Sons of the Soil

Ohakune Mini-launch and presentation 3 pm Wednesday 3 October 2012 There was a real ‘buzz’ at Ohakune’s mini-launch held at the Ruapehu District Council Chambers. The launch was organised by Kerry Young and attracted an audience of 50 -60 including children. Those present included all the families of current growers, the Sue’s, Young’s and Murray’s. A good number of photos of growers of Ohakune were on view as well as some photos of the goldmining era. Don Cameron Deputy Mayor welcomed everyone and talked about the Chinese market gardeners’ important contribution to Ohakune from early years to the present day. Merrilyn George author of a ‘History of Ohakune’ gave a mihi and acknowledged us. Awi acknowledged May Young as the ‘matriach’ and outstanding woman grower and sang a waiata ‘He Putiputi’. Kim Young grandson spoke about his continuing the 4th generation of family gardening. Others also spoke –a senior couple talked about the years they showed Chinese movies. Lily gave a short talk and Norman Young Director of Kim Young and Sons was invited to present the books. Presentations were made to Ruapehu Council, Ohakune Library, Ruapehu College, Bernice Frost, Waimarino Museum and Information Centre, Alison Hope, Ohakune Information Centre

My Kiwi dream Sandals, rugby and reading to kids

Dennis Chen: My Kiwi dream Sandals, rugby and reading to kids 4 By Dennis Chen 5:30 AM Tuesday Oct 9, 2012 On some days Auckland Zoo has more animals than visitors. Photo / Paul Estcourt Expand On some days Auckland Zoo has more animals than visitors. Photo / Paul Estcourt I sighed and smiled after reading Alice Wang's article "Kiwi dream's missing ingredient". Alice talks about her successful and fulfilled life as an Asian migrant in New Zealand and also of her worries about the future of this country. She has the view there is a lack of competitiveness in all aspects of life except sports. Being a father of two and a proud New Zealand immigrant from China for around 10 years, my experience in Auckland cannot differ too much from other Asian immigrants. Struggling to survive, fighting to prosper but sharing gratitude towards this land that is really clean and green. Long hours and low-paid jobs are not strange to new migrants. I once got paid $5 for working three hours without stopping. For a long period of time, around two years, I needed to pick and pack five to 10 tons of steel every working day. One of my strong grey sweaters wore out so badly while I was at work that one day it suddenly fell apart from the shoulder. Before coming to New Zealand, it never occurred to me that my migration here would be permanent. Just like many young Kiwis rushing towards Australia, it was like grabbing some quick money, dreaming of returning to my own dear homeland and starting my own business. When I mock myself: "So then, what makes you stay here so long, you silly old boy?" The answer is that my children "will have a better life". It is at least half true. I do not need to bother myself to queue up nine days and nine nights in front of a top Auckland school to get my kids enrolled there. I just need to buy or rent a house inside the school zone. My kids do not need to visit the chock-a-block Beijing Zoo with 70,000 other visitors a day. When I took my daughter to Auckland Zoo last week, I found there were more animals than visitors. Outside the zoo, there were still heaps of empty car parks. My kids can enjoy the nice late-night service Highland Park Library offers. They will never understand the free hot swimming pool in Manukau city would be beyond human imagination in other countries. They just love it. While they are growing up to be all-rounders, they might take the splendid sea view of Macleans College for granted, but I know they will be fused with the Kiwi spirit of generosity, innovation and success. They will not have a "Tiger Mother" at home. Eventually, they will come to understand how lucky it is to be a Kiwi. And what are the other reasons I like to stay on in Auckland, New Zealand? Broadly speaking, it could be there are no wars, no terrorism, no drought and no serious racial conflicts. Personally I am happy that I do not need to "kowtow" (kneeling and bowing to superiors to survive) anymore. I do not need to threaten to jump off a tall building to get paid peanuts. I know I will always get paid in time and in full (maybe even more, with overtime pay plus a bonus). I fully understand that health and safety is my company's top priority. I do not need to bow to senior managers and directors when I see them at work. I just say "Hi, Grant," or "Hello, Steve." I enjoy the little chat with my customers who, without exception, would say "You have a good day" or "You have a good weekend." to me before departing. I am still not a high achiever after so many years in New Zealand. My wife and I drive humble cars. We live in a little "chicken box" at Bucklands Beach, still pay mortgages. So what? If the "Asian work ethic" means working harder and longer, I would say goodbye to that. Work smarter, not harder is what I've learned from Kiwis. My "Kiwi dream" is now wearing sandals to the beach, watching rugby and reading Three Little Pigs to my own kids. Dennis Chen migrated here a decade ago and lives in Bucklands Beach. By Dennis Chen 4 vanillapodinc () 10:33 AM Tuesday, 9 Oct 2012 Lovely article. I can somewhat relate, also migrating from a 3rd world country, that NZ is a beautiful, wonderful country to live in. Thanks for sharing! 14 likes maxijazz () 10:22 AM Wednesday, 10 Oct 2012 Great article Dennis. I was born in NZ and have seen a lot of the world through work and personal holidays and I think that most Kiwis simply do not realise how wonderful NZ is. A lot of the people that complain about NZ have never been out of the country to see what real poverty is like. I have travelled through parts of Asia and Africa and was in tears at the conditions that some people had to endure. I am now living in Australia and living a much more comfortable life than I had in NZ but NZ will always be home. Am super happy to hear that you are enjoying our country so very much. It is indeed the small things in life that we must treasure. 0 likes Rimu (South Auckland) 10:23 AM Wednesday, 10 Oct 2012 Dennis, I loved reading your article. My parents can relate to what you say when they first migrated to NZ in the 1950s, although things were a lot different then than they are now. My mother was only a young girl of 18, her sister 10 and baby brother was 3 when they migrated to NZ with their parents, for a better education and life. My father came over as a young man in his early 20s and his parents wasn't all that rapt about it, as he was the second eldest of 13 children. My eldest sister married a Chinese man and they have five children, all grown ups now. There are 10 of us and we are all married to people of all different races and all our children reflect that. The older grandchildren are now starting to get married/partnerships and have families of their own. It is just wonderful to read a lovely and positive article about a family migrating to NZ and loving it. So I wish you and your family, many more years of happiness in NZ! 0 likes ST (Auckland Central) 10:23 AM Wednesday, 10 Oct 2012 Thanks, Dennis. I resemble your remark. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839217

