Migrant Tales – Heading Back to First World Canada

Continuing in our series of migrant tales – first hand accounts of the migrant experience of New Zealand. Today’s tale is from a Canadian, resident in New Zealand for three years. Here’s his reasons for why he’ll be headed home soon. I’m from Canada, and I’d rather spend a winter there where it’s -20C because…

Migrant Tales – Escape from Retardicon 6, part 1

Continuing in our series of Migrant Tales, first hand accounts of the migrant experience of New Zealand. Today’s tale forms the first part of an exciting new series by a guest author. If you have a tale you’d like to share with us please leave your submission in The Agora, along with instructions for how…

Immigrants Caught In Cold Poverty Trap

Our sympathies go out to Tenoch King and her husband, Mark Steadman. The couple emigrated to New Zealand three years ago, Mr Steadman is a relief secondary school teacher from Australia and his American wife is a graduate and is working part time. They bought an old, uninsulated 1914 villa (wooden)  in Port Chalmers* with…

Toxic Homes Still A Nightmare For Many In New Zealand

A Herald article today highlighted the reality of the ‘cheap’ housing often bought by unwary homeowners and newcomers in New Zealand. It tells the story of a Malaysian couple who purchased a property in Buckland’s Beach, an affluent area in South Auckland that’s popular with immigrants from a number of countries. Mr Chee bought his…