Why Can’t Asians Find Work In NZ?

unemployed asian people in nz

Continuing in our series of Migrant Tales – first hand immigrant stories about life in New Zealand, taken from locations around the net.

Today’s tale is taken from a pro-NZ, for profit, emigration forum, in it the Indian poster tells of the enormous difficulties he has had trying to find skilled employment in IT  in New Zealand.

Unfortunately he is not alone in experiencing this problem and there are many Asian engineers, accountants and doctors who have no option other than to drive cabs or run corner shops in New Zealand as there is little other work available to them.

The situation has got so bad that some countries have warned their nationals about the risks they face by migrating to New Zealand believing there to be work available to them: “Philippines consul-general Emilie Shi says Immigration New Zealand is not doing enough to warn would-be applicants about the difficulties of finding a job or telling them that Kiwis will be given preference by employers.”

For background read our blogs “Philippines Warns Citizens About Work to Residence Scheme“, “Migrants Changing Names to Get Jobs” and Skilled Migrants Drive Taxis to Survive

Here is the Tale:

“Hi,

I am a New Zealand Permanent Resident and would like to have your feedback regarding my situation.

I am a IT Professional with 9 years work experience.

I had migrated to New Zealand from India in June 2001 and stayed in New Zealand for 3 years and 9 months. I left New Zealand in late February 2005.

I have worked in 2 IT Companies in Wellington.

During the period from January 2003 – February 2005, i applied for lot of IT jobs through SEEK.co.nz & other online job sites and went for lot of interviews, but i was rejected.

As a result, i suffered huge financial loss & my time was wasted.

I returned to India in late February 2005 and i recieved job offers.

I have applied for job positions in New Zealand from India but i have been rejected.

My skill set is in huge demand, but since January 2003 – Present, i have not recieved a single job offer from a New Zealand Company.

I would like to know the reason why i have not recieved a single job offer from a New Zealand Company since the last 8 years.

Is it because New Zealand is a racist country ?

I think their attitude towards Asians is lethargic & not good.

They just don’t care.

I had to save money and then come to New Zealand.

But now everything has gone down the drain.

I would like to know who will compensate me for the financial loss that i have suffered.

So much time was wasted…

I would like to have your feedback on this.

…I think that i am not getting hired in New Zealand because i am from an Asian Country…. In India, i recieve job offers. New Zealand is a very expensive place. I had wasted 2 years and 2 months looking for a job there.

When i came to New Zealand, i had very high hopes, but now everything is finished….

If they are not willing to hire people from Asia, then why do they say that Asians are welcome to work in New Zealand…

I suffered huge financial loss as a result…. So who will compensate me for this ?….

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478 thoughts on “Why Can’t Asians Find Work In NZ?”

    • @ K for Kiwi Shill – you are from “Russia” are you? Hahaha, sure thing, as if ANYONE but a KIWI SHILL would write an idiotic, xenophobic and profoundly ignorant post like yours. Pull the other one. Like you’d know a Narodnic from a Cossack. It’s pretty obvious your education wasn’t “Russian”.

      Same Shill, different day. Face it Kiwi Shill, your country is a backwards backwater. Your people are ignorant, venom filled and consumed with envy and hatred of outsiders. NZ is an IMMIGRANT COUNTRY you moron, every immigrant has just as much right to be here as you friggin’ descendants of UK maids and footmen. Grow up and read a book or two, whydontcha?

      • I wonder what made you think that my education is not “Russian”?
        It is not hard to distinguish a cossack from anyone else, they have a specific funny uniform. Other than that I would not, would you?

        I want to repeat my main points:

        1. No one owes you anything.
          You (and me) are given a chance to find a job and live here, you (and me) are not welcome.
          Survives the fittest, blame Capitalism.

        2. Business starves for good employees.
          All successful IT companies are struggling to get talents.
          Though the risks of getting a wrong candidate are high because the job security laws are quite strict, you can’t just fire a person that does not perform well.
          That is why they are cautious in hiring and consider risks that a person may not fit the team personally.

        3. People of the same race, gender, religion and age get along better.
          I think it is a fact and stand to be corrected.
          IT consists of mostly young men. Small High Tech companies are driven by under 30s.

        It depends on the culture in the office but often it includes playing Ping Pong, Wii, drinking beer on Fridays and calling each other cunts. And even having racist jokes and that does not exclude New Zealanders themselves, sheep shagging humour is not under the ban.

        I am sorry for the muslim Indian lady at the top of the thread, that is a challenge for her.
        Would a muslim girl feel comfortable in that office?
        Would she be alienated?

        Probably yes.
        In place of recruiter would you risk considering a candidate who would feel alienated?

        It is totally unfair but smaller businesses need strong core teams that fit and complete each other.

        Bigger companies have anti alienating rules to keep diversity high.
        Try finding the work there, you’ll be most welcome.

        1. Unfortunately NZ is a 5 million nation you can’t find enough corporations here but plenty of small businesses.
          Try Australia.

      • Cultural fitness is important but if you have the required rare skills, you won’t be without a job even if you are a naked bushman from Africa.

        • How do you present you “high qualifications” to the employer?
        Is sending your resume to 20 SEEK listings enough?
        A 10 page resume from some random guy from another country that is likely to have bad English and who probably lied in CV (everyone does) is not a proof of qualification.
        Be creative.

  3. Hi why did you leave ? First understand New Zealand is a small market. The skill set in some areas are miles behind other developed countries. All big government jobs are in the hands of who you know and not necessarily based on skill or qualification. If I were you should have gone on benefit and stay until you recover your money or find suitable job. That is your payback.
    When I chose to come to NZ I did my home work , I knew that I will not get the same highflying job and salary, since I am highly skilled and I will not land a top government job despite my suitability . No matter how racist the company owners are but if you can offer benefit they will turn a blind eye. The earthquake in Christchurch made them realised that they do no have the skill set to restart, plan, etc. I have now people waiting for my help, but it is my time to cream having such a skill set. I can rebuilt Christchurch with half the cost and half the time frame. I have offered it to the power to be but ignored flat.
    These business people rely heavily rely on hand outs and insurance and blaming government rather than their poor risk management skill. No clue about disaster recovery.
    So see my point.

  5. Hey I understand it is frustrating. Normally in issues like this you will hear more negative comments.
    It is best to find very reputable place to study?
    It is all up to your mind set.
    You can talk to me to discuss it further.
    There are lot of Indians settled and doing well . It is not all doom and gloom.

    • Mr Raj, You must be ‘Kiwi sheeple’ in the shadow of an Indian name. Going by the nature and tone of few comments you have made on various posts, now i am increasingly compelled to believe that theory of mine. Or you might be one of those FOB (fresh off the boat Indian) who is still in the honeymoon phase who worships ‘white people’, as there are plenty of ‘Europhile Indians’ i know of’, mostly from Fiji and Punjab. Where did you took that name from?, Big Bang Theory must be the inspiration.

      NZ is a scam and It indeed is 99% doom and gloom for qualified migrants here, and Indians especially because we come here with huge educational loan and do not have the financial net to fall back. Third rate migrants with low qualification and trade skill like cooking, hair-cutting and plumbing etc tend to do well here as they tend to gel well within the local mindset. But if you are confident and comfortable in your own right, educated, bright and hold an ambition in life, then forget it. They will pull you down here, because they don’t like ‘tall poppies’.

      I myself have studied from EIT and experienced provincial NZ first hand as an Indian, so i just wrote truth ‘as it is’, without sugarcoating it. I have struggled a lot in NZ, and the only way for for an Indian to do well here is to own a dairy, sadly even then you might be at the helm of luck with high risk of being stabbed to death http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11271434

      Go to US, Singapore, Switzerland or Canada if you truly are thinking about living abroad. NZ wont cut it, as there are plenty of qualified Indian doctors and engineers who are driving taxis here. But at the end of the day Diwaker, its your choice and decision. I hope you will make an informed one!

      https://e2nz.org/migrant-stories/chapter-2/skilled-migrants-drive-taxis-to-survive/

      • Hi thank you for your feed back. You have valid comments that it is difficult for the migrant person . I anm not a FOB and have gone through same issues as rest of the migrant.
        Our migrant business owner make it more difficult for us they exploit our own people , so how we expect to be treated well by others.
        This college you call , I do know. Anything about it, there two similar here in Christchurch, I wonder why people study there.
        I have been in New Zealand for 9 years and am a citizen. I do not think people as white , brown or black, I see them as people. Some are bad and some are good. Yes there is fair bit of racisism, I agree. The real truth is that if you look at the cost go migrating is too expensive. I migrated as a skilled migrant and with my family it cost me 50K whole life savings, then landing here I was on my own. Why I chose New Zealand, because I saw better future for my children here than in the UK where I have spent large part of my life. The situation in the UK is similar , but people in New Zealan are better socially not when you want a job. I look at positively and this gives me more strength to do something. I thought if first get residency then after two years ! If I still struggle to find job then I will start claiming benefit and keep doing as long as I find the right job. I have lived in UK for 33 years never claimed single benefit, I have been here 9 years not claim the dole. Yes I am fighter if I see wrong done I challenge it. Currently I have twenty three students looking for the job after completing their education. They only have one year open visa to find something . I currently mentor them and offer solution to get them settled. It currently takes two years to process PR in Christchurch, work visa is also taking too long , so even if you manage to secure a job after 1000 or more applications ,you will loose job offer since employer are not prepared to wait. So you see the problem.
        The only way to address the issue is to tackle it head on. Form the union and take it to the parliament. Use the rules set to solve the issues. I also want our Indian and Chineese business people to employe their own to show that we are hear to stay and fight back. It is not long where many business will be owned by our people.

        • @ Raj…so you have admitted that there is a genuine problem that migrants are facing here, which is good…diverting from your previous statement . But then why are you calling Diwaker to NZ? Is it to add him to your ‘union’ as you mentioned before. Why he should even go through this hassle, eventually to end up as a burnt up candle…with no option but to end up in your union that you are going to build. What point you are trying to make here man.

        • @Raj:
          Currently I have twenty three students looking for the job after completing their education. They only have one year open visa to find something . I currently mentor them and offer solution to get them settled.
          There’s this idea I’m really tired of in Asia, it’s called the “guru in the jungle” / “sensei on the mountain” … and has to stop.
          In other words, there is an aged someone with no/little/questionable qualifications that has a coterie of followers that has appointed himself “ethnic spokesperson” for “my people to interact with the locals, and my people don’t know how to do things right”.
          The question that needs to be asked is: are you a middleman farming people out for work? Or an honest broker concerned about (properly) skilled people getting the shaft? I’ve observed there seem to be many charlatans in the “ethnic spokesperson” category, so much so that I dismiss them now.

          The whole idea that “experience beats education” and “theory means nothing” is easily done away with when I reply “Go hire a butcher then, since they are more experienced then a surgeon, they should make easy work of being veterinarians, amirite?”

          • I must eat some of my words, there are ethnic representatives that recognise a time-wasting tokenist diversion when they see it (just very few of them though):
            http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11420785
            Chairman quits ‘token’ ethnic panel
            5:00 AM Saturday Mar 21, 2015
            The chairman of the Auckland Council Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel has resigned after 11 months on the job, saying the panel was a “token” body.

            Feroz Ali said the panel, one of about a dozen created by the mayor, had no real status and was unhappy about what it was costing ratepayers.

            The council said the budget for running the ethnic board was between $70,000 and $85,000 per annum.

            “As chair, I found that the panel is only there for token consultation and frankly a waste of ratepayers’ money,” he said in an email to panel members after tendering his resignation on Wednesday.

            He had “serious concerns about the governance in Auckland Council”.

            Mr Ali said yesterday he had attended five meetings since being appointed, but felt uneasy about getting $500 for each meeting he chaired. Other members received $200 for each meeting they attended.

            …
            A panel member, who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity, said the panel existed just so the council could say it has done the “politically correct” thing.

            “We have been asked for advice on matters like community consultation on the drug policy, events and the long-term plan, but we know our advice is not what they are after,” said the member.

            “The panel is here just so that they can put a rubber stamp to say ‘yes, we have consulted the ethnic community’ on these issues.”

    • @Raj:
      I like your optimism, but, LOL-ed at this bit
      It is best to find very reputable place to study?
      I don’t believe EIT institute is one of New Zealand’s 8 universities.

      For a further dose of reality, see this:
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/assignments/job-cuts-have-you-been-affected/8353190/Job-cuts-PhD-from-Shovel-University

      REMEMBER:
      1. You are not a New Zealander,
      2. Unless you have a proper work permit, you can be employed by people paying you less than the legal minimum.
      3. If you have a job where you need an employer, you are sunk if people choose not to hire you.
      4. Qualifications, even those earned in New Zealand, get discounted by people who think that as an overseas student not on government sponsorship … you paid 5x the fees for a “guaranteed pass”.
      5. “Ethnic representatives” for your community, are probably not going to be much help, since they are scared to speak up about the reality of “migrants qualified in New Zealand, but unable to find work because of racism”.
      6. Immigration is a lottery, but made even more costly by the reality that if you choose to work illegally, you can be barred from the country for a VERY long time … and that some people, just don’t like immigrants, even when qualified in their own country.

      Whatever you do, make sure you have strong networks where you are, proper licensing and enough money to see you through the dry periods.

      • Hi Ray,
        Hope you can read my comments made to vigilante.
        I went to UK as a refugee from Uganda when Amin asked us to leave. This was either go to UK or risk life in Uganda, the choice was simple. Strange country , strange culture, and weather not at all bearable. We had British passport so UK did not do any favours. The times were tough, coping with no money and racism. Yes UK government supported for few weeks then left us loose. 32years later the Uganda refugee now controls 7 % of the UK economy. Virtually every one have their own house and all children with the best qualifications. We did not have choice but to work at it and make it work.
        Same here I have been here 9 years and a citizen. Gone through all over again but from my first experience I was well prepared. I have skill set I see it to my advantage and I am proud that I am more superior than large part of population here. Making point not arrogance. I want people to be positive and fight not give up and run.