Asian eateries change NZ by keeping it real

By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 Massey University study shows fare being served up by today's ethnic restaurants is as good as that available in Asia, an achievement that is helping to alter this country's eating habits for good. Asian supermarkets offer a wide range of ethnic foodstuffs. Photo / Greg bowker Asian supermarkets offer a wide range of ethnic foodstuffs. Photo / Greg bowker Ethnic restaurants in Auckland no longer adapt their food for Western tastes and Asian food sold here is of similar quality to what is on offer in Asia, a study shows. The Massey University report, Migrant Spaces and Places, says migrants have played a key role in shaping New Zealand food but the recent wave of Asian migration has completely transformed the country's food landscape. "It was British immigrants who transformed the food of colonial Aotearoa. Chinese food, whether consumed in a restaurant, as a takeaway or in the home, gained a foothold in postwar New Zealand, especially in the 1960s," the report says. "The arrival of the first major wave of non-European migrants from the Pacific did little to alter the food of New Zealand; the same cannot be said for the migration of Asians - the food landscape of New Zealand, and especially its major cities, has been transformed." In downtown Auckland, some of the more interesting ethnic food discoveries by the Herald included an outlet that sold just chicken and duck heads, feet, liver and parts, a Korean street pancake stall, a French restaurant with escargots (snails) on the menu and a Malaysian cafe serving teh tarik, or "pulled" tea. Article continues below The report's author, Professor Paul Spoonley, said that at one Hong Kong-style restaurant the researchers visited in Meadowlands, the menu was in Chinese script and orders were taken in a mix of Mandarin and Cantonese. "The food and its presentation faithfully reproduced what you might see in a mid-range Hong Kong restaurant." Professor Spoonley, a sociologist, said that despite Chinese and Indian food retailers having been around since the 1960s, earlier restaurants served food such as chop suey and mild curries to suit Kiwi taste. "At the Meadowlands restaurant, it was a very different New Zealand to that of even late mid-20th century New Zealand in terms of who populated the restaurant, the language and feel of the place and food." Professor Spoonley said food courts, Asian supermarkets, the weekend and night markets and food sold at the various Asian festivals had "changed how and what Kiwis ate". There are now at least half a dozen food halls in the city, with Food Alley in Albert St the oldest and the recently opened Pitt St food court the newest, with international offerings including Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Indonesian. An Asia New Zealand Foundation search of one Chinese directory found 1700 Chinese business addresses - mostly restaurants and food outlets - with a strong presence in Queen St, Dominion Rd, Sandringham Rd, New Lynn, Somerville and Dannemora. The search found that by 2007, there were about 400 identifiable "Asian" restaurants and food outlets in the city, more than double the number a study done in 1997 found. Xu Qi, manager of Delicious Duck King, a Chinese outlet in Queen St that serves cooked duck and chicken parts, said she was enjoying good business. "Duck heads and feet are considered a delicacy, they are very popular as a snack but some people also like to take them with rice," Ms Xu said. "Most of our customers are international students who are familiar with it, but some Kiwis treat it like a game of dare for their friends to eat it." Graphic designer Jenna O'Donnell said the availability of Asian beverages, such as Malaysian teh tarik and Taiwanese bubble tea, had changed what she has for an afternoon cuppa. "I do enjoy a caffe latte, but I quite enjoy even more the range of beverages that we can get now," said the Wellington-born 28-year-old, who was spotted sipping teh tarik at Mamak Malaysian Cafe in Chancery St. Asian-style bakeries and cake shops in the central city have also moved from serving just pies, sandwiches and sausage rolls to pork floss buns, green onion rolls and boluo bao. Karen Lee, assistant manager at Courome Cake Boutique in Lorne St, said the range of cakes and pastries was "exactly what you will find in Taiwan". Taxi-driver Glenn Thornley, 61, said ethnic food outlets had made it cheaper to eat out than "pack your own sandwiches". He said that 20 years ago, a "decent meal out" cost at least $20 but now a wide selection of lunches could be bought for $5 or less. These included Indian lunch boxes, sushi packs, Asian pancake meals, Turkish kebabs and Chinese dishes on rice and noodles. However, a new migrant workers' union, Unimeg, is warning that cheap lunches could come at the expense of underpaid and overworked migrants. "We have a lot of cases where migrant workers are not paid the minimum wage or are working for companies where they are expected to work for a labour of love," said Dennis Maga, the union's co-ordinator. "We are seeing companies that are simply exploiting migrant workers, so that they are able to sell their food at a low price." http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10837961

Let's applaud canny migrant milk entrepreneurs

5:30 AM Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 You have to feel sorry for our entrepreneur-minded migrants. We offer residency to moneyed migrants keen to set up businesses and contribute to New Zealand's economic development. But when they do just that, we are prone to pull away the welcome mat and cry foul. Take the infant formula trade. Over a short period of time, canny new citizens from China have developed an "illegal" parallel export trade in infant formula. The Customs Service and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) estimate the business to be worth "in excess of $150 million and growing". Given that official figures record the total trade at $753 million in 2009 - up from $63 million in 1999 - this is an extraordinary achievement for these car-boot traders, particularly when established exporters complain about how hard things are. Yet do we praise these enterprising traders and present them with awards for services to export? No way; instead we get television programmes complaining about how they are stripping the supermarket shelves of product and making it hard for local mums to get baby formula. Without entering the contentious battle of breast versus bottle, lack of product on the supermarket shelves is hardly the parallel exporters' fault. Each time I see one of these agitated broadcasts, I want to yell at the screen: "Why don't you target Fonterra and the downstream manufacturers, and ask why, if overseas demand is so high, they don't give the economy a boost, and crank out more?". After all, it's not as though they're short of the basic raw material. It seems incredible that small-scale exporters, filling at least part of their orders with the help of a network of local shoppers buying at retail prices, don't just compete with the manufacturers who are shipping direct, but build a $150-million export trade. Not only does their success highlight the obvious demand in China for the product, it also suggests that instead of smooching up to Hollywood moguls, Prime Minister John Key might be better occupied putting a rocket under Fonterra and the downstream manufacturers. Instead, all we get from the Government is an announcement from Customs and MPI last week that they had begun "action to stop unlawful exports of infant formula from New Zealand". The two departments announced their investigations "have revealed substantial growth in the amount of unlawfully exported infant formula in the past year, primarily to China". Given the size of the illicit trade, it seems amazing it took this long for them to react. Katherine Rich, chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council lobby group, backed "the crackdown" expressing concern about any threat to New Zealand's international reputation "as a supplier of safe, reliable and quality food products". Claiming "New Zealand's reputation in the world infant formula market is second to none, built in some cases over many decades by companies that have developed trust in their brands by delivering quality products", she avoided the obvious - that the problem is these companies aren't delivering. Not enough, anyway. Of course preserving the reputation of New Zealand's product is vital, but Glen Neal, MPI food and beverage manager, told me there were "absolutely" no safety concerns about the parallel exported product. "That's the important message to get across." He says it's more a desire "to tidy things up" to avoid possible problems in the future. He says the main problem is with a dozen or so exporters and the first step will be to "educate" them as to the requirements, which involve registering as an exporter under the Animal Products Act and then abiding by any specific export requirements for the destination country. Prosecution would be a last resort. Mr Neal says with exports to China, the need for instructions on usage in Chinese was an obvious issue. He said China had not complained about the "illegal" trade. Earlier this year, Christchurch-based Carrickmore Nutrition launched its infant formula on to the local and Chinese market, sourcing its milk product from Fonterra. It's the added-value type of export that experts say New Zealand requires to survive. Our new entrepreneurial migrants demonstrate how hungry China is for this product. They've also proved to be much more nimble at getting it to market than existing players. I say, well done. Brian Rudman

