How life is going for Ukrainians in New Zealand: the beginning of our journey

Experience of moving from Ukraine to New Zealand

The first part of our journey of emigration from Ukraine to New Zealand details the challenges we faced in obtaining visas and searching for jobs.

City selection: Palmerston North

We chose the city of Palmerston North, and it wasn't a random choice: it has the university where Andrey got accepted. Although this region isn't the most beautiful in New Zealand, it offers us the necessary opportunities for living. We plan to stay here for two to three years, after which we want to move closer to the coast.

Plans for housing

As for the choice of housing, we have plans to buy our own in the future. However, it should be emphasized that the price of real estate in New Zealand is quite high. In our city, the minimum cost of a house is approx.330 thousand dollarsIn large cities like Wellington — the capital of the country — or Auckland — the most populous city, the prices for standard housing can reach530,000 to 650,000 dollars. At the moment it sounds to us as something from the realm of fantasy, but banks offer loans with quite adequate interest rates, which are about4%Some people still find a way to buy a home, but most prefer to rent it for their entire lives!

Mortgage loans and payments

If our bank approved us for a mortgage, the daily payments could be from$260 to $330....which is quite acceptable for personal housing. Payments were planned to be made over approximately...30 yearsHowever, if one were to be more determined and increase the contribution amount, it would be possible to pay off faster. This is only feasible with a stable job that offers a decent salary.

Quality of housing

The saddest part of this situation is that even for such money, people are buying housing of surprisingly low quality. Andrey sarcastically notes that the houses look as if they are made of cardboard and foil. Although this may seem like an exaggeration, the structures are actually made of wooden frames covered with drywall on both sides. Insulation may be present, but many old houses lack it. The windows are often very thin and poorly protect against the cold, making the interiors uncomfortable. What people are willing to pay half a million dollars for is surprising and often leaves one bewildered. Andrey believes we should consider the option of building our own quality home.

The natural beauty of Rotorua

On the outskirts of the city of Rotorua lies a magnificent redwood forest that captivates with its natural beauty.

Searching for rental accommodation

As for renting a place to live, we once again needed recommendations from locals. Arriving in a new country, we had no idea about the best neighborhoods to live in or the rental prices. To gather some information about the situation, I reached out to members of a Russian-speaking group on Facebook where migrants communicate.

Community support

I started receiving answers to my questions: people shared their experiences regarding schools, the best neighborhoods to live in, and recommended a few reliable landlords. I would like to express special thanks to Marina, one of the group members, who wrote to me in private messages and offered to let me stay with her for a few weeks. She has a spacious three-bedroom house, and this offer was a real lifesaver for us while we were looking for suitable housing.

Life in New Zealand

A woman lives in the neighborhood with her children, while her husband sometimes comes from out of town because he works remotely. We decided to take advantage of their offer and stay with them a little longer - instead of the planned two weeks, we stayed for three. The main reason for this was a problem with references, which become an important condition for renting a place.

There is a problem with the recommendations.

You can't even imagine how much this can complicate the process! In order to be able to rent a house, you need to have a recommendation from a previous landlord, or as the locals call them, landlords. The landlord must verify your reliability as a tenant based on the reviews from your previous landlords. They can:

• Call and find out what kind of tenant you were.
• Make sure the walls are still intact,
• Check if you have caused any damage to the property.
• Find out how you got along with your neighbors.

Since we didn't have any recommendations from the previous owners, we got a bit creative and provided Marina's phone number, who confirmed that we rented the property from her and, fortunately, managed to keep everything in good condition.

Russian-speaking community

As for the Russian-speaking community, locals are enthusiastic about their cultural multinationality. People who speak Russian are eager to unite, and there is even a specialized group of about forty families. We found out about its existence by chance: one day Andrei heard a conversation in Russian while walking down the street and approached the women to chat.

As a result, they shared the contact information of Natasha, who is the key organizer of meetings in this circle. Interestingly, now Natasha, her husband Kostya, and I have become very close friends.

Natasha's birthday

Recently, Natasha celebrated her anniversary – she turned 40 years old and gathered many guests. For the occasion, she rented a community center – such halls are available in almost every neighborhood and can be rented for a quite modest amount. These venues come with tables and chairs, while the guests bring their own snacks, drinks, and other necessary items.

At Natasha's birthday party, many people from different cultures gathered: Russians, Turks, Belarusians, Estonians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs, and even New Zealanders. Many of them became familiar to us precisely because of this event.

Ukrainian community

In our city, there is also a Ukrainian community, but for some reason, they prefer to stay in the background. A striking example is the cultural festival that takes place regularly and showcases the diversity of New Zealand's population, which consists of many nationalities.

The locals really value this aspect of their lives and take pride in it, which is why the festival serves as a platform for communication, both for migrants showcasing their culture and for New Zealanders eager to learn something new about other nations. This year, we also decided to participate in the festival: I prepared something interesting for sale, and Andrey transported it to the event, but we had a choice – we decided to present our dish not at the Ukrainian tent, but at the Russian one.