        • “32 years later the Uganda refugee controls 7% of the UK economy” do you have any proof of this outrageous claim, or are you talking bollocks.

          Racism in Britain is aimed mainly at Muslims and islam due to the overbearing and unwanted religious views, not skin colour, the relationship between African/carribean blacks and white british people is pretty good, possibly the odd flare up in London and Birmingham, but nothing extreme and not much based on the colour of a mans skin.

          “I went to UK as a refugee from Uganda”

          Ok, fair play, a war torn country.

          “This was either go to UK or risk life in Uganda”

          As above, most people would do the same.

          “The UK supported us for a few weeks then left us loose”

          What do you expect, support for a couple of years, a decade maybe, not much evidence of being a fighter when you are moaning the British government wouldn’t pay for you.

          “we had british passport so UK did not do us any favours”

          From what Iv read above the UK did you a pretty big fucking favour.

          “Times were tough coping with no money and racism”

          Do me a favour, just stop, stop talking crap, in one post you say in 33 years of living in UK you never claimed benefits, in another post you say the UK supported you for a few weeks.

          You talk rubbish my friend, the evidence is there, above, for all to see

          • @Uk builder- I second you man, this Raj is a kiwi troll under the disguise of an Indian name, because his story seems a big load of bullshit to me, and i don’t know anyone from Uganda with name Raj and email signifying a female name (Rashmi). Come on, Raj shed you identity mate. Let us know which zombie town you are trolling from. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/nz-has-zombie-towns-need-close-%E2%80%94-economist-md-159124

            Even if i am wrong, you are disillusioned anyway.

          • @Vigilante:
            This might be the guy.
            http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/rashmi-thakrar/31/ab4/585
            No surprises there, it seems … no education beyond
            Rashmi Thakrar’s Education
            Old Kampala Secondary School
            Accounting and Computing

            1969 – 1972

            Activities and Societies: School drama, boxing and cricket.

            Again … more of that “sensei on the mountain, guru in the jungle” BS … of “aged people with no degree, are better than those who completed their university courses”
            Too much “respect for the elderly” allows charlatans through …

  6. can any one say me it is good idea to do postgraduate diploma in napier campus
    what are the possible of getting good i am getting it clear some are saying good and some are saying bad about nz whom should i believe what can i decide
    i am planning to do it in eit institute

    • Its a terrible idea! I know the ‘ins and outs’ of EIT, which is filled with jobless bogans and boyracers with ‘zero’ drive of education an excellence, quality of education is very poor, the campus is barely a campus with few buildings and once they take your money you will be on your own.The passing rate of very low and the dropout rate is staggeringly high.You will be looked down upon as a person of color and will be rounded up, in whatever ways they can. If you don’t believe me, ask the international center for the number of graduates, say in last five years and then ask them the number of students who had initially enrolled, so you can then workout the number yourself ! And then you will notice that 90% of those who graduates were international students (as most kiwis drop out or would have failed).

      Having a job is a luxury in Hawkes Bay, as there aren’t many. International students takeup whatever work they can, that includes cleaning toilets and picking fruits at the orchards, to support their shattered dreams. Moreover, crimes rate is very high in some areas of HB, and sadly most students live in those areas to save some reant So in a nutshell, you will struggle a lot, and the international center wouldn’t help you, because they are filled up with pesky employees who are so full up to themselves. You will be better off somewhere else, but in NZ, lest at EIT. Make a wise choice, and steer clear from NZ, if you want to stay afloat in your life as it could well be the worse decision of your life. You will loose yourself ‘guaranteed’ at EIT Hawkes bay, or NZ in general.

      Do not fall into the marketing cliches and look beyond the good brochures, ask them for ex student references.

      Here are a few links for you,besides read this website comments in details and it indeed would be the best, unbiased resource about the ugly truth of NZ that you will ever find on the internet or anywhere else.

      https://e2nz.org/2010/03/08/international-students-only-seen-as-cash-cows/
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10630745
      http://exchangestudentinfo.weebly.com/esi-blog/avoid-new-zealand

  7. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102007307

    Saumya Khandelwa | Hindustan Times | Getty Images
    A Singaporean director at a local private equity firm, recently got invited as a guest lecturer at a private college in Jaipur, India. “I had heard stories about India’s young people with ‘excellent academic and English speaking skills’ but what I encountered was the complete opposite,” he said.

    Not one student in a class of 100 has ever heard of Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Most students could not understand, let alone speak fluent English. “The only question they had at the end the lecture was how to find a job at home or abroad,” he said.

    His account is anecdotal evidence of what human resource experts, corporate leaders and countless surveys have been highlighting over the past few years – that despite India’s huge talent pool of graduates, few are equipped with skills to be gainfully employed.

    According to a survey conducted by Aspiring Minds, an entrepreneurial initiative in preparing youth for employability, as many as 83 percent of graduating engineers in 2013 could not find jobs, given their poor English language and cognitive skills.

    In fact, only 2.6 percent of graduates in India were recruited in functional roles like accounting, 15.9 percent in sales-related roles and 21.3 percent in the business process outsourcing sector. “Nearly 47 percent of Indian graduates are unemployable in any sector, irrespective of their academic degrees,” noted Varun Aggarwal, co-founder and COO of Aspiring Minds.

    The statistics run counter to the perception that India’s relatively youthful population could help reap demographic dividends for the country down the line.

    In 2020, the average Indian will be only 29 years old, compared to 37 in China and the U.S., 45 in West Europe and 48 in Japan, according to India’s Ministry of Labor and Employment. By 2030, India’s 1.5 billion population will have 68 percent men and women in the working age of 15-68, compared with 65 percent today.

    Theoretically, a nation with young demographic has lower dependency ratio, which leads to increased consumption that can be channeled into higher investment and therefore growth.

    For India however, the reality on the ground couldn’t be more different. “It is not unusual to see graduates employed as security guards, driver or waiters in restaurants, given the poor standards of education. So what demographic dividend are we talking of? The generation coming of age in the 1920s faces the greatest underemployment ever in history,” said Anil Sachdev, a human resources specialist and career coach.

    The fault appears to lie in the dismal education standards in India. As little as 10- 12 percent of the 15-29 year-old age group in India receives any formal or informal training compared with to 28 percent in Mexico or 96 percent in South Korea.

    For tertiary education, none of the 42 central universities in India feature in the most recent QS list of best 200 colleges in the world. In the rankings of the best MBA schools by the Financial Times, the prestigious Indian School of Business has fallen six places to the 36th spot this year and Indian names are conspicuously missing in the top 25 places.

    Analysts say a lack of occupational focus in the degrees offered by local universities could be partly to blame. Some 82 percent of the enrolment is in arts, sciences and commerce programs rather than specific skill-based courses. Even among the engineering and management colleges, less than 25 percent can apply theoretical knowledge to functional areas, given the emphasis on rote learning and theory in the education system, says Aggarwal. The situation progressively deteriorates moving into the tier 2-3 towns from the metros.

    “Excessive government regulation, outmoded curricula and a drop in the standards of teaching have led to a deterioration in the standards of education so much so that India’s demographic dividend may well turn out to be a demographic disaster,” said Pramath Sinha, co-founder of the new-age Ashoka University and ex-dean of Indian School of Business, the country’s first public private initiative to bridge jobs and employability gap.

    Systemic risk?

    According to the World Economic Forum’s 2014 Global Risk Report, high youth unemployability raises the risk of social instability and hampers economic growth. Analysts fear this is playing out in India.

    The planning commission has estimated that the country needs 500 million skilled laborers in the next 5-7 years to support economic expansion, compared with the current capacity of 3.1 million.

    It’s a mind-boggling ambition, India watchers say, given that most state governments do not have the budget, will or capabilities to build the required education infrastructure. Private initiatives, meanwhile, are stymied by archaic socialist laws that ordain that education be a ‘not-for-profit’ activity. While colleges have mushroomed in the country, the learning outcomes are so poor that they have developed an infamous reputation for being ill-respected teaching shops that dispense degrees on the tap.

    “It is the biggest scam in history where political money has found its way into institutions of higher learning. While world over the government’s role is focused on learning outcomes, in India the focus is on political controls in the name of ‘not-for- profit. Urgent education reforms is the need of the hour,” said Sachdev.

    The poor education standards are recipes for social problems as incidents of crime escalate, added Sinha.

    “The consequences could be huge if no action is taken. Already we are seeing an increase in violence, rape and crime in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. If more than two-thirds of the youth don’t realize their economic potential, how can a nation achieve its growth targets? Trouble is no one seems to be paying heed,” he said.

    Well I’ll probably find Canada more appealing than New Zealand or Australia. With all the dangerous animals, I’ll probably choose to stay in the swamps where they smell but you’ll still be breathing (smelly) air.

  8. Somewhat related to the statement:
    “Philippines consul-general Emilie Shi says Immigration New Zealand is not doing enough to warn would-be applicants about the difficulties of finding a job or telling them that Kiwis will be given preference by employers.”
    comes this article
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/10501896/Kiwi-firms-suspended-over-fees
    Philippine authorities have suspended two Kiwi firms recruiting migrant workers, citing reports of exploitative work practices and exorbitant recruitment fees.

    Christchurch’s Business Immigration and its Philippines-based counterpart, Sacred Heart International, were suspended by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), along with Auckland’s Valiant Homes.

    The POEA is a government agency that supervises recruitment agencies in the Philippines. It has supplied more than 1000 workers for Christchurch’s rebuild.

    The companies are accused of charging migrants fees of up to $13,000 – more than triple the legal maximum in the Philippines.

    According to the POEA, eight Filipino workers alleged they paid about NZ$10,000 in “placement fees” to come to New Zealand.

    Their complaint was backed by the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand.

    Workers allege they were sent to “endorsed” lending companies, which charged exorbitant interest rates swelling their loans to around $15,000.

    That is four times the legal maximum for “placement fees”.

    I get the feeling, that as usual the sentiment is “It’s the fault of people who want to come to New Zealand, that allow these things to happen”.

  9. Here’s another update about the job situation, and NO surprise, “international students” are “getting blamed for starting a trend”.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11316283
    Unpaid Kiwi internships on the rise
    By Paul Charman
    5:00 AM Saturday Aug 30, 2014

    AUT Business School research analyst Danae Anderson says the problem seemed to crop up a few years ago, mainly with international students trying to get NZ experience.

    “The internship periods seem to be longer now. Rather than getting that ‘Kiwi’ experience, we’re starting to find New Zealanders are starting to work as unpaid interns.

    Again, all bad work practices, come from “people from the outside”. Beware the outlander!
    Reading that article was like experiencing a version of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village”.

  10. I find it amusing , I understand there is racism, but not all Kiwis are racist. The only way to resolve the issue is by accepting there will always be some minority who thinks they are better than others, but it is their ignorance. I have met lot of migrants that have gone through lot and they feel that they have been left out.
    We need to address the issue in the parliament here and in your own country. stand for election, contact foreign business people who have settled here and join forces. As a business person I will make very effort to ensure I support these migrants.
    why come to New Zealand to study when thee are really good universities in India and China? why buy Kiwi products? To show your disgust, rather than suffering from these kind of behaviour from the minority.
    The government must support these badly treated migrants, new blood will not tolerate it.
    we in New Zealand need these countries without them we will have lot of issues here.
    so open your eyes and work together , there is lot to gain by living in harmony.

  11. And it is very much clear from your statement that you find more rascism in china,korea,india and many south east asian countries.If you are newzealander then I know how much money newzealanders have to visit all these countries when it required more than 20000 dollars if some one just wants to visit all these countries.So do not fool the people.

  12. Rajesh, great to hear from you that New Zealand is welcoming country for asians. Now tell me that for which agent you are working to keep confidence in the students who wants to come to new zealand for making career. I applied for jobs but got response that recession is here and no job for you Indian. But for white people plenty of jobs in recession. So mate you are having good life here but do not think that everyone is satisfied here.

  13. Seriously guys, cry me a river.There seems to be an attitude here that New Zealand owes you something because you have decided to come here looking for work. New Zealand owes you nothing, nor are they overly concerned if you leave. It is this type of righteous indignation and an overstated sense of entitlement that create the tensions you speak of, along with the abusive rhetoric and generalisations around the mindset and abilities of the average New Zealander, which only further highlights the collective xenophobia of the countries you all represent. As a second generation New Zealand Indian my parents worked hard to create a great life here, have a huge range of friends and relationships and really feel at home in this country. I have suffered racism because of the colour of my skin more in China, Korea and South East Asia than I ever have in New Zealand, which realistically has a more significantly advanced social structure in terms of equality than given credit for. To all of you suck it up and stop whining, it is embarassing.

    • Let’s go over your comments:
      As a second generation New Zealand Indian my parents worked hard to create a great life here
      Did they have to work harder than the “already here” New Zealanders? Bingo, some racism.

      New Zealand owes you nothing, nor are they overly concerned if you leave.
      Universities are desperately granting “small scholarships” in the hundreds of NZ dollars, to entice Asian students to come by as “it enhances their job prospects”.
      Newsflash: those students would not be coming, paying 5x the fees, if they could not get a job in New Zealand. And since proper NZ qualifications seem to be ignored when the person holding it is an immigrant, I think that tactic will not work too well.

      It is this type of righteous indignation and an overstated sense of entitlement that create the tensions you speak of, along with the abusive rhetoric and generalisations around the mindset and abilities of the average New Zealander, which only further highlights the collective xenophobia of the countries you all represent.
      I hope you have something to say about your entitlement that “people should not expect anything”.

      have a huge range of friends and relationships and really feel at home in this country.
      I hope you can rely on your friends to help you out of a jam, Tarun Asthana had some problems there I believe. He was 2nd generation New Zealand Indian …

      I have suffered racism because of the colour of my skin more in China, Korea and South East Asia than I ever have in New Zealand, which realistically has a more significantly advanced social structure in terms of equality than given credit for.
      Did you apply for jobs in all those countries?

