. 

“Allowing parents and 

grandparents to live with 

their migrant children can 

help skilled people integrate 

better into New 

Zealand, as relatives can 

help with childcare and 

offer stability and emotional 

support.” 

She added that the weakening of immigration 

settings by the Labour government 

has led to longer processing times 

and “has exploded” migrant exploitation. 

UNITE VISA 

ACT have provided a similar policy 

with a different name. The ACT ‘Unite 

Visa’ enables parents to visit for five 

years, but has added the requirement for 

it to be renewed every year. 

Political parties offer 

parent-friendy visas. 

Labour’s immigration spokesperson 

Andrew Little 

Ricardo Menéndez March, 

Greens immigration 

spokesperson 

Erica Stanford, National’s 

immigration spokesperson 

ACT party 

leader David 

Seymour stated: 

"If the country 

does not have 

processes at least as good as 

those in major competitor 

countries like Australia and 

Canada, then businesses 

will struggle to grow, social 

services will fail to deliver 

and a spiral will take hold." 

Uniquely, ACT’s policy 

charges a $3500 yearly fee, 

which would fund the visa 

holder’s healthcare costs. 

"We believe that migrants 

and their close family 

deserve to be together 

and to be able to support 

each other," added Seymour. 

SUPER VISA 

The latest to release immigration policies 

is the Labour Party, who have targeted 

their new policies at parents and 

grandparents of migrants living in New 

Zealand. 

The party promised to expand opportunities 

for migrant families through a 10- 

year multiple-entry parents and grandparents’ 

‘Super Visa’. 

ACT party leader 

David Seymour 

This Super Visa enables relatives to 

make multiple visits of between 6 months 

and 5 years. 

Labour’s immigration spokesperson 

Andrew Little said: “This is about ensuring 

that migrants, who can often be isolated 

and without support structures, have 

the family around them when they need 

it.” 

New Zealand citizens must provide a 

guarantee of financial support to their 

parents and grandparents that hold a 

Super Visa. 

AMNESTY FOR OVERSTAYERS 

A one-off regularization programme for 

“well-settled overstayers” was also 

announced by Andrew Little. The programme 

is only eligible to overstayers 

who have been in New Zealand for 10 

years or more. 

The party said that the policy would 

“make good on the dawn raids apology” 

to Pacific people, if elected. 

The Green Party also announced their 

immigration policies which challenge 

Labour’s ‘high bar’ for overstayer 

amnesty. 

"We are disappointed with the high 

bar Labour has set through the requirement 

for people to be in Aotearoa for 10 

years to be eligible.” said Ricardo 

Menéndez March, the Green Party 

immigration spokesperson. 

“Migrants deserve to be treated with 

dignity and respect by our immigration 

system. But for many in our community, 

our immigration system has left them 

behind. They've fallen through the 

cracks, have been left vulnerable to 

exploitation, and have been denied the 

safety and security of a visa. The Greens 

will ensure that an amnesty for overstayers 

provides accessible residency pathways 

to everyone, not just those who’ve 

been here for more than 10 years.” 

The Green Party Pacific people’s 

spokesperson Teanau Tuiono added: “A 

broad amnesty for overstayers is the right 

thing to do to right the wrongs of an immigration 

system that has continued to fail 

our Pasifika and broader migrant communities.” 

Keep up-to-the-minute with Migrant News: 

migrantnews.nz 

Check us out on our print, online 

and social media channels. 

www.filipinoheroes.nz 

7th Filipino-Kiwi 

Hero Awards 

Filipino of the Year 

Community Heroes 

Business High Flyers 

Sporting Achievers 

Chef of the Year • Creative Arts 

Music Awards • Media Awards 

email nominations to: 

filipinonews@xtra.co.nz



AUCKLAND - In a 

move aimed at improving 

accessibility of healthcare 

and medication, the government 

has axed the $5 

charge for prescriptions 

with effect from 1 July 

2023. 

This decision was hailed 

by various sectors as a positive 

step, particularly for 

low-income families, the 

elderly and new migrants - 

who often face financial 

constraints when it comes 

to obtaining essential medication. 

“An estimated three million 

people will no longer 

have to worry about the 

cost of collecting their 

medication’” said Health 

minister Ayesha Verrall. 

“Removing the $5 

charge will make it easier 

and cheaper for New 

Zealanders to access the 

medicines they need and 

have a meaningful impact 

for many households, particularly 

those who have 

multiple prescriptions to 

fill on a regular basis. 

This will benefit a huge 

range of people, including 

almost 770,000 New 

Zealanders over the age of 

65 who received prescription 

medicines in the community 

last year. 

