[Natasha]

Hiya once again! I just wanted to ask if there is anyone who is black on this forum? I guess I just wanted an ethnic minority perspective on New Zealand. A few of my friends have told me that NZ can be quie racist. Some say it's just against asians and others say in general. Since I haven't been there yet I obviously dont know how true that is since I have never been, yet. But as far as I know I dont know any black people who have been or live in New Zealand. Please dont take this question the wrong way, I am just daunted by being an ethnic minority in a brand new country, that's all.

[Smiler]

Tash

I'm white FYI. Just wanted to say that when we were planning all this, MIL had friends from NZ who warned her that there was 'racial unrest' here between the Maori's and the 'whites'. Her words not mine.

She got very upset about us moving here for that reason (and the fact she would miss us).

In MY opinion, I haven't seen any of this. I read newspaper reports of gangs and gang violence between themselves, white and other ethnicity etc. Nothing that wouldn't happen in the Uk I'm sure but no where near at the level it does there. NZ being smaller and all that too. I'm thinking of south london which is the area in the UK I know and can compare it with probably the whole of NZ.

I haven't noticed many black people here but that is because I don't notice people that way.I think you are more than likely to be daunted by being a newbie here as opposed to your colour and a newbie. That's MY opinion again. :D

[ruthyroo]

Hi Natasha

You are entitled to ask whatever questions you want on here - it's the only way you'll find out what you need to. I can't comment from the perspective of being of an ethnic minority in NZ (I am not so much white as pale blue - it's the scottish genes to blame). NZ is not a particularly multicultural place - certainly nothing to compare to London or other big cities in the world. The bigger cities often have a relatively high Asian population - especially Chinese, Korean etc. TBH though I can't recall seeing or meeting any black people in NZ in the two years I have been here - but I have not been in the bigger cities. NZ could be called bicultural I guess, but probably not multicultural.

So will this cause you problems? Hard to say - I guess it depends how thick your skin is, and how willing you are to shrug off any negative experiences. Racism in NZ that I have seen takes several forms. 1) Older pakeha of European descent, being outraged that their little corner of Britain-on-Pacific is being 'taken over' by 'Asians' (hello - look on the atlas and see where you are in the world!). Partly it's fear of 'the other', partly it's fear of change, partly it's ignorance. But it's never nice to encounter. 2) Asian drivers being slagged off by everyone - frankly I think kiwis have a bl**dy cheek to slag off anyone's driving! 3) Kiwi 'frankness'. Kiwis are pretty blunt, they don't generally take on board anything seen to be 'PC' without a struggle, and this can result in what I would see as racist language being spoken with a bluntness that sometimes takes my (former Guardian reader) breath away. But I don't think they generally mean to cause offence - and they do tend to take people as they find them, whatever colour they are.

You won't actually know until you try I guess, and good luck to you. Maybe aiming to settle in a big city would allow you to meet other people from ethnic minorities living in NZ. I'm sure that university cities would have a larger international population, and be a might more cosmopolitian in their thinking.

Good luck!

[Natasha]

Thanks to both Smiler and Ruthyroo for your comments. Much appreciated. It kinda confirms some of the stuff that I had already heard about NZ and yes it doesn't sound much different from London or in fact Wales. I grew up in Essex so had a childhood filled with visits to London and I have family living there so I know what it is like. I have also lived in Birmingham, the best city in my opinion for really blending in and lastly Wales. I guess my question was mainly because of the experiences my boyfriend, who is white, and I have had in different parts of Wales and our experiences were different. Where he hasn't seen any racism I have definately expereinced it, something we have discussed at length. So I was curious really to see what the opinions might be of any black people on here. Saying that I really appreciate any perspective.

[StevieD]

Whatever you decide Natasha we wish you well. Good luck

Steve and Jan

[Natasha]

The decision is move to NZ but where to live?! Thanks for your support Steve. Definately North Island. I had a look at Hawkes Bay since Julie mentioned she is gonna move there. Some of the houses are lovely! Any ideas on where is good to go find information on what areas are like? I was looking at Wairoa and Napier.

[willsken]

Natasha, just do a google search. Loads of stuff comes up. :yes

[zardell]

[QUOTE=Natasha]I had a look at Hawkes Bay since Julie mentioned she is gonna move there. QUOTE]


Did I ????

Think you may mean Nicola....not that it matters.

Wherever you decide to live I wish you well.

Julie

xx

[willsken]

[QUOTE=Natasha]I had a look at Hawkes Bay since Julie mentioned she is gonna move there. QUOTE]


Did I ????

Think you may mean Nicola....not that it matters.

Wherever you decide to live I wish you well.

Julie

xx

If you had any sense........... you'd get to see me all the time!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[anna_c]

(I'm saying this as a white person, so my perspective is limited)

Personally I'd say it was less racist than the UK. That's not to say it doesn't happen; it certainly does. But open gang warfare rarely has a racist (though gangs maybe of predominantly one race) base and you're very unlikely to be the victim of a random attack - though hearing a prejudiced comment, often from someone who doesn't believe they've said anything wrong is far more likely. Sometimes people will say "un-PC" things but genuinely not have any negative intentions. Plus, some terminology offensive in the UK just isn't here - and isn't found so by the people at which it's directed.