      To all of you suck it up and stop whining, it is embarassing.
      Be staunch, bro! Harden up!

    • I have suffered racism because of the colour of my skin more in China, Korea and South East Asia than I ever have in New Zealand, which realistically has a more significantly advanced social structure in terms of equality than given credit for.
      Whoops, forgot to add:
      Were those countries sold to you by migration agents? Did you have to sit for an English test? Were you told that “diversity was welcome”?
      Were you paid less than the award rate, by people holding law qualifications, who should have known better? Were you falsely accused of anything there? Did you read a sign on the library saying “Indians go home?”
      Inquiring minds would like to know …

      • Having read most of the article, there is apparent that there is lot of ignorance about migrants, their qualification, and royalty when they have a job. I came to New Zealand in 2005 under skilled migrant category. My accountancy qualification obtained in UK was not recognised. It cost me 50K to shift my family to New Zealand, with application for visa, medical certificated, police certificates, migrant levy (what in a hell is this levy for?), then air tickets, shipping container etc. My first day at the job, I was told you have to follow the rules here? What rules can some one explain. I came from UK so I knew how to handle people with attitude, people form China and India are too polite. I had right to work here , I had gone through the process. Getting job was not difficult, since I used English name as nick name, you should she their faces when I turn up for interview.
        I had to sell my self well, but when offered a job the salary was half of what was advertised. I had no choice but to take it, once established, I started to pick those non performers and displayed my real skill. They became dependant on me then I played my trump card. I knew more about rugby, I knew more about current affairs and I started talking like them.
        This all was not needed, my skill got noticed and I challenged every wrong doings, yes I made some friends , but also made enemies.
        I tell my friends, fight back, once you get residency , then if you do get job , claim the benefits, hold the seminars about your skill levels, fight back. If you think you were not treated well then speak up?
        I do not tolerate any ignorant comments , I am superior to then?

      • in my experience, indians dont make an extra or any amount of effort to form friendship with us chinese. for business dealings, dont hire online remote indian programmers. they will lie and cheat you, refusing to give source code and only demanding money giving you crap. indians dont learn chinese language on the chinese land. they complain of being discriminated against when i think the truth is they dont have passion to learn your language and befriend you. in gyms, the workplace etc they cling to their own groups.

        • pt you sound like a kiwi making (or a kiwi in making) such generalised statements, or may be one ignorant Chinese ( cause ignorant once are everywhere, plenty in India).

          Most Indians go well along with other nationalities, it is because India is multicultural and english is spoken widely, so they have no qualms adapting.

          I don’t know about your generalised statement about Indians not giving source code, well buddy, source code is not given freely, however just for your knowledge plenty of open source projects were developed by indian, your phone which runs android, your browser chrome to name a few.Take a tour to silicon valley, you will find plenty of Indians who have done extremely well. No wonder the companies like Google, Microsoft are run by Indian CEO’s. It’s just in kiwi land, Indians have no respect and they have to flip burgers after finishing their master degree in information technology.

          And I bet you are a kiwi shill. Everybody clings to their own kind, this is how multiculturalism works. Multiculturalism doesn’t mean giving up your identity, which you kiwis demand all the time.

        • Somehow I fail to understand if you have (or had) problems with Indians in NZ or in general? If it’s the latter then probably you have succumbed to the culture.

          On the same line, I once heard from a local kiwi who said most of the Asians in the gym are either bi or gay, I didn’t buy their statement likewise I refuse to accept your comment too. The day I accept it, means I have joined the brigade of being “the problem”.

  14. What I can say about newzealand that people enjoying here but I come with lot of dreams in this country from India that my life will be better here than from my home country but in real that dream was only dream and I had seen more worst days and waste my money for useless studies which even newzealand considered than how we can except high fee degrees of NZ is accepted by other countries. I have only one question from newzealand embassy that why did not you tell earlier that enter our country only for studies and you will not get job here. Great New Zealand embassy. Thankyou for giving us visa to show your country.

  15. I would recommend you to check where you are doing a level 7 diploma. if at university you might be able to find yourself a job. If at a college thats highly doubtful. the key for you is to do a good independent research on the education provider. Ask them about their students and if they have succeeded, if their students have gotten jobs within their fields. Perhaps ask them for reference to previous students from your country of origin that has undertaken the same course and hear what they have to say. Then you get a good idea if its worth it or not.

    Also remember to bargain if its a college. Colleges have very different prices and you can strike a good deal. Universities have fixed pricing and you cant bargain.

    Finding a job will also depend on your previous work experiences. In chemistry the market isnt that big (unless its to do with agriculture) and without suitable work-experience and with a college degree only you’d probably wont get the job your hoping for easily. but that doesn’t mean you cant. Do a good homework before you pay and the opportunity might arise.

  16. Do you all think that calling kiwis bogans, saying the pay is bad, explaining to those that hire people that they dont know their job is more likely or less likely to give you a good career in the future?
    Actually as a migrant getting a job, a chance in a new country is something to be happy and grateful for. NZ open its countries to outsiders. Thats very nice of them and if you fail to show some form of gratitude for that Id suggest you to seek greener pastures somewhere else. We must all remembers that NZ dont need migrants. They are doing excellent without any migration.

    How about some soulseeking, your attitudes are quite likely to shine through and be the main reason why you lot fail in the country that probably is the easiest for a migrant to settle into a career in. Degrade the country who you have chosen to migrate to seems like a very narrowminded approach and backfiring approach. I struggle to see how you think that will benefit you. Fact is you dont know more than management nor will you have their experience. if you believe you do, prove yourself by setting up a company. (38% of the chinese immigrants do – one reason why they are much more successful than indian migrants).

    I might be a bogan, but im not kiwi and I have been at senior management in 5 countries on three continents,. How about you? whats your qualifications to make such sweeping statements?
    However more important its people like me you need to convince to get a job. You may choose to disregard my opinions. All up to you, but coming from someone that have migrated here and settled down after 25 years of stressful corporate life, there are few easier placer to enjoy a balanced lifestyle than NZ. Your chance to be part of that lifestyle is short ( 1 year workvisa after the studies). Id recommend a change in attitude and maybe the fortunes will turn. With the present negative attitude that’s however unlikely to happen.

    And for that person who said passed his bachelor or master at a university. Congratulations. To the details, with what overall mark?
    As said passing a university bachelor or master degree isn’t enough in today’s competition. You need to pass with a minimum average score of B, preferably higher to get the nice jobs. If lower you have to start from the bottom and struggle to find your job. That goes for kiwis and migrants alike. Corporates want the best. Not the alsorans. if you had your own company you wouldn’t hire a person who has produced bad/low results. C:S is low scores.

    For those coming out of a college, you’re placed below the C- students coming out of a university. There is some ranking, Unitec is higher than private small colleges and the “Auckland Queen street buy a degree colleges” is lower than low and wont give you anything with any reputable company.

    Remember in NZ you’re judged on your results. Have good results and doors open, have a big mouth and no results and the door stays firmly shut.

    • @SeanExile: Thanks for masterfully illustrating the sick and twisted mindset of New Zealanders. Incidentally, I owned a small successful company, which I sold before arriving in New Zealand (hereinafter Retardicon 6). I spent three years in Retardicon 6 searching for a suitable company to buy whilst working in a supposedly professional field comprised of people supposedly educated at university under the most insipid and incompetent managers that I have ever encountered. They come across the way you do, i.e. they are semiliterate, ignorant, know it alls with an inflated sense of their own self worth.

      I did not “fail” in Retardicon 6. I had a “good” job by the standards of Retardicon 6 and many Retardicons thought that I earned too much. They love to mow down tall poppies because they viscerally know that they are incapable of achieving. However, I was capable of so much more than toiling under the Retardicons, so I packed up and left to Switzerland.

      Incidentally, I explored buying or starting a business in Retardicon 6, but it simply is not worth the time and effort because most businesses for sale are scams. Starting a business made little sense because the people in Retardicon 6 do not appreciate quality and standards and few have disposable income after paying for essentials. Retardicons want the cheapest rubbish, which is why The Warehouse is the largest retailer in Retardicon 6 and Retardicons live in houses that regulators in the developed world would condemn as unliveable and unsanitary.

      Your attitude typifies the arrogant stupidity of most Kiwis. You barely know how to write and punctuate in English. Notwithstanding your claims to the contrary, you obviously lack any type of strategic thinking with your ignorant comment that “New Zealand don’t (doesn’t) need migrants”. The undeniable reality is that New Zealand cannot retain its best people. One in five Kiwis, typically the most skilled, best educated, ambitious, and prosperous, lives in another country. Retardicon 6 must therefore try to import immigrants because the Retardicons left behind need parasites to support the welfare state that feeds the useless civil servants, welfare underclass, and the private sector comprised of vampire companies feeding at the public trough. Ripping off immigrants is a large source of foreign currency for Retardicon 6. The professionals that can produce and actually have demonstrable skills and experience invariably leave the stultification of Retardicon 6 so that people you end up in senior positions instead.

      You say, “Corporates want the best”. Interestingly, the best people also want the best. In my estimation, Switzerland is the best. I earn triple what I earned in Retardicon 6 with a private pension and phenomenal benefits. I also pay far lower taxes than I did in Retardicon 6. I am around intelligent people and I can enjoy nature and culture. Incidentally, I also live in a building constructed to a proper standard.

      Retardicon 6 is a crumby country and the best calibre employees and managers go abroad leaving behind deluded bogans such as yourself to “lead” and feel important. Why would someone such as me that speaks English, Spanish, and German fluently, has owned his own company, and has specialised mathematical and analytical experience want to stay in Retardicon 6 when he can do so much better elsewhere?

      Unlike New Zealand, I judge you on your results. You obviously would not cut it in the First World.

    • To SeanExile:
      It seems to me like you think all graduates do not meet standards. Even those from your own country.
      Let me tell you this:
      Regardless of grades you do not have the luxury of saying those that completed their qualifications in a skills shortage area are “no good” …
      because you have no other people that can do the work.
      Plus, if only a handful of people graduate … you still have a skills shortage even if you hire all of them.
      And don’t forget the people who fake their qualifications, who get through because they “know someone”.

      if you had your own company you wouldn’t hire a person who has produced bad/low results.
      Actually, I wouldn’t hire a manager who could not do the work of the person below him: I have a very particular idea of leadership: The person in charge … has to be able to do EVERYTHING they ask of their subordinates. None of this BS “compartmentalised functions” according to job.
      Thus if you were the manager of a medical facility … you’d be qualified as a doctor, and still be able to do the janitor’s job if the sudden need arose. That may be a disability of mine, but I can only respect (in an organisation) people obviously better than me.
      Many in my cohort, who claim my qualification, have not done the papers I did (or had the medical condition I did when I took them) 🙂

      Have good results and doors open, have a big mouth and no results and the door stays firmly shut.
      The funny thing about New Zealand, is that those with the big mouth that cannot deliver, are getting ahead.
      That’s also a reason why so many New Zealanders are heading overseas.

      • P.S. The idea that kiwis “only hire the best”, is a steaming pile of waste.
        I finished a 3 year “skills shortage” degree in 2.5 years … yet no takers, and even a recruiter told me “If you’re not a local, forget it”.

        People taking 7 years to finish a social science degree (failing quite frequently) … get a job.

        In that sense, putting your hopes on being employed in New Zealand, as an immigrant – don’t give them all your money.

        On the flip side, I enjoy watching the property prices go up, not to mention the fact that it is becoming more apparent that my prediction that the “90 day trial period” for workers … is coming true, in that it is being used as an excuse to sack people unjustifiably.

  17. hi, iam planing to move Newzealand for level -7 diploma in laboratory technology course ,by student visa..is the NZ have a jobs for chemistry students after study’s ..?

    • Yeah, you will find a job easily as ‘chemistry analyst’ of KFC or McD (Satire). But seriously, please get some first hand information. Your professional area would be considered too ‘niche;’ from dumb NZers.

  18. In your worldview NZ are against foreigners. NZ is a shit country. You come without IELTS and assume that NZ will role out the read carpet for you? isnt that almost rude not to even try to make some research of the country you want to migrate to?

    NZ Immigration policy is free and easy to find on websites. The annual number of migrants they ALLOW to join them is free too. Its important to remember that as a migrant you’re a guest to a new society and its for you to get what they want from you. Not for them to adapt to you. if you cant adapt and offer what they need then you’ll struggle and the country isn’t for you. Its the same in every country around the world.
    What NZ want is high quality immigrants. People that can have a professional career and who they don’t need to start by training. NZ dont need immigrants without skills that allow them to join the ranks of professionals.

    I have hired hundreds of candidates over the last two years. Professionals find work. People without a recognised quality workexperience from abroad don’t. For example, if you want to get an accounting job then ensure to have worked with one of the big accounting companies in your home country. Plenty of South Americans run accounting departments here and they all started at KPMG, Deloitte etc in Brazil. Same for Malaysians, same for Taiwanese. But if a candidate comes with an accounting degree and experience from a foreign unknown company we wont ever interview them. Fact. if you want a professional job in New Zealand you need to have worked with good companies where references can be checked and trusted and you need a quality university degree.

    And if thats a surprise to you I don’t think you have made much effort to research New Zealand before you came here. Reading through ads on Seek etc and see what companies look for, reading NZ herald a few times a week isn’t overcourse, to the contrary its the minimum you’d expect of a potential migrant. Remember you’re a guest in a foreign country and its up to you to prove your worth to them.

    if you dont have a good corporate career the other road is through education. Get a local, Australian or other western university degree with an above average score and you’ll find a decent job. Eventually.
    And FYI, all students that scored B+ or higher on average at University of Auckland Engineering, mathematics and computing school found a job within their field within 6 months of graduation. More than half of them had the one year work visa i.e international students. Thats quality migrants and quality migrants are in demand. Among the C average students that same number is less than 40% and half of them spent their times working in other sectors. Quality is the key as a migrant.