“The $5 charge can be a 

barrier to some New 

Zealanders getting the 

medicines they need and 

this is especially the case at 

“The decision to ditch the 

$5 prescription fee was a 

no brainer,” say ministers. 

Health minister Ayesha Verrall. 

Photo supplied. 

BUDGET 


a time when people are facing 

increasing pressures on 

household budgets. 

“As a doctor, there were 

times when my patients did 

not collect their medication 

and in fact we know that 

more than 135,000 adults 

did not collect their prescriptions 

because of the 

cost in 2021-22. This is particularly 

the case for lowincome 

families, Maori, 

Pasifika peoples and disabled 

New 

Zealanders. 

“Free access 

to medicine will 

also relieve pressure 

on the 

health system. 

Removing the 

copayment 

charge will help 

reduce the 

demand on hospitals 

and other 

health services.” 

The removal 

of the prescription 

charge was 

one of the initiatives 

in the Budget that 

government leaders 

explained at a Hui with 

migrant leaders in 3 Kings 

recently. 

Michael Wood, the former 

Minister of Immigration, 

acknowledged the 

financial burden that prescription 

costs impose on 

households, especially 

those with young children 

who are more prone to illnesses. 

He emphasized that preventing 

illnesses from 

worsening is not only 

morally right, but also 

financially sensible, since 

The 7th Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards 2024, Auckland 

The nationwide search is on for Filipino-Kiwis who are outstanding in their fields of endeavour and also 

have a passion for community service. If you would like to nominate an individual, group or organization 

please contact Filipino News NZ at email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz or text: 027 495 8477 

7TH FILIPINO-KIWI HERO AWARDS 2024 

Michael Wood, the former 

Minister of Immigration 

untreated conditions often 

result in increased healthcare 

costs down the line. 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, 

the Minister for 

Diversity, Inclusion and 

Ethnic Communities, 

emphasized the profound 

impact that the $5 prescription 

charge removal 

will have on public health. 

By making medications 

more affordable and accessible, 

Radhakrishnan 

argued that individuals, 

families and the overall 

health system will all benefit. 

"The more available and 

the more accessible you 

make medication, the less 

likely it is that people are 

going to come back even 

more sick from what they 

had." She pointed out that 

inaccessibility of medicine 

“then leads to much more 

expensive hospital stays 

and severe illness for people”. 

The National Party, on 

the other hand, did not 

support this policy being 

applied universally. National 

Leader Chris Luxon 

preferred that 

the support be 

Priyanca Radhakrishnan, 

the Minister for Diversity, 

Inclusion and Ethnic 

Communities 

targeted to people with the 

community services card, 

the elderly and those who 

desperately need it. 

One commenter mentioned 

in a tweet: “If 

you've never had to move 

57 cents from one account 

to another account to be 

able to afford your medication, 

then you really 

shouldn't have an opinion 

on this.” 

An Asian senior, Kamal 

Prasad Shrestha, President 

of the Nepalese Cultural 

Centre NZ Inc., told 

Migrant News: “For the 

older people, this will help. 

Even in my case now that 

I'm 74. Even though it is a 

small amount we can use it 

for some of our expenses.” 

Meanwhile, the Pharmacy 

Guild of New 

Zealand (the 

Guild) welcomed 

the 

government's 

removal of 

the $5 prescription 

charge in the 

Budget. Guild Chief 

Executive, Andrew 

Gaudin, said: “Removing 

the prescription charge is 

an investment in New 

Zealanders’ health and the 

wider health system. It 

means that more New 

Zealanders will get the 

medicines they need to 

help keep them out of hospital. 

This means that 

there will be less pressure 

on the health system and 

will result in savings for 

taxpayers. 

“This cost-of-living 

measure will make a huge 

difference to some in our 

community who cannot 

afford the $5 charge for 

each of their prescription 

medicines and therefore 

Kamal Prasad Shrestha 

Community Leader 

must make difficult choices 

when they are sick.” 

Guild President, Des 

Bailey, said. “We have 

been strongly advocating 

for this change for several 

years, because we know 

what a difference this will 

make to the health of New 

Zealanders and the wider 

health system. We are 

pleased to see this hard 

work result in positive 

change.”


P a g e 0 7


Support for childcare costs brings 

immense relief to migrant families. 

AUCKLAND – 

During the current 

cost-of-living crisis 

migrants are finding 

that childcare costs 

are adding to their 

financial woes. This 

can be attributed to the 

fact that more 

migrants have children 

under the age of 

five than people born 

in New Zealand, 

according to the 2018 

NZ Census. 