Friendship ties and the Ukrainian community

First of all, it's important to note that we have strong friendships with Russians. Secondly, we cannot ignore the fact that the behavior of people from Ukraine in our surroundings sometimes seems somewhat inadequate.

In addition to the usual rushniki, Ukrainian symbols and straw crafts, their tent displays crosses, multiple reminders of the Holodomor and references to Russia as an aggressor country. Talk of similar themes, which are often raised on Ukrainian television, is now echoed in New Zealand. Despite the fact that Ukrainians speak Russian, their mood is often hostile.

I completely don't understand why, having left their homeland in search of better living conditions, they continue to stir up conflicts and emit aggressive rhetoric about who is attacking whom. Communication with Ukrainians happens very rarely for us, unless they are part of the Russian-speaking community – it is precisely such peaceful people from their midst that someone has managed to meet here.

Education in New Zealand

As for the education system, New Zealand focuses on identifying and developing individual talents. Before we moved, Lisa only knew a little English: a few simple phrases and the most basic set of grammar rules. Individual language lessons began only after Andrey passed the IELTS exam.

• However, even this level was not enough.
• In New Zealand, the phrase "Ukrainian English teacher" sounds a bit comical, as schools are unable to achieve the necessary level of knowledge for teaching.

Thus, it may seem that Lisa came to school with almost no understanding of the English language.

Differences in the school system

She ended up in the third grade, even though she only completed the first grade in Ukraine, which is due to differences in the age requirements – in Ukraine, children start school between the ages of six and seven, while in New Zealand, it's from five. At the beginning of their education, children are sent to primary school, then to intermediate school, and finally to high school.

• At each stage, different subjects are studied, under the guidance of different teachers and in different buildings.
• However, the entire process up to high school can be seen as something akin to kindergarten, even if classes run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

The requirements for students are significantly lower than in Ukraine. What we studied in the first grade starts only at the third grade level in New Zealand.

Core subjects and education

Currently, the main focus in education is on three subjects: reading, mathematics, and writing. Students are writing in print letters, while cursive is not yet part of the curriculum!

The focus here is on developing children's personal qualities and identifying their talents - in our culture, these are creative skills. Children learn friendship, politeness, anger and frustration management, and how to communicate with each other.

First day at school

After we chose a new neighborhood and signed the lease for the house, we promptly sent Liza to school. She was noticeably different from her peers; her lack of English language skills was evident, but she confidently grasped math and showed outstanding abilities in drawing and writing.

In our country, a lot of attention is paid to handwriting; we spend a lot of time practicing letter formation and strive for perfection in calligraphy. At the same time, Lisa has become a symbol of how approaches to education differ in various countries, and this has opened up a completely new perspective on educational methods for us.

Recently, we found ourselves in quite an interesting situation: although Lisa was enchanted by the new country, she found it difficult to start communicating with new people. As a result, she didn't have any friends for a long time, which, of course, made her sad. However, after six months, everything changed, and the girl was able to find new friends.

Lisa still feels a strong nostalgia for her roots and friends from Ukraine, such as Veronika and Andriy.

These days, my daughter doesn't yet realize the value of the knowledge and experience we have passed on to her. She will only come to understand this after returning to her homeland, where she will be able to notice how she differs from the people around her.

Cape of the Thieves

We live in an area known as Cape Kidnappers, which is considered one of the largest cormorant colonies in the world. Here the attitude towards foreigners is special: the locals show genuine interest, trying to learn more about our life and culture, asking questions about our habits, traditions and reasons for leaving their homeland.

The attitude of the local residents

Despite the fact that Andrey and I still look like outsiders to New Zealanders, the overall attitude towards us remains friendly and respectful, without any sense of superiority. I think that if we had darker skin, it would be more difficult for us to integrate both in the workplace and in everyday life. However, this is just my personal opinion based on my own experiences.

Cultural tolerance

On this island, there is a high degree of cultural tolerance, and no one ever openly emphasizes skin color or highlights it. Perhaps, on an intuitive level, this aspect is important, but New Zealanders generally welcome newcomers with interest and respect. They often curiously ask about our past, habits, and customs, as if we are exotic beings they have encountered on their life journey.

Language skills

• Most locals speak only English.
• The school curriculum does not include the study of other languages.
• We can boast of our knowledge of English, Ukrainian, and Russian languages.
• Our literacy in several languages is admired by New Zealanders.

Māori culture

Some New Zealanders also speak the Māori language, which is native to the indigenous Māori people who have inhabited these lands for centuries. Throughout history, there have often been conflicts between English colonizers and the Māori, resulting in significant losses for this people. Currently, local authorities are trying to respect and preserve Māori culture and language by providing certain advantages for admission to educational institutions.

