Moving countries not only means a change of scenery, different time zone and a new job. For expats relocating to New Zealand, or Kiwis returning after many years away living in a new country comes with a raft of cultural differences far beyond traditions and food.
Mobile team member Dani Kuchel moved to Aotearoa from Berlin 4 years ago.
Here she shares reflections on what makes living in the ’land of the long white cloud’ so special to her, and tips on how to find your place within Kiwi communities.
He aha te mea nui o te ao What is the most important thing in the world? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
To me this Maori proverb is very on point when it comes to the Kiwi mentality.
Although New Zealand is decent sized country geographically, its population is small.
Very small - in fact, it seems like everyone sort of knows each other. There is always a chance to speak with someone, who went to uni with your neighbour or grew up and shares childhood memories with your good friend. You might also bump into a familiar face in a random part of the country.
Coming here from Berlin, a city that more than 3 million people call home and therefore can sometimes feel a bit anonymous, it needed some adjustment for me to open up to the genuine kindness of my first encounters.
I realized how welcoming and approachable Kiwis are, and being open-minded myself made it very easy to get to know people in the most ordinary places and situations like in the shops, a cafè or even the car park.
I’m not exaggerating, when I say I met someone who is now a close friend when handing over a Facebook Marketplace trade :)
Community is big here - be it virtual (e.g. Facebook groups), local (e.g. ‘neighbourhood watches’) or based on shared interests (e.g. sports clubs).
With tight-knit communities also comes WOM (word of mouth). Be sure to put yourself out there and connect with others, you never know what helping hands or new opportunities might await you, if you do. But it’s important to be interested and curious as you seek to join a community, rather than feeling like you need to be upfront in establishing your worth and credentials. After all, New Zealanders are a humble bunch, known for not wanting to stand out from the crowd - the so-called tall poppy syndrome.
Finally, I find that New Zealand is a casual country. There are some obvious examples like ‘pot lucks’ (where everyone brings a dish to share when you’re invited to dinner, “bring a plate”) and beach picnics. But it also extends into the workplace where the dress code is mostly smart casual which relaxes even further towards the end of the week with “casual Friday” when jeans and shorts are quite acceptable in some offices. Even getting a job has its own Kiwi way. Have you been invited to a coffee catch-up before? I have, and it took me by surprise when I realised it is commonly part of an actual job interview where a potential employer wants to get to know you an a relaxed and informal setting
Here, it is all about community and connection. A team of just over 5 million really.
On that note, this iconic NZ folk song from the 1950s really sums it up for me:
Tutira mai nga iwi Line up together, people Tatou tatou e All of us, all of us. Tutira mai nga iwi Stand in rows, people Tatou tatou e All of us, all of us. Whai-a te marama-tanga Seek after knowledge me te aroha - e nga iwi! and love of others - everybody! Ki-a ko tapa-tahi, Be really virtuous Ki-a kotahi ra. And stay united. Tatou tatou e. All of us, all of us. Ta - tou, ta - tou E!! All of us, all of us.
Click here to listen to Tutira Mai Nga Iwi.
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Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
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