[Indigoazure]

Hey there

I was wondering if there were any black people or people of color on here who have moved to NZ or are moving to NZ from anywhere?

Thanks

[Scotty69]

Hi i am mixed race from Scotland half Scots and other half West Indian, can i please ask why a strange question :confused: We are hoping to be in NZ later this year Natasha

[Indigoazure]

To make some connections and to find out your experience with moving and living to New Zealand. I'm black and was considering moving to New Zealand and wanted to connect and hear from black and other people of color who are moving, moved and living there. :)

Thanks

[CityBlue]

To make some connections and to find out your experience with moving and living to New Zealand. I'm black and was considering moving to New Zealand and wanted to connect and hear from black and other people of color who are moving, moved and living there. :)

Thanks

Am I being incredibly simplistic?? wouldnt it help you to find out the experiences of anyone (black or not) who had moved to NZ? Surely its the same process (mental and paperwork wise) nomatter what the colour of skin?

[Indigoazure]

I have access to non-black experiences. (besides I'm not asking about paperwork and I don't know what you mean by mental) I wouldn't call you simplistic, It just appears that you don't get that there is a cultural component to groups as well as skin color or that the experiences of a person of color in NZ or anywhere else may very well be vastly different than those who aren't people of color. For instance, I was just in Germany. I was stared at the whole time and the white friend I was visiting was not and never noticed I was being stared at. When I told her we both just laughed about it.

[dharder]

For what it's worth, I find it a perfectly valid concern to look for people in similar situations and to look for shared experiences. Isn't that what we are all on this board for to begin with? I see no need to justify yourself, indigoazure.

I also think there were a few threads about race in NZ here, have you done s search yet? Maybe that would give you some insight.

Daniela

[benandclare]

For what it's worth, I find it a perfectly valid concern to look for people in similar situations and to look for shared experiences. Isn't that what we are all on this board for to begin with? I see no need to justify yourself, indigoazure.

Daniela

We agree with dharder and think it's a very valid question....in our short time here we have seen very few black people.
Clare works with a black person who is in a senior grade and has been here for over 10 years from UK, hope this helps you a bit .

Good luck with which ever path you take :yes

[CityBlue]

[QUOTE=Indigoazure;174119]I don't know what you mean by mental)......QUOTE]

I meant the mental processes involved with moving countries and also possibly the mental shift involved in changing your lifestyle in a new country.

Also, Dharder, I wasnt asking for Indigoazure to provide justification.


No offence meant to anyone.

It sounds like I will learn something from this thread. I will keep reading/watching with interest.

[Sunkissed]

Hi Indigo,

I have the same question. I was born in the U.S. My mother is from Jamaica and my father is from Nigeria. I searched Yahoo! NZ last week for 'Black women...New Zealand' but no valuable information returned in the search results.

In my opinion (based on my research), it seems like the Polynesians, Asians, and Maoris are a bit resented by the majority. At the same time there are interracial marriages/dating so I'm sure people of color are accepted to an extent. Since the black African/American population is lower than those previously mentioned, I'm sure they're not hated on too much. But if their numbers start to increase, then I don't know...

I believe a good number of black women definitely live in Auckland and Wellington but I'm not sure about the other cities.

There are several cultural groups that operate in these 2 major cities. The American Women's Network (Wellington) has a website and if you join (for several dollars) I'm sure they can connect you with American women of color.

I plan to move to NZ before the year is up (providing I get a job offer).

[Bruckner]

I'm Puerto Rican and moved here from New York City last August. The first thing I noticed was the lack of Black and Hispanics but then again, to move here from a place as diverse as New York you're bound to notice something like this.

So far I've seen a handful of Blacks and Hispanics in the Auckland area and have not heard a negative word or comment about either group. I have heard a few dismissive comments about Asians and Pacific Islanders but what I really noticed was the lack of racial tension as a whole. Again, this is based on the tension that New York has seen over the years.

I also want to point out that when you look for a job here you'll a lot about "kiwi experience." I found a job relatively easy but my husband, who is Caucasian, is still unemployed. I don't know if being Black is going to make it harder.