Alice Wang: Kiwi dream's missing ingredient By Alice Wang 5:30 AM Friday Oct 5, 2012 The 'Asian' work ethic is common to all high achievers. Alice Wang says the Kiwi sporting work ethic doesn't translate into other areas. Photo / Natalie Slade Expand Alice Wang says the Kiwi sporting work ethic doesn't translate into other areas. Photo / Natalie Slade I read the opinion piece by property developer Sir Bob Jones about the positive contribution that migrant families make to New Zealand society. Being a Chinese immigrant myself, having moved here at 4, I feel like much of the "Asian" identity in New Zealand has been structured around certain characteristics, namely having a disciplined work ethic, and perhaps a willingness to work "harder" than your average Kiwi. I say "harder" because I'm not trying to make a value judgment on Kiwis being lazy - they definitely aren't - but rather, I know that my parents (as with the parents of many young Chinese) have worked extremely long hours and in low-paid menial jobs that I probably wouldn't have lasted very long at. My parents both knew how to "chi ku", meaning to endure hardship. Both came out of the better side of the cultural revolution in China with masters degrees, but had to start from scratch when we arrived in New Zealand to put dinner on the table every evening. I knew how hard my parents worked, and so I got my first proper part-time job in 4th form. Apart from having a roof over my head and food in the pantry, I have not asked for a dollar since. I paid for my own school deposits and music lessons in high school, and started giving money to my parents when I started university. This work ethic has been the subject of both admiration and also criticism. I was glad to see Bob Jones write on Tuesday: "I have boundless admiration for the courage of Asian migrants, setting out to an alien land, language and culture, so that their children will have a better life." But there are still many people who are uncomfortable with the growing Chinese population and its ability to enter into restricted courses (Medicine being a notable example) as well as their competitiveness in the workforce. What I say of Chinese applies to many other migrant communities as well, but here I wish to speak as a Chinese who has spent 80 per cent of her life in New Zealand. The idea of migrants "stealing" jobs is not a novel concept. I remember being quite shocked to discover a number of discriminatory laws in New Zealand's history: The Shops and Offices Act 1901 where the closing hours of shops were to be decided by "British" New Zealanders only, and the Factories Act Amendment Act in 1910 where the restriction of hours of work in laundries was designed to "reduce the advantages of Chinese keepers of laundries in competition with Europeans". And one only has to think back to Amy Chua's book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother to remember the criticism from Western parents about her "Chinese" strict parenting and high expectations. I don't necessarily endorse all of the author's views, but a number of high-achieving Pakeha Kiwi university students have remarked to me since the book's publication that they had "tiger" parents too. Having just come back from a brief visit to the United States, I think what is lacking in New Zealand is competitiveness. New Zealanders push above their weight in sporting endeavours but no one criticises a sportsman or sportswoman for training too hard. In fact, we celebrate hard work and determination. Many of our national heroes come from a "zero to hero" or "rags to riches" story. Yet somehow this outlook doesn't seem to translate the same into other areas of life. The "Asian" work ethic that we like to label here is present in almost all the high achievers in the United States, many of whom are Caucasian, because every single pathway in the US is a competitive one. To get into a good high school you need to do well in entrance exams. To get into a top university (and therefore have a good shot at finding a good job), you need to work hard and start planning what you're going to put on your college application form three or four years ahead. Wasn't the American Dream all about working hard and maximising your opportunities, irrespective of your background? Isn't that what equality of opportunity, a valued ideal in New Zealand, all about? The reason that migrant families work so hard is because they come from places where there was no sense of entitlement. It's easy living in a population of 4 million because you, the individual, kind of matter. I suspect that had I grown up in China instead, I would have had to work twice as hard to get to where I am now. In many Asian countries and places like the United States, you are no more than a statistic. To get anything in life, you have to fight damn hard for it. The people do not feel like society owes them anything, and so to put their children through school and get food on the table, parents work three odd jobs and 80 hour weeks. They tell their children to study hard because they know what "really bad" looks like, and they want their children to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that the parents have worked hard to give them. I know that our customs might seem strange sometimes - even impolite, perhaps - but no one is perfect, and we don't try to be either. A little bit of tolerance and human compassion, on both sides, can go a long way. Alice Wang is a fourth-year law and arts student at the University of Auckland. She is on the university council and the organising committee of New Zealand Chinese Association's 2013 Leadership Development Conference. By Alice Wang 13 comments Add order by Latest | Oldest | Most Liked 'thats life' (West Auckland) 10:22 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 What can I say except "cream rises to the top" but butter and milk is good too whatever one can afford. To each his/her own and remember you reap what you sow. And rightly so "A little bit of tolerance and human compassion, on both sides, can go a long way." Well done Alice Wang. 15 likes Reply Like Report ARH (New Zealand) 10:22 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Nice article Alice. My wife is a foreigner and she does believe Kiwis are lazy - and from my experience having been introduced to many foreigners its a common opinion held by those moving to this country. I tend to disagree and think perhaps we are just a bit more laidback. Foreigners who move here tend to be looking for a better lifestyle for themselves and their children - not job opportunities, at least not those who are highly educated. I think economic migrants tend to go to more prosperous countries. We are fortunate in NZ to live in a country that is uncrowded and small enough so that everyone has easy access to the outdoors, sport and recreation. These are vitally important to our health, though not necessarily our economic health. You're right that we aren't competitive enough, though. The lifestyle won't count for much as the nation as a whole gets poorer through lack of competing and associated innovation. 11 likes Reply Like Report Big T (New Zealand) 10:23 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 I don't see how any of this is supposed to convince me that working 80 hour weeks and spending your whole life working as hard as you can is a good way to live. China and the USA are, by all accounts, incredibly competitive places where you have to work like a madman to get anywhere. Despite everyone working so hard these countries are afflicted with massive inequality and poverty. Despite the hysteria around "poverty" in New Zealand, lazy old New Zealand remains one of the better countries on the planet to live in. More competition does not make a country better by default. The ideal human existence is not defined by "maximising potential" or "working as hard as you can". I would rather be dead than wasting my life working as hard as you suggest. In my opinion that is not a life worth living. That is not a life that brings any pleasure to the person living it. I support anyone who tries to stop that way of living becoming the norm. 19 likes Reply Like Report Therese Monroe (Glen Innes) 10:23 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 A very interesting article, thank you. 6 likes Reply Like Report Paul (New Zealand) 10:23 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 You want us to 'increase competitiveness' and generally kill and trample all over each like they do overseas yet at the same time ask for a 'bit of human compassion and tolerance'. Sorry, you really can't have your cake and eat it too. The same cultural traits you seem to endorse are probably the same reasons immigrants leave their countries as they are sick of fighting just to eat or be not be able to trust anyone. 16 likes Reply Like Report fifty-eight (New Zealand) 11:04 AM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Thank you, Alice. I am happy as a migrant parent to see you write your feelings about the culture of most East and SouthEast Asian migrants and what makes them different when viewed from Kiwi eyes, specially the traditional ones. Your perspective is extremely better than mine having lived most of your life here. We came to NZ 6 years ago because we wanted a better future for our 2 children, academically and professionally. My wife and I then had relatively high-paying jobs in well-known firms, with free company cars, big bonuses and perks, and Masters degrees. But we left our comfort zones just to make sure our kids can start a better life in a totally new land. We struggled just to find work as our qualifications were unacceptable here. I am now a machine operator and my wife does support accounting clerk work. Though menial, our pay is enough to provide a roof and enough food on the table for the family. But we are happy when our children excel at school-all the aches and pains we endure disappear instantly. We are proud of our kids, and are also proud of you and other kids who continue to pursue their goals and make New Zealand internationally known for it's diverse talents. 19 likes Reply Like Report Andy () 01:23 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 It is interesting to see some people jumping up. Donot bury your head in the sands, arrogant is the enemy, for the goodness of our next generations. 1 like Reply Like Report fifty-eight (New Zealand) 01:24 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Big T I don't see how any of this is supposed to convince me that working 80 hour weeks and spending your whole life working as hard as you can is a good way to live. China and the USA are, by all accounts, incredibly competitive places where you have to work like a madman to get anywhere. Despite everyone working so hard these countries are afflicted with massive inequality and poverty. Despite the hysteria around "poverty" in New Zealand, lazy old New Zealand remains one of the better countries on the planet to live in. More competition does not make a country better by default. The ideal human existence is not defined by "maximising potential" or "working as hard as you can". I would rather be dead than wasting my life working as hard as you suggest. In my opinion that is not a life worth living. That is not a life that brings any pleasure to the person living it. I support anyone who tries to stop that way of living becoming the norm. show more Just an observation: NZ has the Work-Life balance ethic. But I doubt if this is really followed or works. A migrant friend of mine went to Australia a month ago to work on same position-title in the same industry he had here. For a relatively higher salary his actual work is only a third of the work he does here. That would translate to 3 people in Australia doing the work of 1 person here. Perhaps this is the issue: cramming the work of 2 or more people into a single individual. Asians and Americans may work "harder and longer", but then their vacation/holiday perks/leaves may be better/longer than ours. Then again perhaps it really is cultural. Asians experience the difficulties working in their respective countries with little to look forward to, yet when they work with the same effort here, even with menial jobs, they get a lot more back. Another part of Asian culture that may make a difference is the family bond: the whole drove is in a single house/compound, from the grandparents to the grandchildren. Enjoying each others' company after a hectic day, even saving for all members to go to Queenstown 2 years from now is good enough for them. Competion, maybe. Perseverance, yes. Satisfiction (Northland) 01:24 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 I agree with most of what you say Alice, especially the comment about people discouraging others from working hard. All too often I get that comment "Don't work too hard". I'm coming to the realisation that they don't want me to work hard, because then they will feel guilty for not working hard. You don't have to work your life away, but working hard is important if you want to achieve your full potential. Observer (Wellington Region) 01:24 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Hard-working (especially skilled) immigrants are awesome. The author apparently grew up in an immigrant family. Keep up the good work. Immigration truly has its place. And I commented on Sir Bob Jones' article a few days back as well. I thought he was generally wrong. I am an immigrant myself, an American, being in NZ almost 3 years now. I came in the skilled migrant route and had to hop through my share of hoops and pay a fair amount of money for the visas and residence status. And I've heard Sir Bob Jones' sentiment in my homeland (the States) from free marketers (usually rich guys owning businesses) that America, too, should throw open its borders to anybody who feels like coming in and working. And that is a bad idea. The standard of living here is such because of laws and limited immigration. To throw open the floodgates would generally cause massive of amounts of people of all stripes (but generally poor) who would compete with local Kiwi in semi- to low-skilled jobs. You'd be hurting your own, born and bred Kiwi's. But to the author's specific points in this article, I completely agree and applaud all hard-working immigrants here. deepred (New Zealand) 02:10 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 It seems people generally move to NZ to escape the rat race, before it causes them to collapse from what the Japanese call 'karoshi' (death from overwork). Additionally, the documentary "Race to Nowhere" chronicles American students who have been pressured to succeed, to the point where some of them can be driven to suicide. 0 likes Reply Like Report Mandah Oh () 02:16 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Big T I don't see how any of this is supposed to convince me that working 80 hour weeks and spending your whole life working as hard as you can is a good way to live. China and the USA are, by all accounts, incredibly competitive places where you have to work like a madman to get anywhere. Despite everyone working so hard these countries are afflicted with massive inequality and poverty. Despite the hysteria around "poverty" in New Zealand, lazy old New Zealand remains one of the better countries on the planet to live in. More competition does not make a country better by default. The ideal human existence is not defined by "maximising potential" or "working as hard as you can". I would rather be dead than wasting my life working as hard as you suggest. In my opinion that is not a life worth living. That is not a life that brings any pleasure to the person living it. I support anyone who tries to stop that way of living becoming the norm. show more I think you have interpreted the article a little wrongly. She isn't saying working an 80 hour week is ideal, she was saying that the older generations have had to work damned hard to make a living for their families and this gives motivation to their children to get qualifications and work hard through early life so they don't end up doing the same hard weeks as their parents. I do agree that the "ideal human existence is not defined by maximising potential" but in this day and age, we have no choice but to work. That is why so many people strive to their best with the opportunities that are given to us. I am a university student myself and I would LOVE not to have to get a degree and work my way up in a career; it shouldn't be what life's about. Life should be about making ends meet for everyone in everyway, then maybe we ALL be happy. David Chan () 02:32 PM Friday, 5 Oct 2012 Thank you for sharing this article with us. I understand New Zealand has a lack in competitiveness, but in a way we can be seen to be a more ethical country than that of larger and more competitive countries such as China (the government/ living standards)or America (central banks of america). In a certain degree its a good thing but in another degree we lack improvement. Being a Chinese person who lived here for over twelve years, I certainly think we need to push ourselves but not in away which we over promote competition.

