Robbo25

I have an interview soon for a role with NZ Immigration around helping immigrants and businesses settle into the country and help businesses and the country retain the people and their skills.

I was given some background information for the interview, as I have to give a presentation, but thought I would also share the presentation title and ask for peoples views on it.

The subject is:

"The major factors that influence whether a skilled migrant settles well into New Zealand, and the role that businesses that employ migrants can play.”

M_and_M

Do you live here?

MrsFychan

I really don't know what you are actually asking. My experience has been initially very good, kids settled into school quickly, I got PT work. fast forward 1 yr, kids school is just awful and I in the end remove them from it and reported the Head and the Committee to the education authority and education minister. Work is just a real pain, even more so now as we had to move to get the children into alternative schools. Husbands work initially very good but then the "well you need to work these hours without pay" "you need to work over the weekend" type scenario's started.
So in my experience schools need to be more accountable and you should have more choice if you experience problems at one and need to move to another nearby even if you are not in the catchment area rather than having to move out of the area. Employers need to stick to the rules of employment and not make people feel like if they do not work unpaid then they will just be replaced, especially as there is no formal redundancy laws over here.

solesister

Thats awful What was wrong with the school? I worry about my 2 little ones going to a new school..they are just babies really. Was it level of education or something else?

Robbo25

Yes M_and_M I do live here and with the exception of personal circumstances that meant I left the country for a few months have been here since 2008. I have experienced quite a bot but was more interested in others not mine.

Mrs Fychan, thanks for giving a view. The first part of the question is based around what makes people feel settled, so knowing what makes them unsettled gives an insight as to the challenges faced which Immigration NZ have been tasked with trying to counter as best they can.

Secondly, what role do/can businesses play in this. This relates to how much help or not an employer may give a migrant, their understanding of visas etc. It does not have to be heavily structured or expensive it could be getting an existing employee to buddy up for a better word, it could educating managers so that they are supportive of the employees environment. It also extends to understanding that if someone gains employment then their ability to socially integrate is massively improved by having money, people around them to potentially socialise with etc.

From my own perspective, some employers go to great lengths to attract overseas staff and then neglect an asset to the company that is actually quite high in cost to bring in, many people complain of the work environment not being challenging enough, or their careers suffering etc.

Not sure if my ramble has helped but I hope so.

Robbo25

I know it's absolutely no use but after speaking to a school outside of my kids catchment area, they actually said that if there were tangible reasons for needing the child moved i.e. bullying etc, the board have the power to grant exception to the catchment area and they would take the child into their school.

As for work, there are pretty good laws around what employers can do, however that doesn't help when they are doing everything they can to make your life hell if they choose to and you are having to fight your corner.

LauraNotts

I think patience and understanding plays a huge role. People often assume that as you arrive here speaking English you will just slide on in, that's not true. I remember at my orientation for my first job one of the Kiwi presenters responding to a query from a British migrant about what ACC was with 'well that's a bit basic, isn't it?' in tones of rather marked sarcasm. Attitudes like that are not helpful.

What you need to fit in is a sense of control over your environment i.e the right housing, knowing where stuff is, the ability within reason to fix stuff when it goes wrong and the ability to connect with others.

I suppose I'm an oddity because I came over on my own as a single woman but I found there was a major lack of support for me in 'figuring stuff out' outside of my immediate job. It would have been nice to have had a little pack that said 'this is where the supermarkets are, these are some of the major clubs in the area, this is how you go about fixing a car/bike/broken washing machine etc. Granted I found that stuff myself and was perfectly okay doing it but it's the feeling welcomed that counts.

TommyLuck

Wouldn't this be the same if you'd moved as a single woman to say Exeter (presuming you don't know Exeter or anyone in Exeter and the surrounds)?


To the OP;

My job is a funny one. I'm working for the same company and doing a pretty similar role in Auckland than I did in London.

But, to be honest I'm not particularly happy in my role here and I certainly didn't leave the UK because of my job there, I left while I was up!! The same job was far more enjoyable and rewarding in London.

Having said this I know the why's and wherefore's of the issues here and much of it I can't personally control, sp I am comfortable with this. Whilst plodding along I am seeking out other roles.

The quirk in my role is that I work for the New Zealand office within global corporation in Auckland where the decisions are made in Sydney.

Therefore the 'culture' is a difficult one to judge with the heavy influence of decision making coming from across the Tasman - I can't be sure what's what in terms of what of the culture and business problems are the Australia offices doing and what could actually be sort locally in New Zealand.

Despite all this I definitely feel settled over just over a year here.

I didn't come to New Zealand to make money, although I am seeking career development - so I'm not too bothered about my job not going according to plan. I can go elsewhere with the right opportunity.

I feel settled because of what I have gained outside of work. A job is rarely perfect, but I am thankful to be employed and be in a position to look for other work whilst earning money.

