Migrant Stories

Resn - Newcomers give Wellington digital interactive edge

Wellington-based Resn, creative digital partner of leading brands and advertising agencies worldwide, needed to recruit flash developers and designers who are on the long term skills shortages list. Resn has been proactively recruiting from overseas, successfully bringing in three migrants thus far.

Iain Shaw - Market Research Analyst from Scotland

Iain Shaw hails from Scotland and is employed by 4RF as a Market Research Analyst. He decided to settle in New Zealand because of the high quality of life, the outdoor activities available, and being from Scotland he finds the weather here a huge improvement!

Vincenzo Paparelle - Chef from Italy

It’s a case of second time lucky for Italian, Vincenzo Paparelle who works as chef at Soprano Ristorante restaurant on the Kapiti coast.

Annie Rastello - Project Manager from France

Working at 4RF Communications is a bit like working at the United Nations. The New Zealand company –a global leader in the telecommunications and microwave radio industry with customers in more than 110 countries - employs staff from all around the world. At its Head Office in Wellington, 25 of its 60 employees hail from 15 different countries - England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Philippines, South Africa, USA, France, Italy, Zimbabwe, Cambodia, China, Slovenia, Assyria and India.

Skilled migrants can be found in every department at 4RF - from accounts, administration and marketing through to development, production, sales and shipping. They’ve got skills crucial to the company’s success which can’t readily be sourced from the local workforce.

New Zealand employers like 4RF can apply to Immigration New Zealand to be able to offer employment to skilled workers from overseas. To qualify for ‘Accredited Employer’ status, companies have to prove, among other things, that they’re in a sound financial position, have good human resource policies and processes, are committed to training and employing New Zealanders, and have good workplace practices, including compliance with all immigration and employment laws.

Annie Rastello is a Project Manager at 4RF. Originally from France, Annie moved to New Zealand from six years in the US because she was attracted by the fact that there are fewer people here than in many other English speaking countries. Plus the immigration process is much easier than the USA, for example. She didn’t experience any issues obtaining residency – in fact she says she found the process easy.

Although job opportunities in New Zealand can be limited for specialised roles, Annie feels that with the right skills and the smaller population it’s not too hard to find a suitable job. Her advice to people offshore, who are looking for work in New Zealand, is to be on the spot - “Often email is not enough.” Annie says she was “totally suited” to the role at 4RF, she liked the interview process, the people that she met, the company’s approach and the fact that they have a low staff turnover.

Annie also likes Wellington - “It is a nice city, with the ocean, the size of the city and the number of people. There are local communities of people from other countries - for example there is a good French-speaking community. These groups often host events, and can help to make newly arrived people feel more comfortable. If you are new to Wellington these types of groups can be invaluable.”  

Paul D’souza - Chef from India

Monsoon Poon is a restaurant located right in the heart of Wellington’s Courtenay Place cuisine precinct. One fifth of its workforce is migrants.

Mark Hussey - Emergency Doctor from The United Kingdom

Wellington's lifestyle and its people are unbeatable, according to UK-born emergency doctor Mark Hussey.

Cecile Diamante - IT Analyst from the Philippines

Wellington’s walkability and friendliness wowed Filipino IT analyst Cecile Diamante from her first moments in the city.

Professor Jeroen Douwes – Co-Director from the Netherlands

“This may come as a surprise to many Wellingtonians,” he says,“but I prefer the climate here with its mild winters.”

Petr Tobias – Anaesthetist from the Czech Republic

Its a long journey from the Czech Republic to Masterton, and for Petr Tobias, it was one that was a long time coming.

Carlos Zevallos –Beekeeper from Peru

It was the loud buzz of thousands of honey bees, music to a commercial apiarist ears which enticed Carlos Zevallos from his native Peru to the temperate shores of New Zealand.

Luca Fascione – Software engineer from Italy

It is not often that the Wellington wind gets good press so when Luca Fascione mentioned he loves the wind a further explanation was needed.

Ray and Diane Cherrell – diesel truck mechanic from UK

Ray and Diane Cherrell immigrated to New Zealand from Lincolnshire, England, in 2006. ‘We’d visited Auckland on holiday in 2002 –it rained every day but it didn’t put us off..”

Angela Ballantyne & Ryan Orange – academic & policy strategist, Kiwis returned.

After 10 years away, expatriates Ryan Orange and Angela Ballantyne were nervous that Wellington would not live up to their expectations on their return.

Cynthia Patterson – CIO from United States

“We wanted to live in a more progressive-minded society. Australia was too much like a mini-US, Canada was too cold, but luckily New Zealand was perfect.”

Desi Ramoo – Scientist from United Kingdom

“I’ve been lucky but when you are moving your family from one side of the world to the other it is important to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into, make sure everything is in writing.... "

Thomas Kuhne – University lecturer from Germany

“Wellington is a fantastic city with very friendly, relaxed people. We love the natural scenery and the fact it isn’t crowded at all.”

Gilbert Sanseau – Software engineer from France

It takes a certain kind of person to find the south of France boring but luckily for Wellington that is exactly what Gilbert Sanseau and his partner found.

Jitendra Bothara – Seismic engineer from Nepal

Back in 1993 Jitendra Bothara was in Nepal working on an earthquake engineering project when he met two men who would change his life. Beca directors Dr Richard Sharpe and Rob Jury.

Kation Cai – Banking consultant from China

Seven years ago Kation Cai set out on an epic journey. His goal, to learn English. Spurred on by the competitive cost of living and study, the friendliness of New Zealanders and the breathtaking environment, Kation made the 11,000km journey from Guangdong to Wellington.

Heli Matileinen – Research scientist from Finland

Heli and her husband, Mika spent two years in California while Heli was doing post doctoral research in breast cancer targeting but despite the sunny climes, America wasn’t where they wanted to settle and they applied for residency in New Zealand.