    Don’t come here and assume that companies are looking to hire a person without a good and recognised university degree . Don’t assume that a college degree from a private NZ tertiary college will give you a professional job. It wont. Why would I as a employer hire such a person?
    They aren’t professionals, they don’t have the skills nessescary for me nor are they well accustomed to the New Zealand way of work. And I get 100 of these applications for any job advert I put out. I don’t even bother to read them no matter how good their CV might be and this is pretty standard for kiwi companies. (We also get about 50 replies from people in India for every job advert we put up, they don’t get read either…)

    Doing some homework before you migrate, understanding the country, the culture and the systems is a must. Blaming others for your own failure isnt good enough, no one hires a bitter person and that will always shine through at any interview.

    if you want a successful career in New Zealand then either get a good education with an above average score or get a good start to your career in your homecountry with trustworthy references. (Hmm and reading the local newspaper once a day never hurts – its quite common to be asked behavioural interview questions and to answer them well you need to understand the culture and society). And stating that NZ is shit wont do you any favours nor will it help the average Punjabi looking for a career in New Zealand. Thats worth keeping in mind as a guest.

    • I am very sure SeanExile has no answers for international students educated in one of New Zealand’s 5 universities, who cannot find a job there, who can speak and write in proper and fluent English, educated in a skills shortage area and who understand the local slang.

      I would say he is one of those who “has all the answers” but has no answer why 700,000 kiwis have left the paradise that is New Zealand … 🙂

    • You speak as if getting a job from a New Zealand company is some kind of honour for which migrants should be grateful. You also sound like a semi-literate Kiwi bogan manager that would not last five minutes in another country.

    • Hey Sean
      You are racist through and through. Who on earth are the big 4, NZ business needs to understand that Management Accountants are key to any business success. Put on your CV that you are CIMA from UK, they even do not know what CIMA is.
      I will not hire you in my Company in New Zealand.
      I am an Indian who respect NZ but do not respect people like you.

    • To SeanEXILE,

      1. I came here with IELTS Band 7.5 from an ICSE board school in New Delhi, and found that kiwi co-students have a mental level, of that of a sixth grader. In a degree level economics classes, they were largely unaware of the basic terms and definitions.

      2. Research won’t give much information about the real NZ, because the truth has been ‘media bombed’ over, by NZ Tourism. I worked for them, so i can give you first hand brief.

      3. Why do you assume that the migrants aren’t professional? Migrants who you see driving taxis, are probably more qualified than an average NZ CEO.

      4. Most migrants try to fit into the kiwi woodwork (except the filthy rich ones, because being rich is a culture in itself), but that doesn’t mean they should completely forget who they are. Because, if you demand a complete ‘submission’ of one’s larger cultural attributes, in a relatively less time scale, then you are a moron, and hold no understanding of humanities. Migration to a new culture takes time, and demands understanding from both parties.

      5. My best buddy, a qualified CA, worked for six years in PWC in India, he couldn’t even find a clerical work here. Worked as a housekeeper, got fed up and left. So, your ‘fact’ portion is wrong too.

      6. ‘Guest’ my ass, after paying loads of money, you aren’t a guest buddy, you are a ‘customer’. Guests don’t pay a monetary price. And your kiwis breathrens are not aware of the basics of the science of customer retention. How can they be, as they mostly are, uneducated, university dropout morons.

      7. As about the seeks ad, in NZ, what is often advertised , is not what they are looking for. I am talking from my over five years of corporate experience.

      8. Again, why do you ‘assume’ that we don’t have degree moron. Most migrant are twenty times educated than an average kiwi, just read the immigration terms for the OpManual. And your statistic about NZ graduates finding jobs is grossly wrong, i have a Masters from Auckland Uni, and i can give you first hand info. Also to highlight the fact that in NZ, your marks doesn’t matter, heck even the top recruiters barely even try to verify whether your degree is correct or not. And yeah, most top end graduate do find jobs, in hospitality industry, more readily, than in their field of study.

      9. Please elaborate upon ‘NZ way of work?’, is it something radically different from other’s. I will tell you what NZ way of work is, it is filled with sheer incompetence, unqualified, uncreative, lazy, uneducated morons who know nothing about anything related to their job. I hold a whole department under my boot, with mostly kiwis, so i an tell you how competent they are. We are so sick of it that we will restructure the department soon and will outsource the jobs to Philippines. So yeah buddy, talk about the ‘NZ way of work’.

      10. People apply for jobs when you put an advertorial, there isn’t anything surprising about that. Stop being biased and start paying attention to the CV’s you frequently refuse to read, because of your superiority complex. I am not boasting, but i was amongst those, whose CV’s were thrown at first instance, then one day, one good old kiwi gave me chance and i payed it off, by having a quarter of a million dollar positive impact within three months. So yeah, gems are found in the mud and dirt, not in shopping mall, as most kiwis like you, would assume.

      11. You suggestion of education or a good score, both, do not work in NZ. Period. ( Got Connections?_ )

      P.S. – I am not saying all kiwis are in the same bracket, there are some absolute gems of a NZer. One of my biggest inspiration is a New Zealander, and one of the greatest person i have met.

      Most of the good New Zealanders feel the same as all normal humans do, such kiwis have high character and morals. They are rare, mostly exiled from their own country, because the majority consist of progressively dumbed down population.

  19. Think 1000 times to come and settle in New Zealand and in India lot of agents sending people without IELTS it clearly show that if it is so easy then why should I leave this country after speding a huge amount. Honestly it is a great shock for me not to leave this country but wasting my fathers hardearned money for shit studies of this country.

    • With the low wage-high cost of living, I’d be thinking another 1,000 times and come up with Australia.
      Even with the best of good fortune, you’d not be doing as well as in Oz.

  20. What is the general outlook for starting any business in and around Auckland ? Which kind of business have good chance of ROI ? Asking as my coming here with wife and two kids, one has to plan in advance and have some plan ready.

    • Anon, I will try to answer you to the best of my knowledge and experience.

      1. Chances of getting Job in your situation is not too high, as there are numerous local people involved in food and hospitality industry.Since kiwis prefer kiwis, so your wife will face some tough luck.

      2. NZers don’t care what college you come from, so much so they don’t value qualifications at all. So it is out of question, whether your wife will have any advantage over here, owing to that college’s education.

      3. There is nothing called as best college in NZ, its all but marketing gimmick. NZ educational establishment had a mediocre stance at achievements, and is full of low life losers. Only good students are the ones who are international students, or older fellows.

      4. Starting a business is easy, however the start-up cost is comparatively high and there are numerous low level bureaucratic hurdles. But if you got the money to spend and connection with low life kiwi leeches, its will be all good (until the day you stop spending),

      5. Auckland is pretty saturated market in itself, people have less spending power and are always looking for cheaper deals. Even if you are a savvy businessman, you will cry at the inherent inefficiency of the economy here, which is geared towards to top percentile. People at the lower rungs are heavily taxed. So are the businesses.

      6. If you got two kids, you must also be careful about the living cost in Auckland, which is very steep. So you should have enough funds to secure your move.

      7 In general, NZ is not the heaven you might have read about. Before you move, i strongly recommend to come here first and do some first hand market research, like talking to the business owners in the same industry.

      1. Remember, life is about taking risks, but risks here are very high. No wonder many of us have succumbed to it in NZ, and cant wait to get out.

    • But if you really are hell bent upon coming here, then buy an established business, but many of them are overvalued and have faked accounts. So beware, don’t trust the ‘smiling zombies’.

    • Migrant lawyers here are big cheats, so don’t trust what they say. Do your own home work, and don’t buy any second hand businesses without proper auditing.

      • P.S.- If i was you, i would rather go to Australia, instead of moving here. Better market, open people and lots of buying power.

  21. What are the chances of finding a good job after doing a cooking and patisserie course in the best college in Auckland? This is a two year course. My wife plan to do the course work for a year then set up own business, as we have the funds to start our own setup.

  22. New zealand only has 4 million people and a tool for a prime minister low wages in comparision to living costs asians are good people but there are better options
    then coming to n.z id like to leave myself but not in a financial position to do so.

  23. Asians cant find work in n.z alot of kiwis cant either so what are you getting at?

    • The point here is that Asians are skilled migrants who’ve been drawn to New Zealand by Immigration New Zealand’s skilled shortages lists. They’ve given up their homes, packed up their belongings, invested thousands of dollars and passed strict immigration criteria which select only the best candidates who are the most likely to succeed. They then arrive in New Zealand under the impression they are wanted and find there are no jobs for them. Hardly surprising is it that they feel duped and ripped off? And it’s not just Asian people that this is happening to. Add to that New Zealand’s pretence of being a first world country and you can see why so many people are upset.

      • While the situation is undeniably worse for people moving here on the promise of skilled work the situation is similar for New Zealand’s students when they attempt to enter the workforce upon completion of their education; this is why so many of them leave.

        Many of them have spent tens of thousands of dollars on their education only to get their qualifications and discover that the job opportunities they were told were here don’t exist.

        A good example is what happened to someone I know. She was continuously told that there was a demand for primary school teachers. She spent three years getting qualified to teach, only to discover that the only jobs available were for teachers with New Zealand experience. After several years applying for jobs (and a couple of hundred rejection letters) she left the country in disgust and now teaches in South Korea (where she has remained for close to ten years). She has no intention of ever returning.

        My own situation is similar. Five years of tertiary education, six qualifications in my chosen field (including a uni degree), and a huge student loan, and the jobs just aren’t there (unless of course you know the right people, in which case your education is irrelevant).

        This is probably why so many graduates in New Zealand leave the country upon completion of their qualifications. Statistically the more qualified they become they more likely it is that they will leave. With 25.9% of graduates with bachelors degrees skyrocketing to 48% of graduates at the highest levels of education (these are among the worst rates of graduates leaving their country of origin in the developed world). And, the more educated they are, the longer they stay overseas, and the less likely it is that they will ever return.

        New Zealand is well know for its anti-intellectualism and tall-poppy syndrome. Having a brain, or being capable in this country is viewed almost as badly as having foreign origins. Graduates know this, and the numbers of them leaving speak for themselves.

        If, of course, you are foreign born, have an education, and are capable; as the immigrants who come in under the skilled category are; and if you don’t have an established network of cronies you can use to get a job, you don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell in this place.

  24. I Have got admission for Master of science in computer system engineering from univeristy of auckland..! majorly all the comments here is suggesting a negative review about employment in NZ? is the situation same in NZ currently ?

    • 2 questions:
      1. How many points are your studies? (A postgraduate qualification is 120 points, which, judging from the course AND my own experience with education in NZ – is 8 papers at 15 points each)
      2. Will you be a full-time student? (The measure of employers valuing you is whether they can work around your schedule AND assign you work that improves your skill-set while SHOWING APPRECIATION)

      Now, not to alarm you or anything … but the
      “computer systems engineering” “university of auckland” search …
      returned a “page not found” error: (I’m laughing at the people who say the University of Auckland is the best)
      http://www.ece.auckland.ac.nz/en/compsys-courses
      But you can access a cached copy from Uncle Google:
      http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fIDqX7x1onkJ:web.ece.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/compsys-courses+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl

    • Oh snap, I forgot to add this report too:
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11245875
      Lincoln Tan
      Lincoln Tan is the New Zealand Herald’s diversity, ethnic affairs and immigration senior reporter.
      Too qualified to live in NZ
      5:00 AM Tuesday Apr 29, 2014
      Excerpts:
      An Indian national with a master’s degree was declined an opportunity to apply for residence as a skilled migrant, despite being more qualified than was required.

      Kiran Kumar Kalamraju, 38, had lodged an expression of interest for permanent residence under the occupation of computer network and systems engineer, which is on Immigration New Zealand’s long-term skills shortage list.

      But he lost points towards his application because his bachelor’s degree in commerce was not related to computing. However, he holds a first-class master’s degree in computer applications.

      Immigration New Zealand also said he had “work experience in a labour market that is not comparable to New Zealand”, but the professional body for New Zealand migration advisers argues that India is more advanced in IT.

      Mr Kalamraju said he was “absolutely gutted” by the Immigration decision and that he had no right of appeal.

      “New Zealand is a beautiful country and I believe I could contribute positively to Kiwi society by working in an area where there is an identified skills shortage.”

      …
      Immigration New Zealand area manager Michael Carley said the failure to meet specifications meant Mr Kalamraju did not get the 100 points required to enter a pool for selection.

      Mr Kalamraju attended Bharathidasan University, in southern India.

      “Mr Kalamraju claimed a total of 140 points, this total included bonus points for qualifications that do not meet the specifications … as well as points for work experience in a labour market that is not comparable to New Zealand,” Mr Carley said.

      “After our assessment, Mr Kalamraju was awarded a total of 85 points and was declined on the basis that it did not meet any of the applicable selection criteria.”

      Immigration adviser Tuariki Delamere, who is representing Mr Kalamraju, said he was considering writing to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

      “The INZ manager is saying that you are not allowed to be more qualified than the stated qualification of a level 7 bachelor’s degree,” Mr Delamere said.

      “Her decision is absolute mindless nonsense …”

      Skilled migrant category
      *Applicants need to submit an expression of interest containing details of character, qualifications, work experience and relevant skills.
      *Those with a score of 100 points or more go into a pool for selection.
      *Those with 140 or more points are automatically selected and invited to apply for residence.
      *Having a job offer will help.
      *Data is not compiled on reasons why applications are rejected.
      Source: Immigration New Zealand

    • One word for you my friend, ‘run’. I hope that sums it up. Cancel your plan immediately and ask them for refund of money ASAP, if you have already paid for the fees. If you come here, it will one of the most regrettable decision you will ever make in your life. Auckland University sucks, and is just one of the ‘milking machinery’ establishment here. Don’t go by the marketing hype, NZ is a third world country when it comes to technology and Computer Science and most people here will judge you by superficially, not by your education or talents. Even if by some stroke of luck, you do happen to land in a ‘reasonable job’ here , mind you, workplaces here are riddled with racist bogans morons, with managerial labels, barely having a high school certificates, who will bully you like you are in third grade!! You will be dumbed down here, that’s for sure.

