While Norman and Linda were at the shop with us the other night, we all got talking to a customer, Nigel, who regularly enjoys our pizzas. He was cursing the fact that his mobile phone was on the blink and blaming Vodafone for the problem. Norman has also had a lot of problems with Vodafone so this sparked a lively debate which led on to the general state of New Zealand. Politics, tax, big business, the social divide were all discussed.
Eventually the conversation touched on immigration. Nigel, a returning Kiwi was lamenting the fact that New Zealand has been overwhelmed by 'foreigners' and that Brits could just 'walk' into New Zealand with out any trouble from The Immigration Department. This is a popular misconception by many Pakeha (White New Zealanders of European descent). They believe that British people (or Poms) can just come to New Zealand, cream off the assets and reap the benefits of the New Zealand lifestyle. He believed that immigration just signed applications with no questions asked. Who is he kidding? Obtaining residency visas and citizen ship in New Zealand can be a daunting process; costly and sometimes very lenghthy. In fact it is easier to get into Australia. And just what are we creaming off New Zealand? It is hardly a wealthy country. We run our business and pay our taxes to enable us to enjoy the New Zealand lifestyle, no free ride expected.
I was also taken aback by Nigel's open racism towards Chinese and Indians living here and in particular 'those Middle Eastern types, who were not to be trusted'.
It is unfortunate that we have encountered this kind of thing before - we are known as the couple of Poms that own the pizza shop. He also didn't seem to mind spouting off his opinions to the five of us from England!
I wonder if he ever considered that while he was working in the UK for 5 years and Australia for 15 years that he was the 'foreigner' 'creaming off' the high wages of these countries. Probably didn't even enter his head.
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2 comments:
Very interesting!
Sadly I have also encountered people who think us 'poms' (I hate that word!) just walked into NZ. As you know yourselves its a huge lengthy process. We left the UK in Sept 06 and finally became residents in Oct 07 - after spending many many months, developing horrendous stress and spending a massive amount of cash.
A debate I feel will go on for a long time.
It is even more difficult for Brits to immigrate to Canada (as I did in 1981). However, we are respected here. Canada has two founding nations, England and France. The French (unfortunately) run the country while the British own the country. Just like NZ, Canada has a very large expat British population and, although we all have very fond memories of Britain, very few of us wish to return there.
Very best wishes from your brother -in-law,
John Corby,
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
blightys@gmail.com
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