There are very few black (as in African-origin) people here so it's hard to say exactly what reactions to that are. A lot of the racism is directed at Asians (which in NZ means Chinese, Japanese, Korean), I think because of their percieved wealth and because such a large proportion of the community are students, typical obnoxious student behaviour (and I say that as one myself) seems disproportionate. (I've hear - anecdotally - that Christchurch is particularly bad for racism).

I'm not saying it's a racial paradise, because that's a myth, but I wouldn't let it negatively impact your decision.

[Natasha]

Julie and Nicola sorry for mixing you up. I believe that I mentioned before that I am a tad ditzy!!!

[StevieD]

Women - goes with the territory! :laugh (Stevie D now ducks for cover)

Seriously, there is always going to be an element of doubt and mistrust whoever and wherever you go. It happens to all "races" - and you know of the stereotypes that we label people with in this sceptred isle of ours Natasha! At the end of the day, if people are civil with you, that is o.k. in my book. People are people. I think deep down in all people there is a perception of people being "different", but it is only the minority of idiots who take it to extreme levels.

Just my view, live and let live is my motto and I'll stick by it.

[zardell]

[QUOTE=zardell]

If you had any sense........... you'd get to see me all the time!!!!!!!!!!! :D



Mmmmmmm....think I may take a look at Wanganui !! ;) :D

Julie

xx

[willsken]

Women - goes with the territory! :laugh (Stevie D now ducks for cover)



I'd bl**dy well duck, if I was you too!!!! :D

[StevieD]

:laugh

[Natasha]

Meant to say thanks Anna for your comments. Steve I am ignoring you!!!!! :0)

[owens clan]

Hi Natasha

During our stay last year (3 wk's in sept) we travelled around the north island and visited and stayed in about 15 towns and also Auckland and Wellington, .
Out of all the people we spoke to and had a drink with(which was quite alot) we only met one who was a little bit racist (what gave it away was how many times she said the "N" word), she was about 70 yr's old, so that conversation lasted as long as it took to get back in our motorhome and go :exit
Of all the other people we met some mentioned the rise in the asian comunity but no one seemed to be bothered by the colour of anyone's skin .

Hope this helps

p.s. we liked napier alot :cheers

[Avalon]

Natasha.

Are you able to come out on an extended visit before you emigrate? Say at least a month? I know its quite an expense - but it would help put your mind at rest (or not I suppose).

As others have said - my overriding observation is that racist views tend to be confined to asians - probably because there are so many more here than black people. You will undoubtedly hear comments that may take you back a bit - but in my (limited) experience they tend to be general bitching about the growing asian population (and how of course we are the migrants that they "want" to come over here because we arent asian).

I would honestly think that you will have very few if any problems.

Hugs

[foolsgold99]

not seen much racial unreset here at all, expect a lot of people seem to dislike white south africans of afrikans decesnt. But perhaps that's just my office,lol

[jonSE]

My two pennorth,

Not really seen much racism evident at all - as others have said what there is seems to be mostly targeted at Asians - mostly chines/korean.

I presume by the term "Black" you mean of African or Afro caribbean descent. There are very few here. Certainly not enough to consitute a large enough group to be the target of racism. At worst you could be mistaken for an "odd" looking Pacific Islander.

As others have said Kiwis (Both Pakeha and Maori) can be quite blunt but not with the intention of causing offence. The concept of political correctness seems to draw blank looks!

[Simon & Emily]

Living in the UK, I can't comment on this, but wanted to just say that I think a lot would depend on your own attitude and openess. Children are by nature the exact opposite of PC, and will often ask or say the most toe-curling things at the worst possible time, and in general will just say what is on their mind. If you had, for example, the good grace to smile at a child who called you 'a chocolate woman' and briefly explain that your skin's a different colour, but that's all, rather than take offence and become hostile, then I think you'd get on with people wherever you lived.

Does that make sense - hope so, it's kinda hard to explain without sounding racist.

Good luck with the move wherever you decide to go.

Emily

[Natasha]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I really appreciate them.

Thinking about children, I am quite used to them staring and making comments. I'm not sensitive about that at all. Kids are less judgemental and are more curious. Just today I was out in the sunshine at our local and as I walked past a small girl and her dad she pointed out to him loudly 'that lady is really dark. She's black'. The Dad looked sheepish and I just smiled. I didn't care, she wasn't being offensive. It's more adult attitudes that bother me although I have to say I dont get hostile. I can't stand racist comments from anyone no matter what ethnic group they are aimed at or racially prejudice attitudes. However I would rather someone is direct than in the closet, if you get me. Saying that I dont get snarly at everyone who uses words that irritate or offend me (have lost count of how many times I have been called 'coloured') I just take it on the chin. But occassionally it will bother me. I don't care for people being 'PC' I dont really believe in it. I think it's politician speak to make people afraid of what they say and the 'PC' police, in my opinion, have made people more fearful and forget the real issues. I prefer people to think about what they say, challenge their own beliefs and listen to others views. I think that we all have a responsibility to do that no matter what the subject matter. Rant over!!

I am unable to come on an extended visit because of our finances. So we are gonna take pot luck for the first few months. I'm still open for offers about nice places on the North Island. It sounds from what you say that I might well be 'the only black in the village!!'. But there are worse things I could be!

Just to make it clear again, I am not sensitive about being black, I love it! I am aware of different people's attitudes however and since I am emigrating to a country I have never visited I just wanted to get some perspective on what it is like for black people to live there.