In addition, growing 

migrant communities 

are increasing the 

demand for early 

childhood education, 

which has already 

seen prices rise alongside 

the cost of living. 

The findings of a 

recent survey suggest 

that New Zealand’s 

childcare is among the 

most expensive in the 

world, according to 

Dr Aisling Gallagher, 

a Senior 

Lecturer in Social 

Geography at Massey 

University, who 

wrote an article on the 

subject in ‘The 

Conversation’ in 

March this year. 

Against this backdrop 

migrants are 

responding positively 

to the government’s 

'no frills' budget announced 

on the 18th of May. One of 

the key measures in the 

budget is an increase in 

funding for early childhood 

education. The increase will 

ensure that early education 

remains affordable and 

accessible for all families. 

“This Budget helps ease 

cost of living pressures by 

significantly reducing the 

cost of early childhood education 

for parents by extending 

20 hours free ECE, that 

is currently only available to 

3-5 year olds, to two year 

olds,” said Education 

Minister Jan Tinetti. 

“Childcare is one of the 

biggest costs families face, 

so extending 20 hours free 

ECE to two year olds will 

make a big difference. 

“Based on average costs in 

2023, families who were not 

previously receiving childcare 

subsidies would save an 

estimated $133.20 a week in 

childcare costs if a two year 

old child attended ECE for at 

BUDGET 


least 20 

hours a 

week.” 

T h e 

extension 

of the 20 

hours free 

ECE subsidy 

comes 

at a cost of 

$1.2 billion over four years 

and will be available from 1 

March 2024. 

Migrants working in the 

early childhood education 

industry can also look forward 

to an increase in funding 

to lift the pay for teachers. 

The new funding will 

address the pay disparity 

between early childhood 

education workers and their 

counterparts in kindergartens. 

“We are also making an 

additional $322 million 

available to ECE services to 

lift the pay for teachers to 

help them move towards 

parity with their counterparts 

in kindergartens,” Jan Tinetti 

said. 

“In some circumstances 

this could amount to an 

increase of $14,762 or 18.6 

percent. 

“This is not just an issue of 

fairness. The sector has told 

us that inequitable pay 

between comparable roles 

causes a range of issues for 

(top to bottom) 

Nanette Carillo, 

Ezra Paz and Kamal 

Prasad Shrestha. 


education and care services, 

such as teacher shortages 

and staff retention,” Jan 

Tinetti said. 

There was a positive reaction 

to the 20 hours free ECE 

subsidy amongst ethnic 

community leaders who 

attended a Post Budget 

Forum on 2nd June at the 

Fickling Convention Centre 

in Auckland. Many believed 

that the subsidy would bring 

immense relief for migrant 

families. 

“Things have changed in 

the Nepalese community in 

Aotearoa,” said Kamal 

Prasad Shrestha, President 

of the Nepalese Cultural 

Centre NZ Inc. “Unlike in 

the past, kids are now being 

sent to 

kindergartens. 

One reason 

is 

because 

some parents 

have 

to work. 

The other 

reason is 

that parents 

feel 

that it is 

good that 

children 

go to the 

kindergarten as they can 

learn a lot there to broaden 

their knowledge.” 

Nanette Carillo, a council 

member of the Asian 

Network Inc., echoed these 

feelings. “Most families will 

welcome this support from 

the government. Many parents 

are struggling to find a 

reliable person to look after 

their children. They believe 

that childcare centres offer 

their kids a safe and healthy 

environment.” 

A participant at the Forum 

put forward an alternative 

suggestion to the Labour 

Ministers at the Forum. “So, 

don't you think that instead 

of decreasing the age for eligibility 

for childcare to two 

years old, we could have 

increased the number of 

hours offered to kids 

between three and five 

years. Instead of the current 

20 hours available to this age 

group, it could have been 

increased to 25 or 30 hours. 

“That would make more 

sense and it would have been 

very well received by the 

ethnic communities. 

Because, from my understanding, 

in the ethnic communities 

we like to keep our 

kids in a bubble up to the age 

of three.” 

The Minister of Ethnic 

Affairs, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, 

responded by 

saying that many women 

have mentioned to her that 

the high cost of childcare 

has been a barrier to choosing 

to return to work. “So, 

there is a clear benefit that 

also pertains to women from 

our ethnic communities as 

well.” 

“Migrants are giving the 

thumbs up to the government’s 

support for childcare 

costs,” says Sheila 

Mariano, a Filipino community 

leader. “If only this 

level of assistance was available 

when my children were 

growing up. The high cost of 

childcare prevents mothers 

from getting back into the 

workforce to supplement the 

family income.” 

