I put Kiwi land in quotes because Aotearoa, or New Zealand as it’s globally known, is originally the land of the Māori people—the first inhabitants of this country before British colonization. Sadly, despite progress made by previous governments in recognizing the Māori’s special status, the current administration seems to be reversing those gains. You can learn more about this issue through this video: https://youtu.be/bsSJdH6wdzU?si=YyCAFy6INf451Y_D
“Kiwis” is a term commonly used to refer to anyone living in New Zealand, including those who originally came from other parts of the world, beginning with Europeans. In this sense, one might assume that racism should be foreign to New Zealand, given that most people began their lives here as immigrants—whether from Europe, Britain, the Americas, Africa, Asia, or elsewhere. Unfortunately, this is not the reality.
How you look, regardless of your country of origin, plays a significant role even here, in what the global media often portrays as a “perfect” country. Below are some unpleasant experiences, bordering on racism, that have occurred since we arrived. Some are personal, first-hand encounters, while others have been reported by local media. Unfortunately, unlike the widely-covered racist incidents in the U.S., these stories rarely reach people in India through global media, leaving many unaware of these realities.
- Until this incident, I lived in a comfortable bubble, believing I didn’t need to worry about my public safety in New Zealand—this isn’t North America, after all! Well, the joke’s on me. My partner and I had just finished our grocery shopping and were waiting at the bus stop when a tall white man standing behind us started muttering, “You fucking foreigners.” At first, we ignored him, but his mutterings grew louder. When the bus arrived, my partner, staying calm, moved aside and said, “Please, you go first.” After all, we come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi, and that’s how we respond. But since that day, I haven’t been able to shake off the lingering fear of what might have happened if I had been alone. And just to note, this occurred in broad daylight, right in the heart of Central Auckland—one of the busiest areas in the entire country!
- After the incident my partner and I faced in my initial week here, I became more vigilant, and more reports of similar issues started catching my attention. One particular incident stood out: two Asian women were racially attacked by a group of young boys and girls on a moving bus, leaving them physically injured. Shockingly, this happened in broad daylight in a busy part of Auckland. Following this, assaults on bus drivers gained attention, especially after they refused to let passengers ride without paying. In one case, a driver, Mr. Singh, was left with a broken spinal cord after being spat on. Another case involved driver Rajnish Trehan, who was told, “You are my servant,” before being punched by a group. Both Mr. Singh and Mr. Trehan are Kiwi-Indians—citizens of this country, not of India—yet they faced this treatment because of their appearance, much like the Asian women were targeted for how they looked! https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/columns/bus-driver-attacks-expose-a-bigger-problem#
- The other evening, we boarded a bus a little late and met the driver, a Fiji Indian who has been living in New Zealand for over 20 years. He was a friendly person, and as we were the only passengers left, he started speaking to us in Hindi. His story was harrowing and echoed the incidents we recently read about involving bus drivers. About a month ago, he was assaulted by a group of drunken girls after a verbal altercation. We asked anxiously, “Didn’t you report it to the police or Auckland Transport?” He replied that he had, but no action was taken. Apparently, this is quite common here. It made us reflect on how such incidents in so-called “first world” countries bear a striking resemblance to what we experience in “third world” countries like India. It really makes you question who came up with these labels—likely the work of racist capitalists. We wished him well and deboarded the bus with a heavy heart. This was certainly not the dream land we had imagined.
- While discussing racism, it’s crucial to acknowledge how prejudiced we Indians can be ourselves, https://thewire.in/society/why-indians-are-the-most-racist-people-on-earth. During our conversation with the bus driver, we asked if the current government was handling crime better than the previous Ardern government. His response was a firm no. To translate and quote: “The last government knew how to take care of us common people. This government is only for the rich.” Now, here’s why I brought up Indian prejudice at the beginning: almost every middle-class or upper-middle-class Kiwi Indian we’ve met in Auckland has had negative things to say about the Māori community and the previous government. It mirrors the attitude we often see among the privileged class in India towards marginalized communities. It seems the privileged, no matter where they are, tend to become a complacent class.
- https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/kiwi-indian-caf%C3%A9-owner-speaks-out-on-alleged-racist-mocking, https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/indian-chefs-fingers-chopped-off-in-auckland-attack# – A group of teenagers recently caused chaos and hurled abuses at a Kiwi Indian café owner in Christchurch. The owner mentioned this wasn’t an isolated incident, and now he’s considering permanently shutting down his café. The second incident involved an Indian chef on a temporary work visa who was brutally attacked inside his own car, resulting in him losing his fingers. While the first individual is a citizen of this country, and the second is an immigrant, I honestly don’t see any difference in how they are treated here. I learned to drive and got my license just a few months before moving to New Zealand, with dreams of going on scenic road trips along the beautiful roads so often portrayed in the media. But verbal abuse while driving is so common here that I don’t think I can bring myself to drive anytime soon. To understand the kind of experiences I’m talking about, you can watch Brittany Morgan’s videos on YouTube or Rahul Dua’s stand-up comedy. It boils down to a harsh reality: you aren’t safe on the bus, nor in your own car. What’s next?!