Minimart a big hit with budget-conscious diners

By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 Budget-conscious diners are turning to a central city minimart on Wakefield Street for cheap "cook-it-yourself" noodle meals. S-Mart, a Korean supermarket, provides a hot water dispenser for customers to cook instant noodles purchased there, and wooden benches and tables for people to dine. It has become a hit for students and central city workers, especially at lunch time. Emma Lim, 27, a travel consultant, said rent and power price rises in the last year have left her with less money to spend on food, but eating out for her was "something of a necessity rather than a luxury". "I'll go crazy if I had to eat at my desk, or go straight home every day to cook," she said. "Eating at S-Mart is probably the cheapest option, where a couple of dollars can buy you noodles and a drink." Customers who buy instant noodles that come packaged in disposable cups or bowls can cook it with the boiling water from the dispenser, and eat them with the store-supplied wooden chopsticks. S-mart assistant manager Lena Lee said the cheapest cup of noodles cost $1.20, but those on special could go as low as 90 cents, and the costs started at $1 for a Korean canned drink. "What we provide is similar to some convenience stores in Asia, so generally, Koreans, Chinese and Japanese people are quite familiar with the concept of cooking their own noodles," she said. "It's getting to be very popular in Auckland, and during lunch times, sometimes we don't even get a chance to breathe." Peter Kim, 22, an AUT computer science undergraduate, said he had instant noodles at S-mart at least twice a week, not only because it's cheap, but he likes his lunches hot. "Having a hot bowl of noodles beats having a cold sandwich anytime," he said. "Besides, a sandwich would probably cost more." Madis, a kiosk inside S-mart, also provides a cheap gimbab (Korean sushi) lunch option, where customers can choose what they want to be added to their seaweed rice roll. The choice of fillings include tuna, bulgogi (barbecued beef), ham, cream cheese and prawns, and customers get to also choose the type of rice and sauces they want. Owner Sun Soo Na describes her operation as "like Subway for gimbab". The gimbab rolls come in a five or 10-piece pack, priced between $3 and $6.50. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10837968

