Newcomers talk: what matters?
Being able to vote is one thing that surely makes new residents feel like New Zealand is home.
Migrant education, teaching second languages in schools, the housing crisis and better public transport are some of the issues they’re concerned with.
North Harbour News spoke to five residents who were born overseas, including three firsttime voters, about their views.
Education went hand-in-hand with people feeling as if they belonged, two residents said.
Heba Mohamed, originally from Egypt, said learning English as fast as possible would help people to settle into their new country.
‘‘It will help them to feel that they belong to this community and they can do a lot for this country as well.’’
Newcomers coordinator Laure Romanetti agrees that sharing language promotes social cohesion. Learning a second language in-depth should be part of the school curriculum, she said.
‘‘When you know someone else’s language, you have a chance to enter their culture.’’
Former pharmacist Shakeela Raza, who moved a year and a half ago from Pakistan, said she is most concerned with jobs and housing.
Raza needs to retrain in order to be able to register with the Pharmacy Council in New Zealand, as too much time has lapsed since she last practised.
As she hasn’t been in the country for three years, she is unable to apply for a student loan and cannot meet the tuition costs, she said. Her evening work at a fast food restaurant is having a negative effect on her family.
Something needs to be done about the ‘‘ridiculous’’ housing costs which are too high in relation to salaries, she said.
Kate Shaitarova from Russia, said she was most concerned with public transport.
‘‘Not everybody can afford a car - especially some students.’’
Transport needed to be made more efficient, she said.
According to the 2013 Census, almost 46 per cent of the Upper Harbour population were born overseas. The national average of 25 per cent.
A New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS) identified longterm migrants reported very similar voting behaviour as those born in New Zealand, with 18.2 per cent and 16.3 per cent respectively not voting in the 2011 General Election.