Some mothers, like Ezra 

Paz, feel that the allocation 

of the funds could have been 

more flexible. “I really 

believe that children should 

spend more time with their 

parents,” says Paz. “I really 

do. I think that if I were to 

have a choice, if they give 

the money to the mum then 

I’d look after the child as 

long as I can. Because that’s 

how it should be. To remove 

them from their mother at a 

younger age is not realistic. 

“When you are a mum and 

you’ve been working all day, 

you get home and you 

haven’t got anything left for 

your family. My relationship 

with my husband suffered. I 

was working as a relief 

teacher full time and I would 

come home tired and I 

would have nothing left for 

my family. Why have children 

when you don’t look 

after them at home?”


P a g e 0 9


Abann's Inspiring Journey: 

From Displacement to 

Community Empowerment 

Community advocate and 

educator, Abann Yor 

photo / supplied 

The ARCC (Aotearoa 

Resettled Community 

Coalition) focuses on community 

support services 

and empowering new residents 

and resettled communities 

(forced migrant 

experiences) in New 

Zealand, providing access 

to various services and initiatives 

to help individuals 

and groups integrate into 

New Zealand society. 

Community advocate 

and educator, Abann Yor, 

has been involved in community 

work with ARCC 

for over 18 years and in 


2014 he was made its Chief 

Executive Officer (CEO). 

Born in Sudan, Abann's 

journey began at the age of 

13 when he became displaced 

within his own 

country because of the 

Sudan civil war. Seeking 

refuge, Abann and his family 

moved to Syria, before 

eventually settling in New 

Zealand in September 

2005 with a permanent resident 

visa. 

Reflecting on his arrival, 

Abann described the support 

he received, saying: 

"When I arrived here, the 

services helped me to settle 

in. One of them is AUT - 

they give English language 

assistance. Health screening 

was at the Mangere 

Resettlement centre, as 

well as an introduction to 

the social welfare system 

and emergency services 

(fire, police and ambulance)." 

Upon his relocation to 

Auckland Abann faced the 

challenges of settling into a 

new country as a migrant. 

Accessing social welfare 

systems and pursuing education 

became significant 

hurdles. 

Recounting his early 

experiences, he said that 

the challenges at the time 

were accessing the social 

welfare system and a pathway 

to education. “Those 

are the kind of services 

that have been a challenge." 

Despite the obstacles, 

Abann took ownership of 

his journey, stating: "I've 

been able to take ownership 

and responsibility to 

pursue a pathway to 

employment and education." 

To overcome these challenges 

Abann enrolled for 

numerous qualifications in 

order to pursue professional 

development, including 

an Employment Skills 

English program at the 

Manukau Institute of 

Technology. "What that 

program offers you is a 

chance to study English 

while you are looking for a 

job." 

Sadly, Abann encountered 

difficulties in securing 

employment due to 

biases in the job market. 

He candidly expressed: "I 

found out that my name, 

being a foreigner, my 

appearance and my colour 

became a problem for me 

to secure a job." 

Undeterred, Abann persevered 

and landed his 

first job at a factory, followed 

by a position at a 

supply centre. His determination 

to support his family 

and contribute to the 

community fuelled his 

desire to create positive 

change. 

"When I was studying I 

The team at ARCC (Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition). 

Abann Yor on the extreme right. Photo supplied. 

identified certain needs 

within the community. If 

I'm someone who knows 

English and there is a challenge 

for me, what about 

my community members 

who don't have the advantage 

of English?" This 

realization led him to 

become actively involved 

in the South Sudanese 

community, where he 

served as a chairperson 

and initiated numerous 

projects. 

Abann's 

commitment 

to community 

welfare 

eventually 

led him to 

the Aotearoa 

Resettle-ment 

Community Coali-tion 

(ARCC). Starting as a representative 

for the South 

Sudanese community, he 

later assumed roles such as 

youth coordinator, vice 

chair and eventually CEO. 

Under Abann's able 

leadership his organization 

has achieved significant 

progress in enhancing the 

well-being of new residents 

and resettled communities.


P a g e 1 1 

Transform your CV into a job-offer magnet 


One of the most significant 

challenges that 

migrants face in New 

Zealand is the need to 

adapt to the local job market. 

While skills and experience 

gained in and out of 

NZ can be valuable, they 

may not always translate 

directly into landing the 

job. 

This is where a wellcrafted 

CV can be a valuable 

tool in helping existing 

migrants to showcase their 

skills and experience in a 

way that is relevant to local 

employers. 

Trina Jones, co-founder 

and director of Cultivate 

Recruitment, has 25+ 

years of experience in the 

recruitment industry. 

Trina discusses the dos and 

don’ts for creating a standout 

CV. 