More Kiwis kicking into Asian sports

More Kiwis kicking into Asian sports By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Thursday Oct 4, 2012 More Kiwis are turning to Asian martial arts, drumming and even lion dancing rather than play rugby or soccer on the sporting fields. From Thai kickboxing to taekwondo and taichi, clubs and activities introduced after the second wave of non-European migration since 1987 have given New Zealanders plenty of alternatives to the tradition of playing sports in the weekends. Marcel Taukamo, 22, grew up playing rugby on Saturdays but now spends weekends practising Chinese kung fu after a friend introduced him to a Pakuranga club three years ago. "As a kid, of course I had dreams of being an All Black, but I think it's just all a bit over-rated, now that I've found something better" he said. "With kung fu you learn to control your mind and use internal strength, but with rugby, it's just brute strength and it's just pretty shallow." Michael Wells, the manager for Tamashii Taiko Drummers, said the group began in the 1990s for Japanese migrants to practise the ancient form of percussion drumming arts. But now just a couple of its 48 members are Japanese, with most being Kiwis, American, South Africans, Brazilian and other Asians. "I think a lot of us are accepting these as not just ethnic clubs, but activities that all of us can embrace and enjoy," said Mr Wells. Rachel Morgan, 29, a Unitec music lecturer who has been drumming for two years, said she liked Taiko because it helped her "improve rhythm" and gives her "a good workout". "As someone who teaches music, I see this as far more beneficial to me than either playing a sport or going to the gym," Miss Morgan said. AUT engineering student Isaiah Esteban, 23, spends his Sundays practising lion dancing. Filipino-born Mr Esteban has been with the E-Pacs lion dance troupe since 2006, and says it has helped him understand another culture. "I've learned a lot about religions like Buddhism and the kind of values and traditions that are important to the Chinese," Mr Esteban said. The troupe's founder, Peter Low, said lion dancing "teaches discipline, physical co-ordination and also helps the practitioner be more confident". "the emphasis for teamwork here is far greater than normal team sports." Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley said these migrant-introduced clubs and activities had "enriched Auckland culturally" but had also significantly reduced the pool of participants from which sporting organisations could select players. Our Asian migrant hall of sporting fame Born South Korea: Lydia Ko, golfer Youngest person ever to win an LPGA Tour event South Korea: Danny Lee, golfer Youngest ever winner of US Amateur Championship in 2008 China: Li Chunli, table tennis 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Migrant Kiwi Olympians 2012 South Africa: Alexis Pritchard (boxing), Glenn Snyders (swimming), Moira De Villiers (judo), Vaughn Scott (taekwondo), Chris Harris (rowing) Nigeria: Amaka Gessler (swimming). South Korea: Robin Cheong (taekwondo) England: Hayley Palmer (swimming), Jim Turner (sailing), Ria Percival (football), Susannah Pyatt (sailing), Anna Green (football), James Musa (football), Thomas Smith (football), John Storey (rowing) India: Siona Fernandes (boxing) USA: Jenny Bindon (football), Alexandra Riley (football), Rebecca Smith (football) Denmark: Lina Villumsen (cycling) Australia: Stephanie Hazard (sailing), Alana Millington (hockey), Mahe Drysdale (rowing) Germany: Shane Smeltz (football) Ireland: Sean O'Neill (rowing) Croatia: Marina Erakovic (tennis) Zimbabwe: Ryan Sissons (triathlon). http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10838249

White faces will soon be a minority

he social shift was also aided by the Immigration Act 1987, which radically changed migrant entry to New Zealand. Requirements were based on individual characteristics, skills and money rather than preferred source countries. Between 1986 and 2006, the numbers born in Asia and now resident in New Zealand increased by 661 per cent, with the Chinese (899.4 per cent) and Indians (841.6 per cent) dominating growth. Over that time the number of overseas-born Pacific people also doubled, and migrants from other countries, such as Africa, also increased. Professor Spoonley said older age groups might struggle to come to grips with this "huge change". Auckland Chinese Community Centre chairman Arthur Loo, a local-born Chinese, counts himself among those who would be "uncomfortable" if there were more Asians, Pacific and Maori than Pakeha in Auckland. "I wouldn't want Pakeha to be the minority. I think we as New Zealanders have got to acknowledge what the founding peoples of New Zealand were, and it's Maori and people from the United Kingdom," Mr Loo said. He said Auckland should remain a city that kept New Zealand's "Maori-European heritage". "I mean all societies evolve, but I certainly won't want to see the Anglo-Saxon or the English culture subjugated in any way because they, in a large part, have made what is New Zealand and that's why we're here," Mr Loo said. "They were responsible for building New Zealand to what it is today, and other people come and we take advantage of that." By Lincoln Tan By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Monday Oct 1, 2012

