MIGRANT NEWS Sept 2023

www.migrantnews.nz
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
By Ricky Matthew
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.

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Sports hero nurtures
a new wave of Kiwi
table tennis athletes
By Ricky Matthew
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.”

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 5
By Ricky Matthew
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.”
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7th Filipino-Kiwi
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email nominations to:
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P a g e 0 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
By Ricky Matthew
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
2023
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.”

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 7

P a g e 0 8 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
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
2023
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.
By Ricky Matthew
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?”

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 9

P a g e 1 0 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
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
By Ricky Matthew
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.

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 1 1
Transform your CV into a job-offer magnet
By Ricky Matthew
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

P a g e 1 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
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?
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 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.
Asian Family Services
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/

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 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
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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

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 1 5
By Ricky Matthew
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:
Some ethnic communities
may have historical or
current reasons for distrusting
the government, which
can lead to reluctance to participate
in the census.
Fear of repercussions:
Some ethnic communities
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:
Some ethnic communities
may face accessibility barriers,
such as physical disabilities
or lack of internet
access, which can make it
difficult to participate in the
census.
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