      However, if you don’t mind flipping burgers at MCDonalds, or working in gas station, or cleaning toilets after ‘Masters in Computer Science’, hoping that one day you will ‘cut it into the big league’, then forget about it. Save yourself the trouble, while you have time. Read this http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11245875

      This is just one example, there are thousands such examples, never reported by the mainline media.I have friends from Indian subcontinent and China who are working in call center and ‘IT Support’ after a Masters in Computing Degree!!

      All the good thing that you might have heard is just a marketing gimmick. Its not worth it my friend, however everybody has his/her own luck, but after working so hard and putting so much into it, would you still want it to leave it to your luck?? That is the question you should ask yourself now.

  25. Asians in my eyes I see as equal as im not a racist if they have the skills and speak a good level of english they deserve too be given a Chance just like any other nationality as they pay taxes and should be made feel welcom I went to thailand a number of years ago and was blown away by there hospitality.

    • NZ is a inhospitable place by comparison then,,aye,,,the fact is NZrs are uncomfortable with difference,,and don,t like foreigners..

  26. I’m sad that it’s true nz are racist but it’s not all of them, some still can accept Asian but not in employment as they will think of the language barrier between Asian and kiwi.
    Anyway, they forgetten now most country boom up was Asian country why all MNC decided to go Asian mostly was ppl are hardworking, costing, dedicate, humble and follow instruction.
    No matter how if the company who cannot accept Asian to work with them they are also will face problem to entering the Asian market for exporting.

    Imagine if you want to do export to Asian country but can’t even think of Asian staff how can you be successful you are selling product not buying remember that.

    Most Asian communicate are different to kiwi, you will think your English are the best and most needed which is correct but you forget the purchase or bosses in Asian are speaking Asian English. I remember on my job when I open market export OPC drum to India, Turkey, Vietnam and South America most of the sales was successful and order of container is repeated.

    I did do my survey as a export customer service with all country and customer feedback was they like the way we communicate straight to point, fast respond even in complaint, they are not coming for English exam which some of the company sent a good dept English to them which they not understand that is why they still supporting our country.

    Second reminder was a medical packaging that the German company are looking at the purchaser told me that this packaging was from German they get from New Zealand but I want to check with your company whether you can do it and supply to us to pack. I did ask the purchaser why you not buy from them, answer was I can’t understand what they talk and the price was expensive.

    I also believe if I back to my country I can get offer job very fast it’s within a week or even if I can ask my ex boss for job.

    Anyway, I still continue my application and I believe the company here all was go to agent not direct employ by the company itself so the owner never involve in recruitement which is big mistake meaning owner not care on their business who they employ.

    Back to my country all recruitment was done by HR and owner, some was done by owner itself as they make sure the staff they employ are perform, if not perform after 3month probation period they will ask them to leave but basically it will perform.

    Recruitment agency receive payment from owner but whether they do the job in proper I have doubt. This method was using in our country 30year ago & now our country all company employ own hr to do the recruitement, salary, tax and handle employee sick leave and attitude. It’s a laid back country over here that why they are thinking to get recruitement agency not saving cost at all. Recruit staff can pass to HR/account or admin staff they can pass all resume to owner to screen through and select. Spend an hour to see resume on yourself is not waste your time infact if you get a good candidate your company might be growth faster as people said open your eye, your arm to accept if it’s not the same way will come back to you.

    Some Asian will go back to their country and tell about nz are like this and that. If a businessman listen they will not supporting your country.

    One key is no sound but if both key hit there is a sound. Always remember that all human are same we all run a red blood not different color blood. World economy are change you will never know who will help you on coming future.

    Even my neighbour is a kiwi but his wife from other country also a white, he told me sad most company here see age and you are from where even you capable for the job but they will inform you not successful.

    His wife been here 7year told me have certificate and qualify chef but can’t get job in nz.😓😂 now the wife work as packer under part time role. I was surprising and I ask why? The wife told me they said I can’t speak good English !!!
    I feel this was not a good reason given a chef most important is cook why you need to speak good English ? You are not serving customer and she told me same shop every 2month advertise look for job in two year. She keep apply and keep reject (now I know why nots company can close down) you don’t have a staff not even think an option to open for other candidate how can it be sustain.

    Lucky in our country all company are not like here, they see you know the job experience they will pick you no matter what race are you.

    Telekom in our country now customer service a lot of Thailand and Philippine staff. Factory clerk we get Indonesia staff and train them, export & local customers service/QA/planner/account & management staff under mfg was all local Chinese(reason was this position involve calculation and cost), Malay will doing warehouse, admin &qc will be Indian. Of those GM or director are Chinese/us/German/Japanese/Malay is depend in industry and what company you join. Multi national business.

    So many country have different role of employment.

  27. Okay I haven’t graduated from university nor applying for a job nor receiving any offer nor having any hands-on experience with looking for a job. However, I feel quite frustrated when I think about it, but I also think that Kiwis employers are very rational.
    I have 1 question: You are the employer for a local company. There are two people applying for a job in say accounting. 1 of them lives across the street from your house, and the other one lives in another city from your country. Who would you hire? Of course you would hire your neighbour because you like him better and the other person from another town might have some personalities that are distinctive in which you will dislike. Back to reality, if there are 1 Kiwi folk and 1 guy from China, assuming they have exact degree, grades, extracurricular activities, years of experience in part-time jobs, exact level of English and communication, exact handsomeness => I being the employer would still hire the Kiwi guy simply because he’s one of ‘us’, he’s a Kiwi and I’m a Kiwi, but you’re not so see ya and good luck job hunting for the next decade.
    Another point of interest in the fact that if I am a Kiwi employer, I would not consider an Asian over a Kiwi is because of citizenship status. Ok so if you hire someone for a job, you need to train them. This will cost large amount of effort by 1 of the supervisor and some significant amount of money. This is in the hope that through training and development, you will bring in larger benefits for the company in the next 2-10 years. However, since you’re not a citizen or permanent resident, your mum and dad does not live here. We as Asians usually return home to our family or bring them to NZ. But it is more likely or it is percepted to be by my Kiwi employer that: you will work here 2 years and then you’re gone. You’re not born here. You can just go wherever you want. Ah, Then I should give this job to one of my Kiwi mate because his mum and dad lives in Wellington and he is not going to move anywhere. If you have PR or citizenship, it is more likely that you will stay on the job for many years and so the investment into your training will be more beneficial to the company. In addition, you can also think about your own country. The training you put into that guy, is it gonna benefit New Zealand, the country you love. If not, then it is not a good investment and you sort of think why does the Government try to promote policies for international graduates employment. It is no good for the country. When thinking about this point, I think that if I get an offer for a graduate programme, I will feel really bad because I will only stay on the programme for 2 years and then when I get enough experience and fun, I will go back home to Asia. I feel really bad for people who put a lot of effort into my training and my work colleagues then. So, if you thinking of working in NZ just for experience and for fun before going back home, forget it. If you want to work here, get PR.
    Communication: If I am a Kiwi employer, I would employ Kiwi graduates because they are some what less of a burden and better than Asian students. First of all, it is difficult for Kiwis to pronounce our name, thus decreasing the communication effectiveness and efficiency in the organisation. Secondly, it is possible that your English is not so good and we don’t want that.
    Conclusion: It is very difficult, almost impossible for international graduates to find job in NZ or in any European countries -> unless your employer is Asian. There have been cases I know that people have been hired: often because they are the absolute, extreme best in their degree that no other Kiwis can even reach, extremely hard working 20 hours a day, 4 hours of sleep, participating in every events, volunteers and stuffs in every cities in NZ, enduring extremely low wages, etc… I think we should just return to Asia and get a job there. Its been good having a qualification from NZ and thats good enough. Nowhere feels like whee we came from

    • David, most employers in the free world appoint based on qualifications and experience, not nepotism. You’re wise to return.

  28. Nah mate I wouldnt say its about being racist just I guess kiwis get looked at first I lived in perth for a while same deal they look after there own first sorry to hear your experience.

  29. Thank you E2NZ,I hope this can get published

    For the Mentally challenged or the intellectually disabled there is no doubt that in New Zealand that we are being discriminated against,what I like to let the readers if you are Mentally challenge or intellectually disabled which has syndromes like Autism or Asperger’s,New Zealand by far is a very harsh place for them,the discrimination on them is pretty bad,I am in a group in Lower Hutt where a lot of intellectually disabled or mentally challenged cannot get a job or even any form of paid employment just for being different,I have pretty much given up looking for work and even took to spending a month in Japan where my Syndrome is pretty much recognised and also there are laws in Japan that prevent the mentally challenged from being discriminated and also I am pretty much moving to Japan because they respect the mentally challenged or intellectually disabled and in fact Japan is a very desired place for people who have Asperger’s Syndrome like myself

    This link below shows how people with Asperger’s are also discriminated regardless:

    http://baileybear.hubpages.com/hub/Employment-with-Undiagnosed-Aspergers

    • Mr_Alex you’re the best person to write about this. Please feel free to send something to us for publishing.

  31. Kunal as a friend I will suggest you that you must have research on New Zealand job market. Everyone has its own luck and I have not got any job in New Zealand after passing out my MBA and leave the country and make sure you will invest huge dollar for civil engineering course and chances of job is very less relevant to your studies. Rest on you I will wish you best of luck.

  32. Mr. Ray….i m quite convinced by your argument….i m an undergraduate student trying to transfer my college to university of auckland so kindly tell me weather new zealand is a good place to study or not?..& if yes,then what is the scope of civil engineering in nz…..i m not impatient to work there but the only reason i m shifting is for graduation+work experience+masters….thank you
    (whoever is an experienced person in this situation of mine….plzz help me out…thank you!) 🙂

    • Kunal, as a control system engineer myself the job market in NZ is not that great. You have to understand that it’s a small country with a small population. There are more civil engineering jobs here in NZ compare to other engineering disciplines. However, there are a large number of civil engineering graduates too. Auckland University graduate around 150 or more civil engineers a year, if you add other graduates from other university you can expect 250+ civil graduates a year. Competition is intense.

      In terms of study, Auckland University or Canterbury University are the best but I can’t speak for the quality of education for the amount you pay as an international student.

    • I ran across a very interesting case some weeks back, it was regarding engineer Gareth Alexander Pert. Google “Gareth Pert” for this result:
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2080459/Student-wiped-data-worth-thousands

      Through sheer providence I managed to snag his linkedin profile(now removed), where he does not mention at all working for Progressive Hydraulics, and merely states:
      Project Planning & Business Development
      Southern Peak
      February 2007 – Present (6 years 9 months)
      Strategic Operations
      CADG
      Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Civil Engineering industry
      2008 – 2012 (4 years) Middle East North Africa
      Note that Southern Peak … is a company that he set up himself …

      with an education after University, coming from IPENZ (which is not a university):
      IPENZ – Institute of Professional Engineers NZ
      Construction Finance, Construction Finance
      2013 – 2013
      NZIHT – New Zealand Institute of Highway Technologies
      Highway Bridge Design & Seismic Evaluation, Highway Bridge Design & Seismic Evaluation
      2013 – 2013
      IPENZ – Institute of Professional Engineers NZ
      Contract Management, Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
      2010 – 2010
      IPENZ – Institute of Professional Engineers NZ
      Risk Management, Risk Management
      2010 – 2010
      IPENZ – Institute of Professional Engineers NZ
      HSNO Bulk Storage Tank Design & Assessment, HSNO Bulk Storage Tank Design & Assessment
      2007 – 2008

      He has “Google bombed” the internet with references as to how capable he is, to drown out his criminal past.

      Now, these are the type of people your resume will be compared against.
      In other words, they have an established clique, that will actively keep you out, even when you are fully qualified from beginning to end, at their local institutions of higher learning

      To answer your question: NZ has a competent education system FOR THE PURPOSES OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION (many people fail, which is a good sign … degrees aren’t meant to be easy AND if they were, they’re of the “do you want fries with that” school of thought).
      Thankfully, insurance requires properly competent people to be in positions of responsibility, unless companies decide they can “no. 8 wire” the situation to the detriment of clients (this happens worldwide).

      However, NZ is a place where you may find it difficult to gain employment using your skills, especially when you have racism, “old boy network”, “cannot speak English”(BS reason), “don’t understand the culture”(another BS reason).
      It does seem to me that acceptance differs by gender: I have not seen many Asian women have the same level of difficulty in securing jobs.

      Consider, alongside your looking for work, gaining certifications through short courses in polytechnics, allowing you to prepare food, transport goods and care for the aged.
      Because, I am very sure that you will need to get a job – any job – if a post using your skills does not materialise.

      Also remember that training for a job where you NEED an employer … means that you won’t be able to easily do anything on your own.

      • An update to the story, he’s now at Tranzliquid NZ
        http://www.tranzliquid.co.nz/about/meet-the-team/

        From the about -> history page:
        “Tranzliquid remains a family owned and operated business. Greg Pert and Jackie Carroll are actively involved in all aspects of the company with their combined skills and knowledge of the industry, logistics and business management. They ensure the culture, standards and core values remain integral part of the business operation.”

        Ah, it’s good to be related to the CEO, eh? Means such pesky things as a criminal record and a police arrest don’t count …

  33. My mum told me after she took a four week holiday because of her arthritis,they started talking behind my mum’s back about her culture and etc,my mum tells me they do it almost every day to her,well when I told her time to move back to Hong Kong,she wasn’t happy about it when I told her New Zealand won’t do her arthritis good in the long run

  34. I think NZ in general want to attract international students because the amount of cash they bring into the country. However, it is a small and isolated country with limited opportunities. I have a degree in engineering and I just did a quick search on seek.co.nz and it returned with 6 jobs in my field in the whole country. The number of jobs I can actually apply for will narrow again after I read the job description. As a NZ citizen it is already hard to find a job, how can we expect immigrants on work visa to get a job here easily?

    NZ is probably false advertising both their quality of education and the amount of opportunities currently available.

    FYI, I’m a first generation immigrant from China who grew up in NZ and has had two jobs since graduation.