What are some of the 

biggest mistakes when 

writing a CV? 

A common red flag is 

when people don’t 

spellcheck their resume. 

Seems obvious, so don’t 

make the mistake when 

technology is at the click of 

a button to help you. 

A CV littered with 

spelling mistakes, poor 

grammar and not proofread 

is not a great look and 

we've seen a number of 

them. 

It’s the most 

important document 

you put in front of a 

prospective employer 

or recruitment 

company, so make 

sure it flows, reads 

well and is well presented 

and formatted. 

Are spelling mistakes 

a big turn-off 

for potential employers? 

Yes. It shows a 

lack of care and 

attention when it’s a critical 

document that you are 

presenting as part of the 

job application process. It 

may suggest that the lack 

of care and attention in 

your resume could also be 

how you behave at work. 

There is just no excuse, 

when technology is available 

to use. 

We are not all great 

spellers or amazing with 

grammar, so seek out some 

help by getting some feedback 

from someone else 

who can help with proofread 

it for you. 

Does it stop an employer 

from bringing you in for 

Trina Jones, 

Cultivate 

Recruitment 

an interview? 

Absolutely, it could work 

against you. It’s the difference 

between your application 

being considered or 

being redirected. 

Often when we are 

reviewing a CV you can see 

the promise and potential 

in someone’s background. 

If they’ve got a compelling 

background, then they 

may be lucky enough to get 

feedback. However, not 

every employer or recruitment 

agency has the time 

to go through that exercise 

with every candidate. 

If you look at the average 

time spent reviewing 

each CV, particularly 

if applicant volumes 

are high, it 

can average 7-10 seconds 

or less. 

You can imagine that if 

it’s not compelling or it is 

littered with mistakes, then 

you will move on to a CV 

that has better promise, 

has been presented well, 

has good relevance and is 

suitable for what you need 

based on the job brief. 

What are some top tips 

for enhancing your CV? 

If you’re putting a CV 

together, make sure it has a 

good framework with the 

below information as key 

headings: 

• Personal details (full 

name/email/contact number) 

• Career or Professional 

Summary 

• Skills 

• Work Experience 

•Qualifications/Education 

• Interests 

A few reminders: Iif you 

are going to include a 

photo or a personal email 

address, make sure that 

they’re both professional 

and suitable for a CV, not a 

photo that might be best 

suited to your social media. 

Ensure your work experience 

goes backwards 

from recent to old, your 

recent experience is most 

relevant, and be sure to 

include your key responsibilities 

alongside any 

achievements or accomplishments 

e.g. awards, 

promotions, results … 

Just remember not to go 

overboard with content so 

it reads likeas a novel; it’s 

important that a CV is 

easy to digest and read, but 

also isn’t too short, vague 

or presents more questions 

t h a n 

answers. 

So think 

about getting 

the balance 

right 

and consider 

which areas in your CV 

could be summarised, such 

as responsibilities, roles 

and experience that date 

back some years. 

Kiwis can be very modest, 

but it is important to 

showcase yourself in the 

very best light to ensure 

that your application creates 

a compelling reason 

for you to be called up. 

If your CV is being 

reviewed alongside others, 

and you are up against 

compelling backgrounds, 

what you have achieved 

can set you apart and can 

shine a great light on what 

you can bring to the table. 

Need more help? Check 

out our blog on looking for 

a new role for some helpful 

insights. 

https://www.cultivate.co. 

nz/post/guidance-whenlooking-for-a-new-role


Every person who chooses 

to leave their home for 

New Zealand’s shores 

comes in pursuit of the 

same dream, a dream of a 

better life. 

Migrants arrive in a foreign 

environment that has 

a different language and 

culture, knowing that pursuing 

this dream will 

inevitably involve many 

challenges. They work 

hard, study diligently and 

persevere, hoping that they 

will receive fair treatment 

for their contributions and 

efforts. 

How difficult can the 

journey be? 


(AFS) was established in 

1998 to provide services to 

people of Asian background 

who are affected 

by gambling harm, addiction 

and mental health 

issues. 

AFS also offers gambling 

prevention and harm minimisation 

services under a 

Ministry of Health contract 

and operates a 

national telephone service 

(Asian Helpline) for Asian 

individuals and families. 

Our services are offered 

in Auckland, Wellington 

and Christchurch by qualified 

counsellors, social 

workers and public health 

practitioners who speak 

English, Cantonese, Mandarin, 

Korean, Vietnamese, 

Japanese, Hindi and 

Thai. 

Throughout the years 

AFS has fostered strong 

relationships with various 

stakeholders and communities 

and has gained the 

trust of the Asian and 

migrant communities. 

