Migrants get crash course on life in new homeland

By RENEE KIRIONA

Like children at their first day of school they sit, watch, listen and learn.

But do not underestimate the intelligence of the 13 adult migrants from as far as India, Britain, Europe and Asia. This class comes with doctors, lawyers, teachers, sociologists and sales consultants.

The three-day Kiwi Life programme, designed to help migrants settle into their new homeland, got underway yesterday at Highland Park Community House in Pakuranga.

The first of the programme's four modules looked at how to get a job and even how to give a handshake, how to nod and how to move your eyes when being interviewed.

For born and bred New Zealanders much of the information seems obvious but for immigrants from other cultures - such as Indian women taught never to look men in the eye - it is important.

The free programme, run by the community house and Manukau City Council, is taught by Sandra Taylor who has also taught overseas in Germany, Egypt and Rome.

"The programme can only do so much but we hope that it will at least prepare them for job interviews, banking, filling out tax forms and purchasing real estate.

"We cover a lot of subjects that most New Zealanders would find basic, but they are things migrants need to know - even the little things like a handshake can make all the difference," Ms Taylor said.

Nasantha Mumusamy, who moved to New Zealand from Malaysia six months ago with her three children aged 9 to 15, took the programme very seriously.

"I'm hoping the course will help wisen me up in terms of looking for work as a paediatrician here," she said.

In Malaysia, Mrs Mumusamy was a doctor for 18 years. "I'm finding that one of the pitfalls is having a lot of international experience but no Kiwi experience."

Steve Hardy, who moved here from Manchester with his wife and three children a month ago, said although he had no major difficulties settling in, he wanted to learn as much as he could about Kiwi culture.

"We moved over here because we wanted a new life and my wife got a job as a teacher. So far I've had no difficulties but then it's early days yet."

Today the migrants are due to look at family life, investment and credit history. On Thursday they explore the dos and don'ts of buying property.

Last year 92,660 migrants moved to NZ, 3290 more than the year before.

Kiwi Life

DAY ONE: How to get a job as an immigrant:

* Interviewing skills

* Writing a CV

* Fielding questions

* Body language (including handshakes, eye movement, nodding)

DAY TWO: We follow migrants as they learn how to manage money