  35. E2NZ,racism is still dead common nowadays,my mum spoke with me on the phone on how Mitre 10 in Wellington is starting to gang up on her

  36. I have worked with some indian people especially from india and i have come across so many problems. They smell like curry and it is so irritating hearing their accent.They always speak highly of themselves. one of them said she is from high caste as if matters to us.Indian people especially from india are very races compared to all other ethnic groups. i would never employ them.

    • Emma your one-eyed, inarticulate racism is astounding. Let us hope you’re not an example of the average Kiwi. Your country must be so proud of you.

      Tell us where you work.

  37. Sahil,my best advice is to leave the country,even though I have NZ citizenship,I am looking at it too after getting my IT qualifications

  38. New Zealand find shortage in Indian students after 2012 that is why they are calling students without IELTS and now I am confused what will happen with these students who spent on expensive studies of this country and in the end they will get no job. So people from India who decide to choose New Zealand for future must be careful because greedy agents tells false things about this country but never tell about the real story. I am the live example that after graduating from best institute of New Zealand I got no job and in the end I have wasted my money on studying MBA here. Most shocking thing is that the value of studies of this country is zero. I am crying now sitting in my house with a wastage of paper.

  39. Jarvis,I am afraid it is true,I have sat for 4 years without a job,this is just coming from a Chinese who has lived 19 years in New Zealand with his parents

  41. I’ve decided to leave for Japan in 5-10 years and that includes doing my IT course in Weltec and etc

  42. The majority of NZ companies hire employees based qualifications, experience, and how they fit in with the current team environment and culture. Language barriers and cultural differences lead to possible stumbling blocks which can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and mistakes. Thus these are risks which employers will take into account when hiring someone.

    Immigrating to a new country involves a huge change in adapting to the culture differences which many take for granted, or don’t even make the effort. Thus their English language skills are poor, and/or their mannerisms and reactions are too different in nature to how we culturally relate to one another in New Zealand.

    Personally I think the immigration laws are too relaxed. I work in a University and meet several post-graduates each month whose spoken English is far below par. It’s incredibly frustrating to communicate with them, and feel that it’s an injustice and an insult for me to make the effort in my own country.

    • I agree with Nic in the importance of English language skills and fitting into the team environment are of vital importance to employers. Probably just as important as technical qualifications if not more important. As someone who works in a technical engineering field myself we are not well regarded as having the best language skills but we still need to understand and be understood by other people and we still have to be able to write technical documents that look like they have been written by a professional as opposed to a 6 year old child (yes I have encountered people before with English skills that bad).

      However, I disagree with Nic in that I personally am not insulted by having to communicate with people with poor language skills.

      I would also like to warn people against relying too heavily on job sites and recruitment agencies. Most job vacancies posted on job sites do not actually exist. It is a well known fact the world over that recruitment agencies post fake job vacancies as a way of phishing for CVs to expand their database.

    • Your critisism of me being intolerant and racist can be used to justify my stance as well – that they are the ones being intolerant and racist for not giving a damn about NZ culture and language. Why should it be on me to make the exception, despite that I was born and raised here.

      • Well at least you’re honest about your racism.

        Maybe it would help immigrants if you could define what your culture is? Depending on who you talk to its either Maori, Polynesian, Australian, Asian or British. Outside of the country much is made of New Zealand being very ‘English’. Even your parliamentary system is touted as being British, even though the electoral system is different and it only has one house of parliament?

        Have you ever considered the way the country is marketed abroad, and its lack of a national identity, could be sending out mixed messages to migrants.

        If you can’t make them feel welcome why continue to attract them? or is it just their wealth you’re interested in ?

        • I highly doubt you’re a kiwi if you had to ask that question.

          To label me as ‘racist’ despite that I’ve not made any personal attack or remark against another race is a trolling remark. I’m allowed to feel insulted by the lack of effort made on part of an immigrant who fails to speak my language in my own country. That isn’t being intolerant or racist.

          • Please do not resort to insults as a ploy to avoid answering the question. Yes, it takes balls to admit you’re a racist, but be a man and answer the question.

            Define the NZ culture and language.

            You previously wrote

            The majority of NZ companies hire employees based qualifications, experience, and how they fit in with the current team environment and culture. Language barriers and cultural differences lead to possible stumbling blocks which can lead to conflicts, misunderstandings, and mistakes. Thus these are risks which employers will take into account when hiring someone.

            Immigrating to a new country involves a huge change in adapting to the culture differences which many take for granted, or don’t even make the effort. Thus their English language skills are poor, and/or their mannerisms and reactions are too different in nature to how we culturally relate to one another in New Zealand.

            Personally I think the immigration laws are too relaxed. I work in a University and meet several post-graduates each month whose spoken English is far below par. It’s incredibly frustrating to communicate with them, and feel that it’s an injustice and an insult for me to make the effort in my own country.

            FYI migrants have to pass an English proficiency test before their visas are awarded. Ever considered the problem may be with the way you communicate with them? Bet you’re happy to take their money though.

            Your IP address resolves to the University of Auckland, are these common sentiments in the business faculty there?

            Oh, and we’re adding xenophobic to your profile.

          • I’ll define the New Zealand culture. To me it is one of abuse against women, children and the weak. It is bullying, corrupt, misogynistic and xenophobic. It revolves around binge drinking and rugby. As a woman I find it very uncomfortable here and have to consciously dress down so as not to draw unwarranted attention to myself.

          • This is a non sequitur as no Muslim in New Zealand is proposing to force anyone to wear a burqa.

            I am the first to concede that immigrants must learn the local language, respect the prevailing customs, and not impose their ways on their new country. However, I generally do not see lack of assimilation as a problem in New Zealand. Aside from the refugees that New Zealand takes in, the overwhelming majority of immigrants speak English well, possess higher qualifications on average than the locals do, and tend to come from the higher strata of society.

            The foregoing reality creates resentment amongst many Kiwis, which is why discrimination against immigrants is widespread in the New Zealand workplace. The better educated, the more highly skilled, and the more enterprising Kiwis escape the stultifying environment of New Zealand and the culture against achievement. Consequently, the government imports migrants to offset the decline in skills and to try to swindle money from them directly through immigration fees or indirectly through the various industries that prey on migrants (e.g. migration agents and lawyers, relocation services, etc) and presumably pay tax on the profits. Incidentally, many returning Kiwis report the same discrimination and difficulties as migrants, particularly the canard that they lack “local knowledge”.

            Many of us discover that New Zealand is very different to how the government and the migration agencies advertise it. For example, New Zealand has widespread corruption, an appallingly shoddy education system, and very limited opportunities for the professional people and businessmen that New Zealand claims that it wants to attract. I have also discovered that New Zealand is not a meritocracy and the plum jobs tend to go to unqualified people that have good mates and relatives. The incompetence is omnipresent in New Zealand, whether it is in professions like medicine, law, or financial advice where the “professionals” are incompetent morons, or in the unliveable houses built by New Zealand “builders”.

            Lastly, I resent the canard about “lack of English”. I frequently encounter “educated” people in New Zealand that cannot write properly in English or differentiate between too, to, and two. Often, I meet “educated” Kiwis who give me a dumbfounded look when I use a word such as paradox, acclimate, or spurious. When I still had the misfortune to live in New Zealand, I once received a communiqué from the communications department that was so shoddy, I edited it and sent it back to the author, who reported that seven managers had reviewed it and approved it. Clearly, her managers did not know the difference between their/there or in/on. Perhaps the Kiwis should learn better English so they can communicate better with native English speaking ex-migrants like me. Incidentally, I speak three languages fluently (English, Spanish, German) which is about three more than the average Kiwi can speak! New Zealanders should learn useful languages such as Chinese or Spanish, rather than being silly and politically correct by pretending to learn Maori. Actually, they could start by learning their own language correctly, which is supposed to be English.

        • Yeah – Kiwis are only interested in generating wealth from migrants so there would be customers to rent/buy houses, buy cars, buy food/etc. from the supermarket, etc. – I’m sure you get the drift. However, asking for a job in your field is a different matter even if they have already assessed your school in your home country. If they can make an exam, they will make it very hard for you to pass, if you require a placement – the professional society will talk amongst themselves to deny or make it so hard that only PhDs or the very few of the most superior quality can get through. I know – I spent 7 years there – geez while my schoolmates from my home country whizzed their way in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia, I stagnated there. Onetime, I applied for an engineering job, I said I have a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of the Philippines thinking it would be an asset. The manager said to me even if I am a Doctor of Engineering, he would not accept me. Yeah go figure. Escape before there is time!

    • Furthermore, sometimes there’s a clash in cultural values and beliefs which I don’t think should be my responsibility to simply tolerate.

      For example, the burqa which Muslim women wear is an offense as it is a cultural representation of unequality and oppression against women. If that is the cultural norm back in their own country, then that’s fine, but here it’s an affront to the values which we uphold in New Zealand .. which women have fought for and established as the cultural normative.

      What if a Muslim male owner of a company imposed a company rule that all women must wear a burqa? Would it be deemed as intolerant and racist to protest against it? There is no compromise here – so either the immigrants must abide by the cultural values of the country, or else the country must abide by the cultural values of their immigrants.

      • No doubt our Muslim readers may chose to answer you.

        But does New Zealand not respect the human right for people to practice their own religion? the wearing of a veil is very much a personal choice for Muslim women in New Zealand, not something that is forced on them.

        As for cultural matters, New Zealanders seem to think they have the right to inflict their Haka abroad at sporting events, flash mobs, Waitangi Day pub crawls, etc. and take deep offense at any criticism of it. It looks very much as if NZ is just a very intolerant nation.

        Whilst we’re on the subject of female rights, have the police made any arrests in the Roastbusters complaint yet?

      • Here I agree with Nic.. People migrating to another country must be aware of local culture. I am an Indian. Here too I get irritated as hell when somebody doesn’t not know the local language. Now that is not racism. E2nz let’s keep the discussion logical. Not slander at every bit.

        • Mr Singh, a culture is as definitive as crystals in the ice. The patterns are all different, the substance stays the same. You are Indian, how many cultures can we find in one corner of India? Let me answer you, ‘numerous’. Culture is a a collection of human outlooks, glued by the collectivism of that outlook.

          We are inherently diverse, and NZ’s should learn to live with diversity if its wants to usher into the era of globalized and interconnected ‘worlds’. I suggest that all kiwi workplace should have a mandatory diversity education, so that the sheeple here could be more tolerant and put up with all that, which doesn’t rock their boats.

          BTW….drinking alcohol,raping young girls (refer to roastbusters case), racing dumpsters on street, sleeping around with anybody and everybody, going pig-hunting with shotguns or watching rugby with beezees surely wouldn’t be called culture, but a ‘bundle’ of degenerate behavior confused as culture by these ‘bogans’.

          Last time i have had an enriching conversation (which revolved around ideas and human experiences) with a kiwi, was never!

      • What if a Muslim male owner of a company imposed a company rule that all women must wear a burqa?
        That’s funny, I’ve observed that owners of companies in NZ seem to demand a lifestyle of rugby, larrikin-ism, getting wasted and “old-boy networks”. No protest against that?

        1. Not all Asians are Muslims, and not all Muslims live in Arabia;
        2. Islam isn’t a monolithic religion – like Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism – it has different denominations;
        3. The burka isn’t the only religious attire that Muslim women can choose to wear
        4. All the Abrahamic religions have types of clothing for religious women, why single out Islam?
        P.S. I found the culture of proselytizing people on University campuses in NZ, especially offensive, e.g. “tagging” people as Christian just because they “speak good English” (Apparently I’m good enough to be labeled Christian, not good enough to be employed in NZ 🙂 )

        No, I’m not a Muslim – but I can see where the hatred will begin, start to fester, and infect relations towards other Asians in NZ.
        As Martin Luther King said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

        There is no compromise here – so either the immigrants must abide by the cultural values of the country, or else the country must abide by the cultural values of their immigrants.
        Of course, you decide how well they’ve assimilated, right?
        Going by the crime figures, I am guessing Asians and other immigrants have assimilated very well to life in New Zealand, since they do not make up significant criminal numbers?
        Correct me if I’m wrong.

  43. Postgraduate diploma at Massey University is far far from world class.
    Massey is the second worst university in New Zealand. Check the rankings before you apply. University of Auckland is of much higher quality but world class is over the top to say…
    I know three of the largest companies in your field and they only hire graduates from University of Auckland or Otago University.
    A master degree is always better than a postgraduate diploma.
    If you wish to do a postgraduate diploma in Auckland your choices should be acording to standard.
    1. Uni of Auckland
    2. AUT (Auckland University of Technology)
    3. Massey

    You must remember that agents care most about their own commission. Not about your fortunes. Massey offers the highest commissions of any New Zealand University.

    Id suggest that instead of listening to people saying 7 out of 10 jobs are vacant. thats not true at all, do your own research. Trademe.co.nz and seek.co.nz shows most joblistnings in New Zealand today. Pay close attention to what experience they are looking for in all their joblistnings.
    Assume that you’ll be viewed as a fresh graduate (unless you have experience in a well known company and have English speaking references from such company)

    After your first job and lets say two years supply chain management experience then its easy to find another job in New Zealand but at first you need to be patient.

    Also the agricultural business isnt big in Auckland. So if you want to find a job in it you can search for good university degrees from other Universities such as Waikato, Canterbury or Victoria. (All better and with a greater reputation than Massey)
    Contact the universities own representatives and ask them about graduate job search opportunities and what assistance the universities can be of etc. Ask them how previous students have faired.
    The key is to not rely on a sweet talking agent. they dont present you with an objective image they are salesmen working on commission. You can enrol for free and get all help with visas etc if you deal directly with the university. ZERO agent fees and honest advise. Do that.