The organisation has 

witnessed a significant 

increase in demand for 

support services from the 

Asian migrant population. 

Notably, the number of 

calls received by the Asian 

Helpline has tripled, with a 

remarkable surge in 

inquiries from migrant 

workers seeking assistance 

due to unfair workplace 

treatment. 

In response to this growing 

trend AFS has directed 

their team to conduct an 

investigation into the experiences 

of migrant employees, 

aiming to gain a deeper 

understanding of their 

unique challenges and 

needs. 

Four interviewees of 

Asian descent have bravely 

shared their stories, 

describing the hardships 

they encountered in pursuit 

of their dreams. 

Students working part-time 

being exploited verbally, 

abused by their bosses 

New Zealand Asians bravely speak out 

about their own experiences of exploitation. 

Students exploited and 

paid less than the minimum 

wage while working 

part-time 

Interviewee A: “When I 

was studying, I worked 

part-time in a restaurant. 

My boss told me the hourly 

rate was $12 cash after tax. 

At the time I had just 

arrived in New Zealand 

and didn’t know anything, 

so I worked there for a 

while. It wasn’t until later 

that I discovered that was 

not true.” 

Constantly working 

overtime without compensation 

Interviewee C: “In my 

first official job after graduation, 

although the boss 

paid me the minimum 

wage and legally taxed me, 

I was made to work overtime 

non-stop. The longest 

I ever overworked was one 

time when I was supposed 

to finish at 5 in the afternoon 

but didn’t leave the 

office until 11 at night. 

When I asked my boss how 

we calculated pay for overtime 

he very confidently 

told me that there wasn’t 

any.” 

“I’m a designer, but felt 

like I was hired to do odd 

jobs.” 

Interviewee D: “The 

position I applied for was 

that of a designer, but the 

boss asked me to do everything, 

including working 

reception at the front desk 

and driving and delivering 

goods. After delivering 

some goods I applied to the 

boss for a reimbursement 

of gas expenses. The boss 

said that I was “way too 

lacking in team spirit” for 

making such a fuss about a 

little bit of money and said 

that if I asked again, then I 

would be fired.” 

Demoralised and verbally 

abused by the boss 

Interviewee D: “Shortly 

after I started working in 

the company, the boss told 

me that with my work ability 

and poor English no 

western company would 

want me. He would try to 

brainwash me and my colleagues 

like this almost 

every day. I had good 

grades when I graduated, 

but after working in that 

company where my selfconfidence 

was beaten 

down by the boss every 

day, I felt worthless.” 

Conned into doing illegal 

work 

Interviewee C: “I came to 

New Zealand from the 

Philippines to study in 

2013. At that time I was 

introduced to a company 

for work. There was no 

interview, no contract and 

no salary negotiation, 

which I found very 

strange. 

“Later, I was taken to 

the place of work by my 

boss - a parking lot. The 

boss told me to ask the people 

who parked there if 

they had filed a tax refund. 

If they were interested, I 

could give them the company 

flyers, they would 

give us some money and we 

could help them. But the 

boss told me “If you see the 

security 

guards 

coming, 

r u n 

away.” 

“ T h e 

whole rest of that afternoon 

the boss left me there 

alone to familiarise myself 

with the work. I was only 

20 at the time so this was 

terrifying to me and I felt 

like the boss was trying to 

get me to do something illegal. 

“Later that day I went 

back to my rental and 

shared the experience with 

my Kiwi flatmate who was 

living with me. He told me 

not to have anything to do 

with them anymore and 

said that it sounded really 

dangerous. 

“The next day I went 

back to school and found 

the person who introduced 

me to the job to let them 

know that I was quitting. 

He told me “You should 

really tell the boss and 

resign formally, because 

you’ve only just come to 

New Zealand and no good 

will come from offending 

the boss.” I didn’t listen to 

him and cut all communication 

with the ‘boss’. 

When I look back now, I’m 

glad I did.” 

Reflecting on their own 

experiences during the 

interviews, all the interviewees 

expressed that having 

been fully informed 

regarding Employ-ment 

rights and laws prior to 

entering New Zealand 

would have prevented people 

from being treated 

unfairly. The experience of 

unfair treatment at work 

doesn’t stop with the 

financial health of the person, 

this also affects the 

physical and mental wellbeing 

of the person, therefore, 

it is also helpful for 

New Migrants to receive 

prior knowledge of different 

health services that 

they can access in a timely 

manner. 


are here to assist you if you 

or someone you know has 

experienced migrant 

exploitation and needs 

emotional or psychological 

support, then call our 

Asian Helpline on 0800 862 

342 for help. 