Melting-pot reality okay with New Zealanders

25 years after New Zealand abolished nationality preference for immigration, a week-long Herald investigation looks at the impact immigrants have had on the country's largest city Asian culture and festivals are now becoming mainstream. Photo / Paul Estcourt Asian culture and festivals are now becoming mainstream. Photo / Paul Estcourt New Zealanders are accepting ethnic diversity as "part of our reality" and most no longer view migrant communities with suspicion like we did in the 1990s. Almost seven in 10 Aucklanders in a Herald street poll said they were comfortable with the ethnic diversity in Auckland, and 72 per cent said they have a close friend or friends outside their own ethnic group. More than six in 10 also felt New Zealand society today was "multicultural" and slightly more than half said they would be comfortable even if Asians, Pacific and Maori outnumbered Europeans in the city. These were some of the findings of a survey of 214 Aucklanders taken at Albany, Botany, New Lynn and the central city between September 22 and 30. Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley said the results showed New Zealanders have gone from being suspicious of migrant communities to one of acceptance and acknowledgement of the contribution of migrants. Article continues below "We had that period early on post-1987 when we were unsure about Asian migration," he said. "But these figures shows that it has become accepted much more as part of our reality as Aucklanders and as we think about the future, where Pakeha would become a minority, is not that frightening." Professor Spoonley said the street poll findings were consistent with recent studies, including an Asia New Zealand Foundation study of Kiwi perceptions on Asia, where 21 per cent said they had felt warmer towards Asian people in the past year. In that survey, more than four out of five agreed Asians contributed significantly to New Zealand society and 83 per cent rated the Asian region as important or very important to New Zealand's future. "In terms of public opinion polling, the two countries that currently stand out are Canada and New Zealand, and it doesn't matter what the questions that you ask about the effects of immigration, the positive answers tend to be 60 per cent and higher," he said. "If you go to Europe, it tends to be 50 per cent or lower, and Australia too [seems] to be dropping away." The Herald poll found 76 per cent said ethnic diversity was a good thing and 63 per cent saying their experience of diversity had been positive. Professor Spoonley said there had been a huge change in attitudes towards migrants in the past decade and believed that positive answers would have been significantly lower if the same questions had been asked in the 1990s. New Zealand has had a "history of intolerance towards Asians" since colonial times, especially towards the Chinese who were considered an "inferior" race, he said. Online encyclopedia Te Ara said: "Chinese were considered racially inferior to white people and their culture was seen as a threat. "Their habits were viewed as strange, and they were seen as 'drug-besotten sin-begotten fiends'." Professor Spoonley said politicians, like Winston Peters, capitalised on this in the 1990s by making inflammatory remarks about Asian migration to win votes. But recent efforts to stir similar anti-Asian sentiments in Auckland last year by political activist group the Right Wing Resistance "failed to get off the ground", he said. "In the scheme of things, we as New Zealanders have come an incredibly long way in terms of how we view diversity," Professor Spoonley said. "Today a majority of Kiwis are just embracing and enjoying what ethnic diversity brings," he said. University of Auckland professor of Asian studies Manying Ip said greater interaction between people of different ethnicities has helped in increasing the feeling of warmth, and the internet has also helped raise Kiwi awareness about Asia. "It has been an ongoing trend of greater acceptance of Asians in recent times, and this is mainly due to a greater awareness of Asia and an increase in meaningful social interaction with Asians, especially in Auckland," Professor Ip said. She said many of those who did not have friends outside their community were newcomers, mostly people from China or Korea, who struggled with English and lacked the confidence to socialise. "But this will be a one generation thing, because their children will definitely be socialising with people who are not just of their own ethnicities in schools," said Professor Ip. By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Monday Oct 1, 2012

Migrants good for NZ - the more the merrier

There's an old boxing aphorism which speaks for itself, namely a hungry fighter is a good fighter. Make no mistake, those thousands of Asians - mainly Indians and Chinese, but also large numbers of Thais, Koreans, Malays and Filipinos - pouring into New Zealand are very hungry fighters indeed. The evidence confronts us daily. Whether it's the amazing 15-year-old Korean-born Lydia Ko or the annual secondary schools top scholars' photographs published in newspapers which are dominated by Asian kids, or the corner shops with their Indian families keeping them open 19 hours a day, seven days a week, or so many of the new CBD retail business start-ups being Chinese, the energy of these migrants amounts to a huge boost for New Zealand. Their behaviour is patterned. The first generation work their butts off, mostly self-employed, albeit often in menial activities. At home they drive their kids to study hard, aiming for conventional higher-income professions such as medicine and accounting. I have boundless admiration for the courage of Asian migrants, setting out to an alien land, language and culture, so that their children will have a better life. My company provides university scholarships for humanities students (the bogus data-collecting sociology and such like "subjects" excluded). Years ago I told Auckland University I wanted the scholarships confined to migrants' children. That proved a joke for, as I said, they stick to the straight and narrow of accounting, medicine etc and thus we had no applicants. Henceforth, we'll cover these for them anyway, knowing that their third generation will branch out on their own initiative from the orthodox professions. Two years ago, I was guest speaker at the Katherine Mansfield Society's annual prize-giving for the capital's 30 or so college essay contest winners, this staged in Mansfield's childhood home in Wellington, now a museum. Afterwards, chatting to the winners, I met a pretty Shanghai-born girl. She wore the uniform of a private girls' school through which I've put waves of daughters and others over the decades, and thus know the cost. She said her dad was a taxi driver, which said it all. Probably he's driving 60 hours a week to eke out a living, of which a third or more is going on school fees. It's a common story. Never before in history has there been as much mass migration as today. If, in many cases, they're fleeing war-torn countries, the evidence is clear that host nations are ultimately enhanced by the contribution of different cultures, despite occasional teething problems. But most are economic migrants and we should welcome them to our welfare-sated nation. They bring with them an independent mentality and self-respect, sadly non-existent with a large section of our population. The American expression of the melting pot is undoubtedly an important factor in that nation's success. We should copy it and woo migrants from non-traditional sources. Aside from the very welcome Asians, we're now getting heaps of Argentinians and Middle Easterners. We should also exploit Europe's woes and set up immigration offices in Greece, Spain and Italy. In the early 1950s, after the devastating Netherlands flood plus Indonesian independence, thousands of Dutch migrated here. They introduced coffee-shops - now so much part of our lives. So, too, ornate bricklaying and stonework. Before their arrival we were using only red bricks. The descendants of the 19th-century Dalmatian gum diggers have had a hugely positive impact on New Zealand. They started our first wineries, for example, and today their Slavonic names are common-place in sport, commerce, politics and other aspects of public life. Perhaps best of all is inter-marriage. Once only Maori spouses softened our ancestors' coarse Anglo-Saxon/Celtic features. Now it's open slather and it's indisputable that the outcome is overwhelmingly aesthetically better. Racial intermarriage is now a world-wide phenomenon, which ultimately may mean no natural blondes left. Auckland's vigour and growth are largely attributable to its being a migrant destination, whether from Dunedin, Damascus or Dalmatia; hungry fighters all. Our history has always been one of migration, we having no indigenous people. Australian cities' vibrancy is attributable to post-war mass migration from non-traditional sources, and we should emulate their winning experience. By Bob Jones 5:30 AM Tuesday Oct 2, 2012