Education

When it comes to education, it is worth noting that a significant number of New Zealanders do not have a higher education, as obtaining it is quite a challenging process. There are no practices of bribing for good grades or opportunities to retake exams. Students must either study diligently or they are simply expelled – there are no alternatives.

Personal experience

By the way, I try not to emphasize that I have a master's degree, even though it does open up certain opportunities for advancement. However, at the moment, I'm not looking to stand out from the others; my main desire is to gain experience in new workplaces and improve my language skills while accumulating knowledge in a new cultural environment.

Introduction

At some point, I will be able to showcase my skills and let you know that I'm ready to move up to a higher level in my career! Let's discuss the pros and cons of life in New Zealand, which combines comfort with a certain level of hypocrisy.

A comfortable life in New Zealand

For me, this country represents a corner filled with harmony, with ideal conditions for existence. Right after stepping off the plane, you get the impression of organization, tidiness, comfort, and respectful treatment. Here, you won't see aggressive behavior in queues, bad roads, or garbage dumps along the highways.

This order has always been inaccessible to me, and unfortunately, I have not been able to create something similar in my home country. In Ukraine, even with quite decent income, I face dirty stairwells, unsatisfactory conditions of sidewalks, and potholes on the roads, not to mention the widespread aggression and unacceptable behavior. It's simply impossible to eliminate this! In New Zealand, however, the situation is completely different; the locals can hardly imagine the existence of an alternative reality.

Quality of products

Some aspects also surprise me, for example, the high quality of local food and goods. People here produce everything primarily for themselves, which implies the use of natural and high-quality ingredients. The meat I tried in New Zealand is significantly better than what I had the opportunity to eat in Ukraine. The local meat products are impressive in their taste, and apparently, the animals were not fed with chemical additives.

Moreover, New Zealanders proudly emphasize that products are made here, and it has become popular among them to support local brands. However, there are aspects that raise my concerns – these arehypocrisyIt is not customary to discuss and openly express one's thoughts, and direct communication is almost non-existent. This, it seems to me, is a manifestation of excessive tolerance, where important matters are left unspoken.

The situation with snitching.

What also concerns me, to be honest, is the issue of informants. In this country, it is impossible to break established rules without the risk of someone immediately reporting you. Perhaps this is why there is order and cleanliness in New Zealand, and the crime rate is extremely low – the locals keep an eye on each other and try to uphold the norms.

• If you throw something out of your car while driving, you can be sure that someone passing by will remember your license plate and report it to the authorities.
• This approach encourages people to avoid littering and keep the roadside clean.

However, as with many issues, there are two sides to this, and I still find it difficult to come to terms with this system.

The influence on children and school

At the same time, the system of denunciations permeates all areas of life – even school life. For example, my daughter Lisa came home in tears, saying that someone in her class had complained about her. One of her friends went to the teacher because they had a slight collision during a game. Unfortunately, in such a society, any interaction becomes a reason for a denunciation.

Expectations in the workplace

When it comes to work, I am expected to adhere to strict regulations, which, in its own way, also imposes limitations.

Important steps in a new country

Every moment in a new country brings its own lessons and discoveries. The first part of our story about moving from Ukraine to New Zealand was just the beginning of our long and challenging journey, filled with obstacles and amazing moments. Here, in Palmerston North, we have already begun to feel the complex realities of nation-building, where every resident, whether a New Zealander or a migrant, actively participates in creating our new society.

Choice of location

Compared to what we knew about our homeland, everything here seems different: from living conditions to the perception of cultural diversity. Although Palmerston North is not the most prestigious place to live in New Zealand, it has become our starting point. We know that the most important thing is education: the university that Andrey got into has become not only a place of study but also a source of new acquaintances and opportunities.

Housing problems

We have faced the realities of the real estate market, which has proven to be a tough challenge.Housing pricesIt's just astonishing, and the quality often leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful and plan to move step by step towards our goal — buying our own home, no matter how difficult it may seem at the moment. We are actively gearing up to search for a good job with a decent salary that will allow us to break free from the "bondage" of the mortgage more quickly.

Mutual assistance and new acquaintances

Mutual support and friendly connections with Russian-speaking locals are very important to us. They helped us adapt, opened doors, and provided support when we needed it the most. Communicating with our new acquaintances has become a great way not only to integrate into society but also to build connections that will form the foundation of our new life.

Cultural festivals and integration

Participating in cultural festivals, where we showcased our Ukrainian cuisine under the Russian flag, has been an important step in our desire to share a part of our culture and open new horizons for communication. I am also impressed by the pride New Zealanders have in their multiculturalism; this spirit of respect and interest in differences is a key aspect of their heritage.

Optimism for the future

Now, looking back, I realize that every step — every challenge and every victory — only brings us closer to our dream of a new life in New Zealand. We are confident that this is just the beginning. New opportunities await on the horizon, and we are ready to embrace them.