If you have any other questions please PM me. Good luck!

Emily

[Indigoazure]

dharder
Thanks. I did a brief search and was reading some helpful posts about racism in NZ and interracial couples, ect. I still needed a little more.

benandclare
Thanks also. :)

CityBlue
No offense.

Sunkissed
Thanks for responding. I have gotten the same from my own research as well, plus a friend of mine knows some Maori's there and would tell me about their struggles. Also another friend of mine found out the BMI requirement was rooted in trying to limit the number of Pacific Islanders coming to NZ so he decided to move to Austrailia instead. I don't want to live in AUS though. hahaha But at the same time, that has made me rethink moving to NZ. But I'll keep that door open.

I was reading a while back there were some African refugess there too. So that's cool. NZ doesn't have to be full of black folks, I just want to move some place where I can relax relatively easily and not feel too disconnected.

I'll have to check the American Women's Network out. Thanks.

Are you currently living in the US? I had a job interview last week with a company that does IT support in NZ, Malta and Seattle, Wa. It went pretty well and it was very positive. Have you been interviewing? My original plan was to move after August but if I get an offer before then...


Bruckner
Thanks for your imput as well. I understand about things being very different compared to NY. I was actually raised in the South so I'm sure NZ will be very different. :) I do travel some and was just in Germany and Ireland. Two vastly different places but I loved being in a different environment. I've also been to Ghana and the Dominican Republic, etc. I live in upstate, NY now. I will PM you with some questions. :)

[Sunkissed]

Yes, I currently live in the U.S. and have been sending out resumes (began researching jobs in NZ 3 weeks ago...but managers were on holiday). Of course I keep getting the "...I'm very impressed with your resume...are you in NZ now...do you have a work visa". So, by not being in NZ, it will be a challenge landing a job there. So, I'm giving myself 6-7 months to find something.

I hope the recruiting/interview process has a positive outcome for you.

[migratory birds]

You may have come across this thread I started months back...

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12390&highlight=racism+nz

Before we visited NZ recently, I thought we (an interracial family) might settle somewhere on the South Island (beauty, cost of housing, etc) but after traveling and spending nearly two weeks visiting several communities on the SI...I realized that we really should have spent more time closer to Auckland...as it is likely where we would settle if we move solely because of the cultural diversity found only in Auckland. My daughter attends a school now with families from 70 different countries with 40 different languages are spoken in these homes. I can only hope to find such a school in Auckland...

I did have communication (on another list) with a black woman (originally from Toronto) who moved to Auck with her white partner and biracial kids...but even in Auckland as a black woman she felt the heel of racism and felt a return to Canada was likely.

But that was only one woman's experience...so it might depend on where you land and who you fall in with at work, in your neighborhood/community, social networks, how old you are.

[KerryS]

My daughter attends a school now with families from 70 different countries with 40 different languages are spoken in these homes. I can only hope to find such a school in Auckland...


There are schools like this in Auckland. I went to a powhiri at Pakuranga College, and was really impressed by the flags in the school hall - which represented all the nationalities of students at the school.
The school was fantastic and really impressed me. I don't know if it has changed much in the last couple of years, as the principal I knew has left and is now deputy CEO at NZQA.

[Indigoazure]

Thanks for all of your info and replies. I've been doing some more reading and thinking and I'm going to pass on moving to New Zealand. I'm really having a hard time rationalizing the questionable BMI requirement. So I'm moving elsewhere.

Good Luck to you all!

Cheers!

[IanW99]

Thanks for all of your info and replies. I've been doing some more reading and thinking and I'm going to pass on moving to New Zealand. I'm really having a hard time rationalizing the questionable BMI requirement. So I'm moving elsewhere.

Good Luck to you all!

Cheers!

Good luck for the future, and please post on the forum when you do find a country that you are happy with.

I have no idea why you are unable to understand the medical entry requirements for a country or why you believe that the BMI 'requirements' are questionable?

You really should do research on things that you do not understand instead of reading stupid comments posted by people who have no concept of the issues involved.