We can provide professional 

and confidential 

psychological support. Our 

helpline is available in 

Mandarin, Cantonese, 

Korean, Japanese, Hindi, 

Vietnamese, Thai and 

English and is open 

Monday to Friday 9am to 

8pm. 

Everyone working in 

New Zealand deserves to 

be treated fairly, irrespective 

of their identity, ethnicity, 

age, or gender. The 

rights and support the 

New Zealand government 

provides are accessible to 

all, ensuring equity for 

everyone. To ensure fair 

treatment, the first step is 

to know your rights and be 

informed of the available 

support the New Zealand 

government offers all 

workers. This information 

can be easily accessed at 

www.employment.govt.nz, 

where comprehensive 

resources are available to 

promote equity and to 

ensure that all workers 

receive the fair treatment 

they deserve. 

If you think that you are 

being exploited, then you 

can make a complaint by 

contacting Employment 

New Zealand on 0800 200 

088, where they can provide 

language assistance. 

They are open Monday to 

Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm, 

or access their website and 

complete the online complaint 

form at www. 

reportmigrantexploitation.employment.govt.nz/


P a g e 1 3 

Simple, Stylish, Brand New 

& Freehold 

For sale 

by negotiation. 

23 John Gray Street, 

Papakura 

3 Bed, 2 Bath, 

1 Lounge, 

1 Garage 

Land area: 

167 square metres 

OPEN HOME 

Saturday 23rd Sep & 

Sunday 24th Sep 

1:00pm - 1:30pm. 

Request a viewing: 

Lawrence Yuan 

021 038 5588 

email: 

l.yuan@barfoot.co.nz 

If you're searching for the 

ideal property that 

seamlessly blends 

affordability, comfort, and 

style, then this superb 

dwelling is perfect! 

Positioned within one of 

Papakura's newest 

subdivisions, everyday 

conveniences including 

shops, schools parks and 

transport systems, including 

Papakura Train Station are 

within easy reach. 

This brand new 3 bedroom, 

2.5 bathroom home, 

(including master with 

ensuite) delivers generous 

proportions and a thoughtful 

design, complemented by 

warm contemporary interiors 

and quality fixtures and fittings. 

Bosch appliances, 

underfloor heating in 

bathrooms, a smart toilet, 

heat pumps and single 

internal access garage add 

to your daily comfort. Bright 

open plan living is the 

perfect space to relax, and 

paired with a modern 

kitchen, ensures daily meal 

prep or entertaining friends 

will be a breeze. An adjacent 

nature reserve and Bruce 

Pulman Reserve provides 

plenty of weekend activities 

for outdoor lovers. 

Whether you're a first-time 

home buyer embarking on 

your homeownership 

journey, a savvy investor or 

a downsizer aiming for 

simplicity without sacrificing 

style, this 

property has it 

covered. 

Embrace the 

best of urban 

living while still 

enjoying a 

peaceful, 

well-planned 

neighbourhood. 

Call me today 

for viewing 

times to arrange 

a private 

inspection. 

Lawrence Yuan: 021 038 5588


P a g e 1 5 


AUCKLAND – Asian 

communities deserve recognition 

for their outstanding 

response to the 2023 

Census, say community 

engagement advisors. 

Apparently the grassroots 

strategy of census collectors 

has been instrumental in lifting 

Asian people’s participation 

in this census. 

Official response rates 

come out next year, but Stats 

NZ is keeping track of the 

rate of return of individual 

census forms. As of 16 May, 

819,700 people of Asian ethnicity 

had returned a form, 

which equates to 91% of the 

estimated Asian population 

in New Zealand. This is a 

better response than other 

ethnic groups in New 

Zealand, with much lower 

participation seen from 

MÇori and Pacific communities. 

A high level of participation 

could be attributed to 

several factors, such as the 

growing awareness of the 

importance of the census 

among Asian communities 

and the availability of 

resources and support in various 

Asian languages to help 

with completing the census 

forms. 

It is also worth noting that 

the Asian population in New 

Zealand is quite diverse, 

with different ethnic groups 

having different response 

rates. For example, in the 

2018 Census, the response 

rate for the Indian ethnic 

group was 89.5%, while the 

response rate for the Chinese 

ethnic group was 96.2%. 

Information about what this 

looks like for the 2023 

Census won’t be known 

until 2024, when data and 

statistics from the 2023 

Census will be released. 

Overall, while there may 

still be some barriers to census 

participation for some 

members of Asian communities, 

the high rate of participation 

suggests that many 

Asian New Zealanders see 

the census as an important 

tool for ensuring that their 

needs and interests are represented 

in government decision-making. 

