Call for ethnic help

Kenneth Wang. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand is missing opportunities by failing to support ethnic businesses, officials say.

Entrepreneurs such as Mohammed Hasim Khan, who launched the Moshims Discount House chain of more than a dozen franchised Indian supermarkets, have found niches in their own communities.

Others such as Vinod Khumar, who launched the first Mitre 10 Mega store in New Zealand, have been successful in mainstream business.

Yet the so-called "migrant vigour" that makes these people want to succeed in a new country isn't being tapped by the New Zealand Government and other agencies, says Office of Ethnic Affairs director Mervin Singham.

Singham says latest research by Massey and Auckland University academics shows migrant businesses are not getting the support they need.

"This isn't about pandering to minorities. We need every opportunity we can to boost our economy," says Singham.

Concepts that are straightforward to Kiwi-born people such as PAYE can be bewildering to an immigrant.

As a result, many potential people who could create thriving businesses, employ people and earn foreign-exchange revenue choose inactive investments instead.

Singham says central and local government have few programmes aimed specifically at ethnic businesses.

"Council and government need to consult with ethnic business and ask: 'What do you think you need to fuel the New Zealand economy'?"

Industry bodies such as the Chambers of Commerce, Business New Zealand and the Employers and Manufacturers Association could be doing much more for migrant businesses, even with basic services such as providing information in multiple languages. In return, industry bodies could benefit from increased membership.

The Office of Ethnic Affairs has a number of initiatives such as a database migrant businesses can tap for mutual support and mentoring.

Kenneth Wang, director of cross-cultural communications agency Bananaworks, says New Zealand should take a leaf from the Chinese Government, which offers advice through its Ministry of Commerce website.

"If the Chinese Government of a population of 1.4 billion can use a website to serve individual business inquiry, surely we could do it better to support ethnic businesses? [We could] upgrade www.business.govt.nz, to a multilingual version, at least for the main pages."

Singham would also like to see mentoring for migrants.

Local businesses could also benefit from cross-cultural connections, especially in Auckland where nearly a third of the population is from Asia.