When it comes to awards it’s easier to list what Sylvie Chan hasn’t won rather that what she has. Earlier this year the year 13 Rosehill College student came runner-up in the Lions Young Ambassadors award for zone 8 which runs from Manurewa to Waiuku and Maramarua to Kawakawa Bay. A few months later she won two Stevenson Papakura youth awards for excellence in maths and science. And it wasn’t long before she was crossing the stage again – this time winning Zonta’s annual Young Women in Public Affairs award. But the real windfall came at Rosehill College’s end-of-year prizegiving where Sylvie won a Jerkovich Trust award, a Papakura Rotary Club scholarship and a Auckland University scholarship. She was also named top scholar in all her subjects – economics, biology, chemistry, history and maths with calculus – and crowned school dux. "I’m really pleased, I’ve put in a lot of hard work this year and I’m glad that it’s paid off," she says. "All the support from friends, teachers and parents – I can make them proud by doing something like this." The university scholarship means Sylvie can breathe a little easier too – she has her heart set on becoming a humanitarian doctor and any money she’s been awarded has gone into a savings account to help pay her way through university. Sylvie says providing she maintains a B plus average the university scholarship will cover her tuition and compulsory fees and give her $2500 to spend every year for three years. "They sent out a letter saying how many people applied for the scholarship," she says. "There were 960 applicants and they gave out 110 nationally." So far the bright 18-year-old hasn’t had time to celebrate her successes – she’s been studying for and sitting NCEA and scholarship exams. This year she’s sat five NCEA and four scholarship subjects. Add to that the two-year 13 NCEA and scholarship exams she sat in physics and statistics last year and Sylvie should leave school with certificates in seven NCEA and six scholarship subjects. Despite all that and the fact she’s part of the school’s culture and environmental committees, a head student, a student advisor and is a member of junior Rotary club Interact, Sylvie would argue she’s just like ever other teenager. She watches television until 10pm or 11pm and enjoys shows like ER and the Big Bang Theory "because it’s full of nerdy jokes". She’s also on social networking site Facebook "probably a bit more than I should be", likes going to the movies and enjoys shopping. So how does she do it all? She’s just "learned how to fit things in – routine helps". Her Malaysian parents "are pretty happy" with her achievements and just want her to have a good profession, she says. "My family are really encouraging – they say just try and do your best." Sylvie was born in New Zealand, first went to Conifer Grove Primary School then Rosehill Intermediate before moving to Rosehill College. Ad Feedback Before she starts her studies at medical school she’s taking a well-earned break. She’s off to Malaysia with her mum for six weeks to spend Christmas with her extended family. Hopefully she’ll leave all the texts books behind. - © Fairfax NZ News Award after award BY IMOGEN NEALE Last updated 05:00 09/12/2009 http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/papakura-courier/3139945/Award-after-award

Natalie Chan store opening

Guests arrived to a beautifully presented and very girly afternoon tea to celebrate the launch of milliner and designer Natalie Chan's new Parnell Rd store on Wednesday afternoon. Among the guests were members of the Parnell and Newmarket business associations, including the ever elegant Di Goldsworthy, as well as The Langham's recently married Lucy Clark and Auckland Racing Club's Rachel Holland, recently returned from a United Kingdomsabbatical. Chan's move to a new premises provides a chance for more space to showcase her wedding dresses, special occasion wear and headpieces for race days. As always, Chan was a charming hostess, putting on a gorgeous spread of pink and white treats including lolly bowls, cupcakes and macaroons accompanied by herbal tea and champagne. It's been a busy time for Chan, with the new premises not the only thing she's been working on. ''I'm four months pregnant too,'' she said. Natalie Chan store opening AMANDA MIDGLEY Last updated 05:00 19/08/2012

Beer is the secret to running 100 marathons

For Norman Chan, the secret to completing 100 marathons in six years is not about a strict diet or a rigid training plan - it is all about having a beer. The 53-year-old Christchurch wine salesman will become the fastest New Zealander to run 100 marathons on September 9 in Dunedin - six years, five months and eight days after his first one in April 2006. He will break the current record of nine years and two days held by Ingrid Frost, of Auckland, and will become the 37th member of the New Zealand 100 Marathon Club. Asked if he followed a training plan or ate special foods to keep him in top running shape, Chan said: "Hell no." His weekly intake features pies and hamburgers, up to a bottle of wine and at least five or six beers, and he runs casually between races. "Part of the way I look at it is have a beer, relax, enjoy the moment, and that's what I'm doing now. I'm not a typical marathon runner," he said. Chan began running marathons after completing the Coast to Coast and decided to set his sights on a new challenge. His first marathon took place on April Fool's Day. "I loved it. "I had a fabulous time," he said. His feats have included completing five marathons on five consecutive weekends and two marathons in one weekend. He has taken part in six ultra-marathons, including a 24-hour, 164-kilometre race. His fastest marathon was the Christchurch Marathon, which he ran in three hours 39 minutes, and the slowest was a trail marathon in Queenstown that he completed in nine hours 24 minutes. "That one was really, really hard." Chan no longer runs to beat times; he now uses his marathons to help other people. "I started off going for personal bests and then I started to realise that you're going to break down, you're not going to survive," he said. "Now I'm helping people. "I've decided to make myself a larger goal - pacing people, helping people with their goals." Although initially wanting to do more, he said the financial side of being a serial marathon runner was an obstacle. Chan reckoned he had spent well over $10,000 on travel and entry fees. Despite this, there is no slowing down for Chan, who has resolved to join the exclusive 200 club as well. "I just think it's really good fun and there are some fabulous people you meet. We do get called nutters, but that's what we are." ASHLEIGH STEWART Last updated 05:00 31/08/2012 KIRK HARGREAVES/Fairfax NZ ALWAYS ON THE MOVE: Christchurch marathon man Norman Chan trains before attempting his 100th marathon next month.

Chinese visitors keep resort busy

Queenstown businesses reported an increase in the number of Chinese visitors last week and early this week, as the resort experienced a "record Chinese New Year".

The week-long celebration, equivalent to Western Christmas and New Year festivities and the most significant travel week for the Chinese and Asian market, started last Monday.

Destination Queenstown chief executive Tony Everitt was impressed to see so many Chinese visitors in town and said a broad base of DQ member businesses had reported "significantly increased Chinese business".

"It's pretty pleasing to see places like the holiday parks and adventure activities also benefited," Mr Everitt said.

"It shows that not only are we getting the package tourists, but independent Chinese travellers, who are prepared to try something a bit more adventurous."

Visitor centre manager Matt Wong, who, like many businesses, decorated his office windows with DQ's "Happy Chinese New Year" signs, said the response was overwhelming.

"Even having those signs up was enough to attract visitors into the store and sitting on the desk with all these people asking me if I speak Chinese was quite funny."

He and another staff member have since signed up for lessons.

He said walking the streets of Queenstown last week was reminiscent of the days of the Japanese tourist boom, albeit with visitors from China and other Asian countries.

"One thing I noticed was a lot of people coming from Auckland and Australia, and in particular, young people living abroad, who bought their families over here from China on holiday."

Skyline also reported a large number of Chinese visitors during the week, and general manager Lindon Thomas said almost all of last week's dinner services were packed.

"Last week was just really busy with Chinese and Japanese guests, and I think each night was sold out for dinner," Mr Thomas said.

"With two sittings and 250 people in each sitting, these are some decent numbers."

Bonz Gallery and Bonz Group New Zealand managing director Bonnie Rodwell said the numbers experienced were similar to last year, but remained high after Chinese New Year.

Ms Rodwell thought the key to growing the new year market was to focus on keeping the visitors here for longer, and said the store was definitely better prepared for their arrival this year.

"It was much easier this year .. they thought it was very funny us trying to speak Mandarin, but we were trying ..."

When asked if there was any possibility of festivities next year, Mr Everitt said Queenstown would be better to focus on attracting visitors over the holiday with the resort's beauty and amenities.