With time running out 

before the New Zealand census 

comes to a close in June, 

census officials are working 

hard to reach out to as many 

Asian communities deserve 

kudos for their outstanding 

census response rate 

people as possible and to lift 

response numbers in areas 

with lower rates of participation. 

They are leaving no stone 

unturned, attending community 

events and even offering 

incentives such as grocery 

vouchers and Warrior’s 

rugby league tickets to 

encourage people to complete 

their census forms. 

The hope is that more people 

will respond and that the 

data collected will accurately 

reflect the needs and characteristics 

of New Zealand's 

diverse population. 

Simon Mason, Deputy 

Government Statistician and 

Deputy Chief Executive 

Census and Collection 

Operations, spoke about the 

importance of filling out the 

census. 

“Data gathered through 

the census is used by communities, 

iwi, councils, businesses 

and government to 

make important decisions 

about where to fund and 

locate services and infrastructure 

across the country. 

“Census data is used to 

make important decisions 

that impact every person and 

community in Aotearoa New 

Zealand. The opportunity to 

be part of the census only 

Eva Chen, Senior Advisor - Community Engagement - 2003 Census 

comes round every five 

years. It is our chance to represent 

ourselves, our families, 

whanau, and communities 

in order to create 

change.” 

Stats NZ has deployed 

Community Engagement 

Teams in a ‘grassroots’ 

approach to working with 

communities and supporting 

priority response groups to 

take part in the census. 

Migrant News spoke with 

Rochelle Lee, Stats NZ, Community Engagement Advisor 

Community Engagement 

Advisor Rochelle Lee, who 

is a part of this grassroots 

plan of action to bring up 

respondent numbers 

before the census 

closes. Rochelle is 

part of the Auckland 

North team, which 

spans from Onehunga 

in the South all 

the way to Wellsford 

in the North. There 

are eight teams 

across the nation, 

working hard to 

reach as many people 

as possible 

across all ethnicities. 

“We are supporting 

as many events 

as we can manage, 

to help people to 

complete their census 

forms so we can 

lift the census 

response and deliver 

data for the country. 

We will still do events until 4 

June. For example, I just got 

invited to a Telugu Mother’s 

Day event. We think that is a 

little bit of a low response 

area so we will go there and 

work our magic. 

“The census will wind 

down in June, with some 

collection activities and 

events still going in 

Auckland. The 0800 

helpline will remain open for 

the whole country until 30 

June. And people will need 

to make sure they mail back 

paper forms so they arrive 

with Stats NZ no later than 

29 June. 

“We want everyone to be 

counted, so future funding 

for communities is correct 

and people can benefit from 

good quality data. The population 

count is important for 

things such as wait times at 

hospitals and school builds 

and the location of parks and 

public transport. These decisions 

come from local councils 

and central government 

agencies. When you stop and 

really think about it, census 

data is vital for our everyday 

lives.” 

BACKSTORY: 

Information on the factors 

that may prevent ethnic 

communities from participating 

in the New Zealand 

census can be found in various 

sources such as academic 

research papers, government 

reports and news 

articles. We detail below 

some of this data. 

Language barriers: 

Some ethnic communities 

may have limited proficiency 

in English, which can 

make it difficult for them to 

understand the census questions 

or complete the forms. 

This can be a significant barrier 

to participation, especially 

if there are no 

resources available in their 

native language. 

Lack of awareness: Some 

ethnic communities may not 

be aware of the census and 

its importance. This could be 

due to a lack of outreach and 

education on the part of the 

government or community 

organisations. 

Mistrust of the government: 


may have historical or 

current reasons for distrusting 

the government, which 

can lead to reluctance to participate 

in the census. 

Fear of repercussions: 


may be fearful that providing 

personal information on 

the census form could lead 

to negative consequences, 

such as deportation or discrimination. 

Mobility: Some ethnic 

communities may be highly 

mobile or transient, making 

it difficult for them to participate 

in the census if they are 

not in one place long enough 

to receive or complete the 

form. 

Accessibility issues: 


may face accessibility barriers, 

such as physical disabilities 

or lack of internet 

access, which can make it 

difficult to participate in the 

census. 

The 7th Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards. official website: filipinoheroes.nz 

Over 120 super heroes honoured to date. To nominate your hero for 2023 please contact us at: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz 

AUCKLAND • WELLINGTON • CHRISTCHURCH

P a g e 1 6 w e b s i t e : w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / w w w . m i g r a n t n e w s . n z I T r a v e l G a l o r e : www.travelgalore.nz

MIGRANT NEWS Sept 2023

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?