From Zagreb, Croatia To Wellington

What were your reasons for leaving your home country:

Crowd, Pollution, Commuting

What were your reasons for choosing New Zealand:

Before coming to here, I surfed many websites at internet, and read many books about New Zealand. I thought this is a paradise country.

What differences have you noticed between your NZ town and your home town?

Here is much quiet, more parks. However, it is so clean as I expected here. There are many cafees and restaurants if you can afford to go.

What do you like best about New Zealand?

Nature

What don’t you like about New Zealand?

Racism, discrimiation, monopol companies, out of date banking system, costly banking fees, costly communication, expensive living, lack of proper traffic signs, poor construction standards, lack of safety overall though talked too much, least developped country (much behind of West Europe), kiwi people is not honest (they smile at your face but God knows what they plan for you).

What do you miss from your home country?

People, highly active city life, family, friends.

How easily did you find work in New Zealand?

I couldn’t find a job. All companies I contacted request kiwi experience and I do not know how to obtain the kiwi experience if I do not start to work somewhere. It is hard to find same type highly qualified jobs as at home country. Discrimination is everwhere.

How does your working life in New Zealand compare with your previous work experiences?

It looks Kiwis are on top positions, and then European origins, then East European origins, and then Middle Easterners, and then rest of Asians and and at the bottom Chines. This is scala of discrimination in the society and work life.

What is your daily commute time:

25 mins.

How does your standard of living in New Zealand compare with your previous country?

Here is very low. Everything is so expensive. You have to count even the number of potatoes you buy. Meat is still very expensive though 70 million sheeps exist here.

How does your quality of life now compare with your previous country?

I had much better life standards in home country.

Do you have any other personal experiences or observations that would be useful for people considering immigrating to New Zealand?

Do not think of immigrating here. This is not a dream country. New Zealand is not the country that you see at websites or in books. It is completely different. Do not come. Instead, try to raise your life standards in your home country.

Would you like to share your own experiences of living in New Zealand? You can do this at My Story. Or you can read more more about people’s lives in NZ.