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
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.
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.
Capital and Cultural – a desirable mix
Cynthia Patterson – CIO from United States
Cynthia Patterson and her husband had a desire to live abroad for a number of years. As society and politics became increasingly conservative and divisive, they decided it was time to pack their bags.
“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.”
Cynthia had worked in Washington DC and enjoyed the challenges and opportunities working for the government brought. “We knew that we wanted to live in the capital; there are more interesting job opportunities particularly in IT. We also liked the cultural scene in Wellington and the beauty of the harbour and surrounding hills. As foodies we appreciate the vibrant café and restaurant scene in the city.”
Cynthia is nothing if not organised: in her first two weeks in the country she had bought a car, bought a house, established a bank account, found a job, and applied for her IRD number.
“The actual immigrating process was incredibly easy. The amount of information online was amazing; you could easily check the status of your application at any time. From submission of Expression of Interest to receipt of Passport (with residency visa) the process took about 5 months,” says Cynthia.
In the four and a half years that Cynthia and her husband have been in Wellington they have made great friends. “In DC people are very transitory. We wanted to develop real friendships and be part of a community and here in New Zealand we have been able to do that. Kiwis in general have an openness and generosity of spirit, they are very warm and caring, and particularly so in Wellington.”
“In my experience, recruiters in New Zealand expect you to be physically in the country before they will schedule interviews for you. It is really important to network and maintain good communications with a wide range of people. It’s often who you know that helps you get your job here.”
“You need to be relatively open in the first job you take. New Zealand is not the rest of the world and employers like and value local experience. Be willing to take a role that might be considered a step down, it gives you a chance to prove yourself and gain local knowledge,” explains Cynthia.
“We love it here and we expect to retire here. Of course, there are things that are not as great as the US, like the quality of housing. Even though Wellington is a reasonably compact city, the neighbourhoods have quite distinct personalities. It’s worth getting to know them before you purchase your house.”
Cynthia’s advice to people thinking of making the move is, “New Zealand is a fabulous country with amazing people. Move here with an open attitude and willingness to learn about local customs. Realise that New Zealand is likely to be different than your home country: some things will be better, some worse, others just different. Above all be willing to make an effort to fit in; don’t just stick with other ex-pats and maintain your old customs.”
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.