My wife is also having issues at work in that she hasn't yet bee offered a permanent contract with her role, having recently been offered a fixed term contract for a 3rd term.

Despite her frustrations we are very settled in NZ - although it is my wife who has returned 'home'.


Outside of work I can't really speak highly enough of the people I've encountered who have welcomed me to New Zealand. The people at work have welcomed me too and the problems at work aren't as a result of me being an immigrant and not fitting in - I have fit in with my colleagues, it's the business, or they way it's being run that is the issue just now.

LauraNotts

I'd say not, I've done the move within England on my own and didn't think of that as odd because it was within my own country and wider culture but most people that I see here migrate in families or are young men. I haven't met anyone else like me who did it alone. It's more the 'move the other side of the world and into a different country' thing than the being a single woman thing.

jmh

I'm half way through writing a book on job hunting in NZ for migrants, plus I have a lot of clients who are searching for their first job (e.g as the spouse of a skilled migrant).

My views for part one of the question are (note that my clients are often from places like India rather than UK):

A person is more likely to settle in well if they are able to engage with the local population, use the language, and, in the short term, try to adapt to local practices. That doesn't mean that you give up your culture, just that by adapting you may understand better why some things are done differently in NZ compared to other countries. This is easier if you have a job, but I've seen real problems with spouses and family who are not working, and spend most of their time with people speaking the same language and with the same customs. This isolates them and they become unhappy.

Standard of English is a huge issue for people who are not native English speakers. While they may pass the test threshold for immigration, they may not have enough conversational English skills to engage in the community and work force. I had a Chinese client the other day who spoke reasonable English and had got a job. She was sacked because her level of English meant she had trouble explaining the complex equipment she was selling, even though she was an expert in the field and had done the same job in China. She was devastated because she had never been sacked before and she felt she had failed. She is clearly talented, but was let down by her English skills.

One of the problems with the immigration website is that it is too positive about NZ. A more realistic description that includes negative stories would be helpful. People may still come to NZ after reading them but at least they are not expecting some kind of Shangri la. It needs to spell out how hard it is being a migrant, even when everything falls into place. It may be worth doing but it's not an easy option.

Role that businesses can play:

Providing an information pack with advice on local supplies and services, how to find a doctor, how to assess schools, expected dress code, and a basic glossary of terms (e.g. what is ACC?). This can be an online course that they can study before they arrive.

Maybe provide them with a mentor in the company they can go to and ask business and personal questions.

Social events where family are included may be helpful with integrating spouses/partners – e.g. a children's Christmas party or summer barbeque
Support and encouragement for improving the level of English of the worker, as well as for his/her family

A support group for fellow migrants (not necessarily from the same country). The Chinese woman I mentioned above had got some good feedback from some Indian migrants she had met.

You can see from this link that most migrants into NZ don't have English as a first language, so it is a key issue. Testing for it is not good enough - there needs to be further English language support even if people have passed the test:

New Zealand Migrants - How Many and From Where?

I hope that helps. Feel free to ask questions - I have a lot of migrants as clients. Some of the problems cross cultures and language, such as homesickness, missing family and friends, favourite foods etc. Only time will heal those things.

jmh

I've had a few clients working at NZ companies that have been taken over by larger Australian companies and they have said that the culture changed. I think it is different, but precisely why I'm not sure. I get the impression that in Australia it is more structured on a corporate level (i.e. the hierarchy is more layered than tends to happen in NZ) and there is more regulation.

MrsFychan

I did try various other schools that were commutable from where we used to live but they would not budge on the catchment areas.
I even got the Ministry involved and Heika Parata.(sp)

We did find a school that would take him but it was a 30min drive away, luckily in an area we had previously considered living, so did not in the end have to home school them for any length of time. Has meant us moving to make life easier, which was on the cards but it would of been much easier not to have our hands forced.

Robbo25

Feel for you, just horrible for your family to go through, hope your lad is doing well now!

Snap Shot

I'm married to a New Zealander so I asked him about ACC. He also told me you can't sue anyone in NZ. It's just the way NZ laws are written. Plus any other things to do with NZ that I don't know but he might know.

I can ask my husband for prompts about NZ and/or maori culture i.e. what's a hongi, a hangi, a whaka, a kereru, a ruru, a pukeko, a powhiri. Do I know my marae from my pa ? Yeah, I think I do.

These questions are private to me. I wouldn't ask a (so called laid back, friendly) kiwi for fear of getting the same answer that a thread contributor a few posts back got.

My husband is about the only person I trust to honestly answer the question without smirking or being rude. Well he wanted to live here, he can be my cultural advisor. OK, there's lots of things I know about NZ through living here and I still don't care !

Snap Shot

I'm glad your children are in better schools now. Even if you might be running out of patience with NZ.