For the record, the waist sizes are defined by the Internationl Diabetes Federation (IDF (http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=3)) which is a world wide organisation that under research has shown at what measurement waist sizes increas the likelyhood of developing diabetes.

This has nothing to do with NZ, or immigration or racism unless you believe that the NZ govt can somehow change this research?

Also, to call it a 'requirement' is a bit of a stretch, if you have a high BMI or a waist size that is larger than defined by the IDF then you are statistically at a higher risk of developing health problems so they require extra tests to confirm that in fact you are not at risk and are healthy enough to actually work in NZ.

Ian

[Indigoazure]

You really should do research on things that you do not understand instead of reading stupid comments posted by people who have no concept of the issues involved.

For the record, the waist sizes are defined by the Internationl Diabetes Federation (IDF (http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=3)) which is a world wide organisation that under research has shown at what measurement waist sizes increas the likelyhood of developing diabetes.



You shouldn't assume that one has not done their own research because they don't agree, nor should you assume that statistics can't be questioned or questionable or that statistics can not be used for racist purposes. Besides NZ does allow people in the country with managed diabetes so obiviously that is of no concern.

I do not have the time or desire to explain this situation to you. But I can offer this bit of reality... There are how many countries on this planet? Exactly. :)

Cheers!

[IanW99]

You shouldn't assume that one has not done their own research because they don't agree, nor should you assume that statistics can't be questioned or questionable or that statistics can not be used for racist purposes. Besides NZ does allow people in the country with managed diabetes so obiviously that is of no concern.

I do not have the time or desire to explain this situation to you. But I can offer this bit of reality... There are how many countries on this planet? Exactly. :)

Cheers!

You make a good point, that I did assume that you had not done sufficient research, to be fair I was going on your comment from another thread.

I agree and it's actually made me reconsider moving to NZ, especially when I was told the BMI thing was to regulate the amount of Pacific Islanders moving to NZ. I have IT skills, publish books and do music and film. I feel I have a lot to off NZ but don't want to be thrown away because I'm pleasantly plump. :)

If you did do the research then I would welcome reading it as it seems to be just opinions. I have previously posted a link on the BMI thread that shows the document that has all the research in regarding waist measurements if you want to review it.

You previous post stated "So I'm moving elsewhere.", I was just interested in which country you had chosen.

All the best for whatever you choose to do :nice1

Ian

[veronica]

I don't think the BMI issue is at all related to any race colour or creed. its simply a common sense measurement put in to reduce the risk of bringing people into the country who may in the future have health issues and cost the govt. lots of dosh. The same as the english language test is there to negate the problems caused for/by people coming into a country and being unable to communicate with the rest of the population and so not intergrate into the mainstream of that society.
I also feel that without being here its nearly impossible to make a judgement re colour, mostly the Maori issue is more about attitude than colour, theres plenty of successful Maoris about too, but nobody bothers talking about that, its just not sensational enough. The more aware anyone is of either their colour or anything else that sets them apart, ie, exceptionally tall, ginger hair, speech inpediment, even socio ecconomic backgrounds, from those around them the more likely it is that that will cause it to be an issue, and with this I also include any colour in other ethnic environments. black on white or white on black.
One of our customers at the ski shop, a very charismatic likeable man who happens to be black (and is married to a lovely lady who happens to be caucasion) has just been head hunted from his own business to join a big company and teach others there, they don't care what colour his skin is, they just want his expertise. but the main issue here is that the guy himself doesn't care what colour he is either.

[BkyMonster]

the main issue here is that the guy himself doesn't care what colour he is either.

I think that's a good point. If you are looking for negatives you are sure to see them.


I'm not going to touch the rest of this discussion though! I'll put a word wrong. :o

[dilanium]

I still want to hear the information that Indigoazure has about the BMI requirements being racist.

oh well.

[Bruckner]

So I'm moving elsewhere.
Cheers!

Safe travels my friend.