" I think we did up the ante this year .. and we need to continue that and make people feel welcome, but at the same time people come here to see Queenstown, not the extravagant dragon dancers they can see at home." By Joe Dodgshun on Fri, 3 Feb 2012 http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/195206/better-prepared-new-year

Asian family live in fear as vandals target home By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Wednesday May 9, 2012 One of the rocks that smashed a window and glass panel. Photo / Brett Phibbs An Asian family who moved to New Zealand for its peaceful lifestyle are living in fear because of sustained vandalism attacks in which eggs and rocks are being thrown at their house in an upmarket street in Te Atatu Peninsula. Their ordeal started in February when their front door was vandalised. Since then, eggs have been frequently smashed on the windows of their $800,000 waterfront property. But on Friday the attacks became more violent when hurled rocks smashed a balcony glass panel and bedroom window at the Longbush Rd house. Waitakere police are investigating. Retiree Tet Hin Wong, 64, who built the house when he moved from Malaysia with his family nine years ago, said he was worried for the safety of his wife and their three children. "We have asked ourselves why is this happening to us and why in New Zealand," Mr Wong said. "We have not done anything to hurt or provoke anybody and, sadly, we have come to conclude that this could be because we are Asians." Mr Wong said he suspected the attacks were racially motivated because the only other house that had been vandalised in the street was one in which a Middle Eastern family lived. The second family, who did not want to be named, said that on at least two occasions, eggs had been thrown at their house windows and car. Mr Wong's wife, Monica, a solicitor, said the family decided to move to New Zealand because of "the peaceful lifestyle" and cannot believe that "such things could happen here". "It's been terrible, we can't sleep properly at night. "The attacks have become gradually more serious and we're just so fearful at what the next one will be," Mrs Wong said. "Now even when we're watching TV, we have to leave our curtain slightly open so we can see if someone's approaching ... what kind of a life is that?" The family, who are Catholics, turned to prayer to ease their fears after last Friday's attack, which happened just before 10pm. Te Atatu Neighbourhood Support is circulating an email to residents in the area seeking witnesses and details of the incidents. By Lincoln Tan | Email Lincoln http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10804447

Marti Wong's Fieldays No8 Wire National Art Award entry is titled Bull Headed. The works are being exhibited at the ArtsPost gallery. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hamilton sculptor bullish on art

By Natalie Akoorie 5:30 AM Wednesday Jun 6, 2012 Marti Wong's Fieldays No8 Wire National Art Award entry is titled Bull Headed. The works are being exhibited at the ArtsPost gallery. Photo / Christine Cornege Expand Marti Wong's Fieldays No8 Wire National Art Award entry is titled Bull Headed. The works are being exhibited at the ArtsPost gallery. Photo / Christine Cornege Hamilton sculptor Marti Wong has taken the phrase "bull-headed" to a new level with his Fieldays No8 Wire National Art Award entry. The bull's head, made almost completely of the ubiquitous fencing wire, symbolises the "condition of humanity", Wong says. "Humans are stubborn. And the No8 wire is about fenced-in thoughts and ideals which make people stubborn. It's about fencing in the brain, keeping in old ideas and keeping out new ideas." Entitled Bull Headed, the sculpture is one of 17 finalists in the Fieldays award which will be judged tomorrow night at the ArtsPost gallery in Hamilton where the works are also being exhibited. It is the first time Wong, 40, has entered the awards, which coincide each year with the National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton. The awards, which started in 1997, attract inventive and unique pieces of art that must be 75 per cent No8 wire. Corrugated iron sculptor Jeff Thomson will judge the awards. The winner will receive $4000. ArtsPost co-ordinator Marion Manson said there were 24 entries this year - down from 29 last year. An exhibition of the works will run at ArtsPost in Victoria St from June 8 to July 16. Fieldays starts next week. By Natalie Akoorie | Email Natalie

New Flavour: Award-winning chef Dean Wong (front) is bringing new dining experiences to Anne and Dion Ngatai's Anndion Lodge. Tracey Grant 200111Wctgresturant03

TV chef makes mark in River City

Kathryn King | Saturday, January 22, 2011 17:00 New Flavour: Award-winning chef Dean Wong (front) is bringing new dining experiences to Anne and Dion Ngatai's Anndion Lodge. Wanganui foodies rejoice, there's a new culinary dream-team in town. Anndion Lodge owners Anne and Dion Ngatai have joined up with chef Dean Wong to bring a new kind of dining experience to Wanganui. Mr Wong, an multi-award winning chef who appeared for a year on Good Morning and came fifth in Hell's Kitchen New Zealand, moved here more than a year ago. When the work he was doing here finished, he decided to stay, working as a private chef until a fortuitous visit to the chamber of commerce put him on to Anne and Dion's restaurant plans. Together they started running a buffet at the lodge every Sunday, converting the conference room into a dining room, and serving bar meals from the Harley Bar. Now about three months in, the venture has so far been a winner and the trio have big plans. "These guys have won their own business awards, and I have my own culinary awards, so I think we have a similar work ethic about trying to give the best," Mr Wong said. He said he wanted to change the way people viewed buffets. Rather than loading an enormous plateful of food, and losing the distinct flavour of each dish, Mr Wong said he would be introducing small portions. The idea was that people return to the buffet numerous times to try different items and get the full flavour of each dish. The concept also alleviated much of the food wastage seen at traditional buffets, he said. The buffet meals included steak cooked to order, hot dishes, salads and desserts. Mr Wong said he wanted to re-introduce handmade food with flavour that machine-made food couldn't compete with. While the dishes would change seasonally, a few favourites, like his award-winning mousses, could become menu staples. Since the new branch of the lodge opened, Mr Wong has catered birthdays, held poolside barbecues, and has two weddings on the horizon. Classically trained in French and English cooking, Mr Wong said he had experience in a variety of cuisines, including German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. He had worked with New Zealand seafood and Pacific rim/fusion cuisine were among his specialties. Mr Wong said he had a fresh food philosophy, which meant he would buy the basics, but liked to make everything from scratch, including his sauces, condiments and chutneys. He even grows his own herbs. When the restaurant expanded and got busier, he would make his own sausages and prosciutto ham. The couple said in future they wanted to incorporate live music into the restaurant and do hangi food. They also wanted to do more degustation meals. These meals focus on careful tasting and savouring small portions of food. "It's going to be an exciting year for us, it's a complete package," Anne Ngatai said. People are surprised, they don't realise that this is here, and that it's a beautiful room." http://www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/tv-chef-makes-mark-in-river-city/1041635/

Wellington restaurant in liquidation

Much-loved Wellington Chinese restaurant Big Thumb is up for sale after it was put into liquidation for IRD debts yesterday. The Allen Street restaurant is a favourite among local diners in the CBD for its yum cha, dim sum, Sichuan and Cantonese dishes. Owner Laurence Chan told The Dominion Post he and the chefs would keep the restaurant running until a new owner was found. "The restaurant is keeping going until someone takes over. We are still working here until it is sold." Profitco liquidator Murray Allen will be managing the sale. He had not responded to calls at the time of writing. JAZIAL CROSSLEY http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/7400103/Wellington-restaurant-in-liquidation