- Recently, news emerged of a teacher facing allegations of misconduct in front of the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal. The teacher reportedly told a student, “Get your ugly Indian face out of my face” when he asked the relief teacher for extra work https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/get-your-ugly-indian-face…-teacher-allegedly-told-boy-who-asked-for-extra-work#. In another incident, during an under-13 football match, a referee allegedly told several players, “Go back to where you came from, you Indian” https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/go-back-kiwi-indian-u-13-players-say-referee-was-racist#. What’s especially troubling about these cases is that the children targeted are New Zealand-born citizens, not first-generation immigrants. Experiencing such racist remarks during childhood can have lasting effects on their mental health and well-being as they grow up.
- I have noticed a lack of a true sense of community in many predominantly white countries, a sentiment I believe applies broadly rather than being specific to New Zealand. Before arriving, I had seen various videos praising Kiwis as friendly compared to the somewhat cold demeanor of people from Scandinavian countries. I had high expectations regarding what “friendly” meant, but it seems this term can be interpreted very differently. Here, being friendly often translates to merely exchanging pleasantries like “hi,” “hello,” “please,” and “thank you”—and that’s about it. While I can accept this superficial friendliness, what concerns me more is the silence during times of adversity. Many of the unpleasant incidents we’ve experienced or learned about recently have occurred in public places, and even when reported, there’s a reluctance to disclose names. Why this fear? Where is the support from the community? Coming from Bengal, India—known for its history of protests—I often questioned the necessity of such actions. After moving to Southern India for my studies and work, I observed that many people from that region choose to settle abroad permanently. I initially thought this was a wise choice and noticed fewer protests there. However, the recent success of the protests against the rape and murder of Abhaya in Bengal fills me with pride and reinforces my belief in the necessity of protest. India gained independence through such movements, and in these times of increasing corruption and crime, they remain essential. Personally, I struggle to envision a future in a complacent society that seems indifferent to collective action.
- Unfortunately, this last point is both a personal concern and a nationwide phenomenon. My partner received an acceptance letter for a Master’s in Management from the University of Auckland, the best university in New Zealand, at the beginning of the year. However, after speaking with many Indians residing here, a common piece of feedback emerged: “You won’t get any added advantage from studying management or an MBA in New Zealand, as employers here rarely recruit Indians for managerial positions.” Additionally, the issue of tuition fees is significant. Australia and New Zealand are among the few popular study destinations that do not grant student visas on unsecured educational loans. This lack of support is frustrating, especially compared to countries in North America, which clearly outline their requirements for international students. We’ve also learned that the concept of tenure is nearly non-existent in academia here. Many Kiwis with doctorates opt for teaching roles in schools because of better pay and job security compared to positions at universities and colleges. Moreover, the invisible racism prevalent in the workspace poses another challenge. Not only are Indians often overlooked for managerial roles, but many also face the prejudice of being deemed “overqualified” or lacking “local experience,” making it difficult to secure any office job. This reality resonates with what I’ve personally experienced over the past few months, leading me to decide to stop wasting my energy seeking opportunities here and instead focus on global remote roles. I would appreciate countries that transparently communicate the qualifications and experiences they accept from various countries, rather than granting open work permits and pretending to be globally inclusive while masking the harsh realities. https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/features/skilled-migrant-but-without-job-join-the-club#
I recently read about the tragic case of an EY employee in India who died from a heart attack attributed to work stress. In my brief time here, I’ve encountered many Asians aged 20 to 40 who shared a common motivation for migrating: the hope for a better work-life balance and an escape from the relentless cycle of overwork in their home countries. This sentiment resonates across Asia. Unlike Europe, where such tragedies due to overwork are rare, and North America, where overtime is compensated, many in Asia continue to suffer in silence. It’s time for us to hold our governments accountable for treating us as cheap labor for the global market. This issue isn’t confined to “third world” countries; even developed Asian nations like Japan and Singapore face similar challenges. Furthermore, not everyone can simply pack their bags and relocate; it requires a certain level of privilege. Why should one have to move in search of a “better life” only to be subjected to disrespect and discrimination? It’s disheartening and leaves us feeling powerless. We also need to critically examine our moral standards. I recently came across a blog about a qualified ESL teacher from India who struggled to find a job in Thailand despite having a Master’s degree and substantial teaching experience. Why? Because headmistresses claimed that parents preferred native (read: white) English speakers. This issue ties back to the exorbitant costs of English proficiency tests like TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE, which, for reasons unknown, expire every two years. Perhaps racism offers an explanation. Until we stop idolizing white people solely based on their skin color, we will continue to be treated as second-class citizens. This is a pressing concern not just for India but for much of Asia as well.