Emily

[Lupin]

Thanks for all of your info and replies. I've been doing some more reading and thinking and I'm going to pass on moving to New Zealand. I'm really having a hard time rationalizing the questionable BMI requirement. So I'm moving elsewhere.



Oh.

I don't really get that, tbh, but good luck with whatever utopia you manage to find to move to ....

[migratory birds]

Without taking the time to scan the NZIS website, I believe there is a different immigration entry pathway with fewer potential hurdles for Pacific Islanders seeking to live in NZ. Don't know if the health requirements are different or take into consideration the range of phenotypic expressions of different ethnic groups worldwide.

[katandbob]

Without taking the time to scan the NZIS website, I believe there is a different immigration entry pathway with fewer potential hurdles for Pacific Islanders seeking to live in NZ. Don't know if the health requirements are different or take into consideration the range of phenotypic expressions of different ethnic groups worldwide.

Yes I think you are right (can't be bothered to look it up thou) pacific Islanders can get visas through a different route than say UK US etc.

as to the racial comments towards colours - like Veronica says. it depends on your perspective.

I have seen plenty of coloured skin around Invercargill - and freckled ginger hair etc.

I do notice that people are not scared to complain about the MINORITY who bludge off the government and expect to get everything handed to them on a plate.

This comment was from a maori lady I know - who has worked hard ALL her life, she does not expect to get better treatment/loans etc than anyother person in NZ. Like I said - she has WORKED for everything she owns!


So the thing is to remember that NZ IS NOT UTOPIA and that it has the same issues as everyother country in the world, the place has its faults - BUT its what you make of it yourself that makes the difference.

[Annierobrigado]

I have access to non-black experiences. (besides I'm not asking about paperwork and I don't know what you mean by mental) I wouldn't call you simplistic, It just appears that you don't get that there is a cultural component to groups as well as skin color or that the experiences of a person of color in NZ or anywhere else may very well be vastly different than those who aren't people of color. For instance, I was just in Germany. I was stared at the whole time and the white friend I was visiting was not and never noticed I was being stared at. When I told her we both just laughed about it.

hmm. this is interesting... maybe they stared because you are really worth staring at? like movie star-handsome/beautiful?

there are a lot of wonderful black people here, and they such handsome specimens of humans (both men and women), i keep smiling at them even if they don't know me! makes my own skin color (brown) "pale" in comparison. but yeah, i get what you mean, although so far in nz i haven't heard any objectionable issue against men of color, whether black, brown, yellow or red. we sometimes become a source for curiosity, coz we have different cultures, but the questions i;'ve had to field are really sincere and honest interest in ourselves as persons. i've sort of "lectured' about the philippines and our culture to some of the kiwis i've met already because they were really curious about our country as they haven't really heard much about it except for Imelda Marcos and her shoes.

cheers
annie
cheers
annie

[Sunkissed]

Annie,

That is very true. People do stare out of curiosity especially when they're not accustomed to seeing certain ethnicities, cultures...or beauty in general (just as one would stare at a rainbow, sunset, exotic insect, animal, plant etc.). I'll be honest...I stare when I see beautiful babies/children or men of any ethnicity. So, you've made a good point which hits home!


Everyone else,

In some countries, certain groups of people (based on their skin color, for instance) are underestimated and discriminated against on a daily/weekly basis (depending on the amount of contact they have with ignorant people). This may occur anywhere such as work, low-end stores, high-end boutiques, schools, on the street, and believe it or not...even dairies/markets. The discrimination can be so subtle at times that those who've never experienced such a thing will never notice it. And trust me, every time it occurs it cuts like a knife. It's very annoying. The reasons for this type of discrimination may vary. It may have something to do with history, commerce (both of which are related to survival of the fittest), etc.

Experiencing racism so often is uncomfortable. You never get used to it. So, before I travel to a different country I research not only the climate/weather, affordability, job prospects, government, current events, general compassion/friendliness of the people, but also their genuine acceptance and treatment of all people of color. The answer to the last question definitely allows me to gauge my possible discomfort level and also the dysfunction of the society.

It's not about living in a utopia, it's about living in reasonable comfort...for a change.