    • Dear Exile,

      I have been reading Migrant Tales, Immigration stories posted here by moderator and others. If I take the views on face value, it is a setback to learn conditions are not very promising for new comers. When you say, after a first job and two years of work experience, it should be easy to find a job. Going by the opinion of many here, they have found it extremely difficult to find a first job. Also, people on student visa are rarely offered a job. Plus the opinion, that natives and white skin if more preferred. Is it not going to be a problem finding a first job? and the second job? a few young guys I know from North India, have ended up doing, far labor job (picking kiwi, and other Agri jobs). One you tube video, said Auckland, is like just a few blocks. It is just the sky tower. They said, they were lucky to find a job, to survive. Their peers have been unlucky.

      The institute where, I am training is a reputed one. They do not have any tie ups with any universities abroad. They may have become a victim of the hype. I learnt from them, cost of living as compared to other western counties is cheaper in New Zealand. And comparatively spending power, saving is more. Average starting salary minimum would be 50, 000 dollars. I spoke to a friend pursuing an IT Course in AUT. He said his monthly expenses were 600 – 800 dollars. Which is, in all standards reasonable. However, someone I know is a New Zealand resident, said, things are not as advertised. It is a small country. It is obvious, there will be be fewer jobs.

      There are just two universities offering a program in my field of work. Massey and University of Auckland. Massey is out of question. Not even applying there. That leaves me with University of Auckland. Second, I have learnt, a P. G Diploma in a specialized field of study is as valuable as masters in NZ only. in Canada, US, P.G Diploma is hardly recognized by employers, unlike NZ. This too was my initial reason to choose NZ university.

      I have a family. I cannot risk their careers, when there is a probability, I would be struggling to find feet. Especially, when partner, would not be working, since dependent is too young.

      I have a Masters in Business Administration. I have been compelled to do a course again, since a NZ qualification is a must to find any reasonable opportunity to the job market(if there is any). I have researched trade me and seek. I find there are vacancies. However, that is not a guarantee,I will match their required skills. (I do have good experience in Supply Chain, and a fantastic profile). But in small companies. I guess, that will not be recognized. Another reason choosing, PG course, it is a year program. Saves time and money. Since, I already have a full time masters. Most things, I will study will be repetition.

      Coming around, 2 things.. why risk my career, (for a better lifestyle, than what I get in India), and go in reverse gear, choose a country which has such low user ratings. This website has demoralized me to a great extent. But, I believe, this is good for me. A pinch of salt is better. than castles in air. Precisely, USA has very stringent laws on racial laws. Canada, I hear, is an economy doing well. Singapore is a very governed country. Rest, UK, Europe is not doing very well in most sectors. I do have options.

      There, are success stories too. I am confused. People from my community (not necessarily, i know them) have had success stories too. I read, about this MP from India. I spoke to one of the other guys. They said English speaking is a major bottleneck. I scored 7.5 in IELTS. English language should not be a bottle neck for me.

      Even, if I am the best candidate, if there are no jobs/or fewer jobs even in Skills Shortage List, and they go the native and local guys, I am not going to take, this risk.

      Please clarify on after my first job, and then two years experience in Supply Chain Management, finding a job should be easy observation. If, this is the case, NZ sounds perfect. In any country there will be struggle for first 3 – 4 years.

  44. I am planning to apply for P.G Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at University of Auckland and Massey. (Level 8). I have about 6 years experience in Logistics and Supply Chain in India.

    Primary reason for choosing a P.G in this field is the Long Term Skills shortage list. I have been told by agencies in India, finding a job in NZ is difficult. However, since Logistics and Supply Chain Jobs are in long term skills shortage list, I would find a job. Most of the experiences here, are from students from St Helen’s (my guess). Is it really that difficult. I understand, it is a small country. The population is less than my city in India(Pune). Therefore, opportunities will be limited. A agency here, says out of 10 jobs in Supply Chain, 7 are vacant. Therefore, it will not be difficult to get a job. Google search is giving the same result. There are vacancies in many Agro-based industries.

    However, I am having second thoughts. I have to change my name, to get a job in NZ, better, i stay where I am. (I am not doing bad here). Just looking for a better life style. Moreover, even though I am well off, I do not want to waste my hard earned money just getting a Diploma. Even, If i accept, the Diploma in University of Auckland or Massey is world class, if it’s that difficult to find a job, sorry, but I will have to pass. I learn my work ex in India, in a small company is not valid in NZ. They have a list of comparable work experiences, which is valid. I guess from countries in the west, and Singapore.

    Also, the agencies here(reputed ones) say the P.G Diploma Course has the same job prospects as the M.B. A. Is it true?

    I am thinking of Singapore as an alternate option.

    Ray and others.. please pour in with your comments.

    • Somebody summoned me from a Marmite-induced haze?
      The other thing that you should keep in mind:
      a “Post-Graduate Diploma” UNLESS you have a Bachelor’s in that field … trust me, you did not receive the full foundational grounding that someone who went through their Bachelor’s did. Same goes for people doing “double-degrees”: They did not do twice the amount of papers for their qualification – they did halves of 2 different degrees (see how misleading words can be?). A REAL double degree … takes 6 years – and results in 2 degree certificates.

      In other words:
      If you had a “Bachelor’s in Business Analysis” and a “Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting”(PG.Dip takes 1 year(120 points) … do you seriously think they can condense a 3 year Bachelor of Accounting(360 points) + add supplementary material on top of that … into 1 year?) –
      you are NOT (objectively)”better” or “more experienced” than someone who did their Bachelor’s in Accounting (Good luck – you’ll need it! – applying for a job as an accountant, I think a case like that has appeared in the NZ newspapers).
      You can of course, verbally claim to be an Accountant … the same way an assistant language teacher(ALT) can “verbally claim to be a Teacher”(without all the attendant qualifications and experience that entails … writing that down may have legal consequences however – since you aren’t registered OR licensed with the Ministry of Education).
      If on a PR or NZ citizenship … you can claim the benefit if work cannot be “found” though (so you can at least feed yourself, and save if careful).

      Remember: Gerald Shirtcliff … didn’t even have an (existing and valid)Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, but managed to get his Master’s (father helped with his assignments, LOL) AND be hired to work in Christchurch without questions being raised about his bona fides!
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/7682458/A-life-of-lies
      I disagree with the last paragraph though:
      “He was bright enough and hard-working enough to have achieved it all honestly. (Didn’t his father help him?) It’s such a waste and he has done so much damage to his family, to others and to himself.’

      Well, he can “verbally claim to be an Engineer”!

      Fraudsters – are just not good enough(whether by intelligence or diligence) to honestly do things to satisfaction/proper scrutiny or completion … THAT’S why they cheat. The brains of some people are just “wired up” to live sneakily and opportunistically. And if they succeed in their initial fraud, it GETS REPEATED, and GETS WORSE.
      (also see Hohepa Morehu-Barlow/Joseph Hikairo Barlow/Joel Morehu-Barlow(lots of names for 1 person), Stephen Wilce, Mary-Anne Thompson, Richmal-Marie Oates-Whitehead).

      There are plenty of people trying to rort the system in this way to gain a leg up (whether via non-existent qualifications, incorrect qualifications or misrepresented work experience) e.g.

      Example 1:
      a new hire, just graduated from university (2013) writing “I singlehandedly created the software used to operate this company”(which was founded in 1989 – D’oh!) …

      if you were the Archangel Michael, you’d leave with a white head from black hair previously at the stress of having to sift through all the lies.

      In a (true) competitive environment excluding racism … the person with the Bachelor’s in their field, will be picked before the Postgraduate Diploma candidate (with an unrelated Bachelor’s).

      I can tell you this though:
      Very few people in New Zealand will tell you they are having trouble finding jobs.
      And they’re terrified about complaining regarding poor treatment at the workplace. There will be no (specific) indications on Facebook except cryptic statements like “Tired” “Frustrated” “Angry” (“vaguebooking” is the term).

      But of course:
      If employers like you, no(or falsified, or flat-out ridiculous or unbelievable) qualifications/experience are necessary/acceptable(examples above and below – both sportsmen),
      If they hate you, nothing is good enough.

      A “hiring factor” seems to be if you were previously involved in sports – it seems Kiwi athletes are suitable for every job regardless of the actual licenses or certificates or qualifications or competencies required!
      If an accident were to happen, insurance wouldn’t pay out on account of those flagrant deficiencies.
      (By the way Raminder – that should be the progression of your “self-help” movement: You will be in a new country, and should quickly try to become as self-sufficient as possible – ESPECIALLY since it now takes 5 years to become a permanent resident in NZ – and there is a 90 day trial employment period)
      http://www.dol.govt.nz/immigration/knowledgebase/item/1114

      I wouldn’t expect ANY help from the Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel (fuhgeddabouit, seeing as their former Golden Girl is currently tied up with the scandal of “making love” to the married Auckland Mayor) or the List MPs (as in my opinion they are there for “decoration” not to actually help immigrants – to keep the “model minority” quiet and uncomplaining) … as both sets of people are professional office-bearers or “community pacifiers” who are more interested in their position than helping their communities. (I have interesting anecdotes about one of their newest members, that I will share later)

      P.S. You should be aware that even international companies like Google make vague promises during the hiring process that are never fulfilled. Get everything down in writing for your employment contract.

      And if you are doing labour in hazardous locations, try and make sure your manager is not sending you to your death (and possibly sack you afterwards – if you survive the mishap – “number 8 wire”-innovative deaths are all at once tragic, embarrassing and stupid), e.g.
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7447963/Company-fined-100k-over-coolstore-incident
      The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s investigations concluded that he was given inappropriate breathing equipment to carry out work in this hazardous oxygen-deprived environment,” Northern health and safety manager John Howard said.

      “In fact, Auckland Pack and Cool did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions which explicitly stated that the respirator should not be used in ‘areas where atmospheres are oxygen deficient’ – the type of environment that the worker was required in work in.”

      Pack and Cool Ltd director Craig Lemon (is he the brother of Keith Lemon?) would not comment on the scale of the fine only saying “the court’s made its decision and we accept that decision”.

      He would not confirm or deny whether the employee was still working at the Alfriston premises.

      Example 2:
      “Practical-minded” Bob, a new join there, I hope he uses his management studies, years of experience working in kiwifruit(?) and sports ability (along with his key knack of making things “good as gold”) to make the company safer (and keep things like beer out – machines and the inebriated make for poor results).
      Previously, he managed to work full time (8 hours per day/5 day week) … while studying full time (8 hours per day/5 day week) + commute 2.5 hours one-way;(Explain to me how that’s possible, including the commute time to and from work and university (as they’re in different towns?) … 21 hours a day doing stuff (8+8+2.5+2.5) before you sleep for only 3 hours? Isn’t that illegal, being awake that long and operating heavy machinery/studying day in and day out for years … and also UNBELIEVABLE?
      (Ask yourself if people who spout these obvious lies in writing on their CV … should be considered model graduates.)

      Stay frosty, Bob!

      Oh … and about Singapore’s policy on foreign talent:
      http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/global/singapore-seeks-to-put-locals-first-in-line-for-jobs.html?_r=0

    • Another fraudster exaggerating their academic achievements (She’ll be right, mate!):
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/9762437/High-level-businessmans-CV-false
      High-level businessman’s CV false
      PHIL KITCHIN
      Last updated 17:40 25/02/2014
      Michael Vukcevic
      FAIRFAX NZ
      Michael Vukcevic

      The chairman of an influential business council with close links to the Government’s bid for a Middle East free trade agreement is a CV fraudster.

      Fairfax NZ can reveal that Michael Vukcevic – head of the Auckland-based Middle East Business Council – falsely claimed to have a law degree from Victoria University.

      Mr Vukcevic was also a director of anti-corruption agency Transparency International when he lied in his successful bid for the top New Zealand job at multinational law and patent firm, Baldwins.

      The fraud will embarrass the firm, which was last year a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for a second year in a row.

      It will also embarrass the Government because of the ties between the council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NZ Trade and Enterprise.

      As chair of the Middle East council, Mr Vukcevic rubs shoulders with powerful figures from MFAT – including Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

      The ministry said tonight that Mr McCully had no knowledge of the CV fraud, and nor did the ministry. “It is a matter for the council. It is a private sector organisation. MFAT has a good working relationship with the council and its members.”

      The council’s current executive includes former Young Nats president Daniel Fielding, and the vice-chairman is Auckland lawyer Stewart Germann. Former National Party president Michelle Boag advises the executive.

      Sources said MFAT officials were warned about concerns within the council about Mr Vukcevic over a deal he did without initial council knowledge.

      Senior figures in the council have been told of the false claims in the CV.

      …
      Ms Boag said in the two years she had been at the council there had never been a complaint about his CV.

      Mr Vukcevic used the fictitious degree to become chief executive at Baldwins in 2012.

      Victoria University has confirmed Mr Vukcevic’s only qualification from Victoria was a Bachelor of Arts degree.

      Mr Vukcevic has not responded to multiple approaches asking for an explanation.

      His seven-page CV also includes a claim he was a director for a recruitment firm. That claim is also false.

      When he was at Baldwins the company’s website claimed Mr Vukcevic was a “Registered Patent Attorney” in Australia and New Zealand but he does not appear on the registers for either country.

      He also claimed to be a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand but he is not registered as either with the Law Society.

      …
      Under the education, the CV claims Mr Vukcevic obtained a law degree and a BA from studying at Victoria from 1989 to 1992.

      Yeah, what nonsense. 2 DEGREES WITHIN 3 YEARS?
      That’s twice the workload of a full-time student, it’s amazing that many people in NZ were thick enough to believe that claim.

      • Mr Vukcevic was also a director of anti-corruption agency Transparency International when he lied in his successful bid for the top New Zealand job at multinational law and patent firm, Baldwins.

        And they didn’t check his credentials before giving him a directorship?! Makes one wonder what else they gloss over.

        If the directors of Transparency International can’t be trusted to maintain a high degree of personal integrity, what does that say about the validity of the work it carries out?

        • Transparency International New Zealand is a NZ government propaganda wing that tells the world how free of corruption New Zealand is. The organisation lies and distorts. In this sense, he was a much better “fit” for the organisation compared to an honest migrant or Kiwi. Perhaps he also had that special “local knowledge”!

