Welcome to our series of Migrant Tales, first hand accounts of the migrant experience of New Zealand.

Today’s tale was sent in by Basil, a New Zealander who recently returned to his own country only to find it a culture shock for many reasons, he says it is insular and racist.

He wishes his home country would “grow up” and says he will soon leave again for a place that is more appealing – “with young people doing things, working hard, having goals and aspirations…”

Here’s his tale.

Moved back to New Zealand from Sydney Australia this year and have been back just over 2 months.

I Was in Sydney for 4 years and really enjoyed it, great energy, a melting pot of cultures and good money to be made. Coming back to NZ has been a real culture shock, im not sure if culture is the word to use because New Zealand is quite lacking in this. The country is beautiful but it does grow old. Housing is overpriced (I was paying less in Sydney), I had to live in my car for a month due to this, food is overpriced, petrol is expensive, there is alot of poverty, and a growing inequality between the rich and the poor. . I did get a job very quick but besides that its hard to make good friends here who just don’t want to get “pissed bro” or drive clapped out old bombs and get stoned and talk about meaningless subjects.

New Zealand is also racist and insular in their mindset, I wish my home country would just grow up really, stop watching American T.V programs and decide to change but this is all wishful thinking and I cant see it happening.

Im planing on only being back after a year here to Australia, as a musician I found it more appealing to be in with young people doing things, working hard, having goals and aspirations. Back in NZ, I came across the same old faces doing the old shit in the same old town.

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