[jamilliah]

Hi im originally from the caribbean and i lived in new york for many years,my parents and i are planning on moving here,i was just wondering from the research and the endless reading on new zealand,it seems the caribbean community is very very small...i know of st.lucian nurses working there now,but it seems theres much more of an african populace....so is there any areas in or around christchurch or anywhere that has a caribbean population?

[veronica]

Haven't heard of one but will ask around. Why not just get involved with the local culture, there is quite a big music scene and loads of sport things happening.

[jamilliah]

ahh i will definately be a part of the local culture etc,i just wanted to know if there was a large caribbean population,because from what i read theres mostly africans,asian etc...because in new york im used to different societies including the caribbean..and if there isnt a large caribbean community ohwell,if there is just would like to know.

[Beach Kiwi]

You'd be lucky to find many Caribbeans in Christchurch, let alone a Caribbean 'community'. Christchurch is one of the most 'European' cities in New Zealand, so there aren't really any 'ethnic' communities there at all - well, none that could be called large.

Your best 'bet' for finding one would be Auckland, as it has reasonably large ethnic communities from all over the world. However, I can't say I've ever heard of one there either, and this comes from someone who lived there for over 40 years.

[veronica]

Hey christchurch has masses of ethnic communities, there is Thai, chinese and other asian communities also seems to be quite a lot of different african groups here, just haven't noticed any carribean groups.

[Beach Kiwi]

^ Sure, Christchurch has people of 'ethnicity', but they don't live together in what I think jamilliah was referring to as a 'community'.

Auckland, on the other hand, definitely has areas with quite high 'concentrations' of one ethnicity, or another and which could reasonably be called communities.

[veronica]

Hi Beach Kiwi, Try going down to Riccarton, all the shop signs are in asian languages bit like Howick and the area we live in has a lot of Somalians there are pockets of other nationalities around too.

Jamilliah, are you after a commune or are you just after info on whether there are a number of other Caribbean families around and if any where the majority live.

[cloudboy99]

I'm thinking he's looking for something like "Little Havana" or "Chinatown" where a majority of the residents in any specific area are of the same location/religion/etc. Due to the location of NZ being just about truly on the opposite side of the world, I don't see that as prominent of a migration place as NY. Of course, you also have to look at the fact that New York City has a greater population than that of New Zealand...

[Moorf]

Spot on Veronica - centre of Chch is a real melting pot!! More so than I ever imagined it would be. There is no "chinatown" as such but to me that doesn't mean there is no community. Although, saying that, I just did a Google search for Caribbean community info for the area and nothing came up :?

As for large numbers of a particular ethnicity living in same area - yes they do in Christchurch too! For instance Woolston has alot of Indian families.

It's not as obvious as in the UK, in my opinion, as alot of the city is very much integrated.

I'll check out the notice boards at the library when I next visit as I suspect that will be the place where I might find some info on various ethnic group activities/communities.

[Lil]

Jamilliah, would you be by any chance St Lucian? Since I got married there 10 years ago, I have been meaning to go back but haven't made it yet. Hubby promised that we would have our 10th anniversary there but that's been and gone last year.

[jamilliah]

lots of relplys goodie,un yes lil im st.lucian,and its not to late girl for an 11th anniversary trip..oh veronica not really after a commune,like you stated just wanted to know if any, where the majority of caribbean families live...thanks for the info guys