  45. Something you all miss is that education isnt a ticket to a job. Nor is there a promise that youll get a job that pays well in New Zealand just because you come and do a level 6 diploma at a small college. The world doesnt work that way. As a newcomer you normally start from the bottom and build your resume. if you think you’ll jump into society higher than many kiwis you are delusional. Migration doesnt work that way.

    I dont hire people from AIS St Helens or any other college. They charge less than a uni and thats reflected in the quality of education. Why, well start by looking at the 97% passrates colleges have on average and the quality of what students are taught there. Im sorry but a college isnt enough. Not even close to enough.
    Secondly, the universities are today a money scheme, Massey University proudly boasts 40% of its students are Chinese. (almost 50% of the lecturers re foreign highly skilled academics by the way)
    I hire students with majority A grades, possibly some B grades that have graduated from a good NZ University. See the ranking yourselves its a google click away. Going cheap isnt a great choice. University of Auckland and University of Otago are the best universities and maximises the chance for a job.

    And no having great qualifications from India/China/Russia/Egypt etc doesnt help. I get 30 emails a week from jobseekers. I dont look at them i put them (or usually my secretary straight down into the bin)
    I dont know Indian etc qualifications and thus I wont hire people with those qualifications. If you come with a Australian qualification I might hire you but indian etc sorry thats a no no. And no its not my job to find out, there is no reason for me to do so. I get 50 CV:s so why would I look at people whose skills and educational merits I cant judge. I wont nor do I have time to find out.
    ill look at those I can judge and the best of those will be shortlisted. C average graduates will never get a decent job.

    If you want a job here, get a good education from a reputable university. Speak good English and get some work experience while a student. You see when I hire someone from a foreign country I want to know how they function at the workplace. I need a local reference. A western reference that might be a cafe, a waitress job or a cleaner job down at the local hotel it doesnt matter its a reference and its worth a lot to me when I hire someone without local work experience.

    Now im a manager for a European company in Auckland. Im European, not kiwi, and the majority of my new hires have been East Asians such as Chinese, Taiwanese, Koreans and Malaysians.
    They were all hired because they graduated with good marks from the best Universities. And they did well at their interviews convincing me that they would work hard and be independent goal getters.
    I have hardly hired a single ethnic kiwi. Mainly because their grades at uni hasn’t been as good as the Asian students. And because they never bothered to learn a second language at school still thinking International career is fine despite just English. Migrants have an advantage with language especially people from the likes of Malaysia that often speaks three or four languages by necessity.
    Good luck with the jobhunting.

    • There’s lots I have to say about what you’ve written(which I will do so later), but it’s so nice to know that international students will now “be allowed to compete for jobs” (I say it in quotes because their passports are already stamped with “Allowed to work 20 hours during the term, and full time outside that period”)
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/9274487/International-students-visas-expanded
      Of course, it starts off with the encouraging words toward international students:
      Parents beware, your student sons and daughters might be on the couch next summer with a proposal to open jobs to international students promising fierce competition.
      International students really are loved, aren’t they?

    • Certainly my friend, you are correct when you uttered so. In this island of uniqueness, (beings with distinct DNA floating upon the street on Friday nights, with metaphorical talents, ravaged by their own uniqueness), certainly education is not the ticket to a job….NEPOTISM IS, which is why you see kiwi brethren with the IQ of a third grader (compared to us rest of the world), serving as CEO/MANAGER of a cleaning/milking (both migrant and animal milking) companies, most of them barely having a high school certificate!!

      That tells us a lot, and surely there was some wisdom in your words, the grandiosity of which is merely all, but a tinge of your kiwi uniqueness, but would be considered euphemism for the ‘rest of the world people’ who don’t share underwear with your unique ‘100% kiwi’ ‘mates at the gates’ mob.

      No wonder we ‘rest of the world people’ could draw some equivalence to human form of the antipodes, when we look at NZ, you, and the ‘100% kiwi owned & operated’ gatekeepers as such.

    • You are not European, you are a liar and ‘one of them’. An impostor, merely posing as European. Your ‘kiwiana’ is dripping from the quality of your English, as kiwis have a unique way of writing which is very easy to identify, the quality of which, sadly is,at the bottom of the heap in all English speaking countries.

      Whats your real job mate, which pub in Gold Coast are you working for?

      BTW…India educated 24 year old guy here, whose first language is Hindi.

  46. I have been in IT industry for 10 years and wanted to migrate to NZ.
    All you guys are scaring me. Now I wonder, if I’ll get job there!!!!

    • It takes many years and much money to stay on long enough to get permanent residency in NZ even if you have the requirements on the Skills Shortage List (if you are not coming in on an investment visa OR were not born here OR didn’t at least go through secondary school in NZ).
      Alternatively, you can get married to a local …if they’ll have you.

      One route that people go through is to arrange a job in NZ while they’re in their home country.

      But of course, that offer may be withdrawn when the (potential)employer feels like it, like what happened with Dr. Sharad Paul:
      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10526600
      He came to New Zealand in 1991 with a guaranteed job as a plastic surgeon registrar at a regional hospital but on arrival discovered the position was gone.

      “Until I landed, they probably didn’t think I was Indian, with the surname Paul, born in England,” he laughs. “But I never take no for an answer, so rather than quit and say I’d failed, it made me more determined to stay here.”

      Wanting more time to write, as well as the skills to do medical mission work as his parents had, he trained as a GP in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.

      “There was some sort of medical council assessment that said I couldn’t communicate in English very well. It’s always been my first language and I’m a writer of English, for God’s sake. Some people may have been broken by that, but each of these things made me even more determined to succeed,” he says.

      • Note that it might take 5 years to get permanent residency in NZ (the specifics were NOT made clear to me at a university briefing),
        and now, another FURTHER 5 years stay in NZ after PR for citizenships(used to be 3 years).
        So, 10 years to become an NZ citizen.
        That is the biggest reason why people on PR either stay on in NZ, or work in Australia.

        Also, Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia allow dual-citizenship with NZ … which is a probable reason why people from there enjoy relationship success in NZ.

        Also:
        Citizenship Requirements Change in April 2010

        The requirements for obtaining New Zealand citizenship by grant change on 21 April 2010, and it is important that people who might be affected lodge their applications before they miss out.

        At the moment, if you received permanent residence or had a successful application accepted by Immigration New Zealand before 21 April 2005, you could be eligible for a grant of citizenship after living in New Zealand for three years.

        If you applied for and received permanent residence on or after 21 April 2005, you have to be resident in New Zealand for five years before becoming eligible for a grant of citizenship.

        However, from 21 April 2010, everyone will have to be resident for five years before becoming eligible for a grant of citizenship, no matter when they applied for and obtained permanent residence.

        That means that if you meet the three-year requirement and don’t lodge an application before 21 April 2010, you will not be eligible until you have lived in New Zealand for five years, not three years.

        You can check whether you are eligible for citizenship by using the Citizenship Online Calculation Tool. Alternatively you can contact us for further information.

        Source: http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Citizenship-General-Requirements-for-a-Grant-of-New-Zealand-Citizenship?OpenDocument#fifteen

        • Whoops, forgot to add that during this 5 year period before gaining permanent residency if you don’t have work you may need to demonstrate evidence of funds.
          This is just my opinion but you are looking at somewhere in the region of NZD2,000/month, so if jobless for that period you’d better have over NZD120,000 with you …

  47. I was thinking of going to further my studies in NZ next year in hopes of getting myself a job after completing my postgrad dip in food tech (it’s listed in the skill shortage so was thinking chances in landing in a job & getting citizenship would be higher)….then I stumbled upon this site. I don’t know if I should be happy or sad.

    It shouldn’t be THAT hard for a food science/food technology graduate to get a job since it’s in demand, right? I hope I’m right 😡

    Oh and I have no significant working experience. May the odds be ever in my favour. 😡

    • Further your studies, BUT have an emergency stash of money to use for you to leave if things don’t work out on the job front. Keep a careful eye on your finances, and keep backups of your work or any data you need for assignments.
      PLEASE don’t hold out false hopes of employment, and in doing so drain your family finances or put your health or well-being at risk – you are entitled to the minimum wage as a worker, and have nothing to be worried about if you are following the working hour limits as stipulated in your student visa (outside study periods you can work 40 hour weeks).
      Employers aren’t allowed to question you about your race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, age or political views.

  48. Who would like the person who is from a country full of corruption? I am an Asian, but I don’t blame NZ, because I can see how the Asians are here, I don’t mean all, but most of them, once they don’t have jobs, they would pay for that, no matter how much money. Once they got the jobs, of course they would hire the person who pays them, so they can get their money back. The same as marriage, they earn money like that. and some of them, after became residencies, they ask benefits from government and show how poor they are, I wonder if they were poor, how did they buy the job offers, how did they pay for fake marriage business? Perhaps, they spent all their money on it, as a result they don’t have any but NZ government.

    • once they don’t have jobs, they would pay for that, no matter how much money. Once they got the jobs, of course they would hire the person who pays them, so they can get their money back.
      Uh what? This is the bit where I say, it’s remarkable if you got residence with such poor English, but I guess you tickle the fancy of immigration officers (apologies if that’s not the case)
      You must not have read the recent articles on nzherald, e.g. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10842675
      “Migrant worker made to pay own wages”
      so this is a recurring situation, where “migrants in a more comfortable position of residence, prey on the newly-arrived” … which is not that much far removed, from NZ citizens paying migrants less than the minimum wage (happened to me in one of my casual jobs, person was a Caucasian NZ citizen in his final year of a Law qualification).

      The same as marriage, they earn money like that.
      Again, if you’re talking about mail-order brides … men are not part of that scheme as “the party that is sold”

      Who would like the person who is from a country full of corruption?
      And finally … ya know, maybe they came from a country full of corruption … BECAUSE they DIDN’T want to live a corrupt life? Or does that reason not strike you as valid?

  49. I do not believe this is a racial problem…truth is….there is very few jobs available in NZ. Everyone is having a tough time finding jobs. Cheers…..

    • If that were true why is New Zealand still drawing in migrants to fill skills shortage lists? Are their skills really in demand, or is it because immigration is a revenue earner and keeps the NZ economy afloat?

  50. I am born here Asian. Had a heartblock stopped working, went to uni again did a course in accounting as I thought that would be good b/c I enjoy no.’s so numbers I thought could have helped my prev job, less words, more numbers. But have yet to score a job after 1yr, had interviews but at times the employers expected more than what I had on my CV. But when I started off, I worked in a call centre b/c I couldn’t couldn’t get a desk job in 12 months.

    Maybe it is the economy. Have tried admin jobs but they see me as over qualified maybe that is going by the few advisors who spoke to me incl recruitment.

    RE: the students. I think it is human that they prefer someone with local knowledge in terms of communications, team building etc. Maybe ok with the larger orgs but I think that is still there based on human psychology. I know one overseas student, she graduated with a BSc in a NZ university but due to her VISA she has to get a job that is related to her degree, 6 months gone, 6 to go or she would be classed as a overstayer. And another who got a BCom degre in a NZ university, couldn’t get a job, treated the 12 months as a self funded OE and then just went home. I know one international student who got a Masters and half a PhD, he is quiet etc .. introvert, so just got a job at one of the Asian foundation providers teaching business. The rest of the overseas students that I know, generally speaking most of them went home and just visit NZ on a regular basis ie … visiting their university towns, go to the white mountain, the beaches and 7 days after leave and back the following year or two. Some worked for a big org like an accounting firm and transferred to Brisbane and stayed in AU while visiting family in Asia yearly. Most of the overseas students who remained in NZ straight after graduating got specialised degrees such as medicine, dentistry. The largest group who stayed in NZ are those who was brought up in NZ, no overseas student.

    • Most of the overseas students who remained in NZ straight after graduating got specialised degrees such as medicine, dentistry.

      They had to work to a higher standard than locals, and are only chosen after locals want to work overseas for higher pay.
      In other words, play the model minority role.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10813483
      Interesting bit from that article:
      As Ranginui Walker explained it, you don’t have to be very smart to be a doctor. “It only takes an IQ of 100 to succeed in medicine. It’s not rocket science.”

      That meant the problem of too few Maori doctors could be fixed easily. The university dropped the bar to a B-bursary for Maori. Everyone else needed an A-bursary or better. Once into medical school, though, Maori students had to perform and pass like everyone else.

      As far as the university was concerned the problem was fixed. But then came the influx of new immigrants. In Walker’s words, “the Asians started to squeeze out Pakeha students”.

      So the university broadened the criteria for selection. They were no longer strictly academic. It counted if students did kapa haka, went to the marae, played sports or practised music.

      Walker explained that gave Pakeha students “a bit of an edge over Asian students who are totally, single-mindedly focused on academic excellence and had nothing else to offer the profession”.

      Another article that is very disquieting
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/columnists/sean-plunket/7839270/Treaty-mars-efforts-to-make-Waitangi-special

      tbird22 hours ago
      …
      People need to learn what racism is. Racism is NOT having a personal opinion about someone else’s culture. Racism is NOT describing your attacker to police. Racism is not reading out facts.
      Racism is forcing races to be segregated, different water fountains, different movie theatres, back of the bus type thing. Racism is saying white people and Asians need 89% GPA to do Medicine at uni, but reserving seats for a special race. Racism is saying that white people and Asians need to pay full fees for their counselling for depression, while letting a special race have it for free. Racism is making everyone pay money to a particular race.
      An worst of all… in our parliament, in the place they make the laws we must all follow… In a country with 6th gen Kiwis, Chinese, Samoan, Indian, Tongan, English, Korean, Dutch, Niuean, South African, Filipino, and hundreds of other “ethnicities” – we have parliamentary seats reserved for a few over-paid, lazy, Maori elite.
      That, Lisylis, is racism.

      Choosing people for jobs based on being born into the “correct skin” means that very likely, the best people don’t get chosen.
      Who loses? The people getting the service.
      But as long as they don’t complain, they should not expect any improvement. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

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