Businesses going global

A return to New Zealand had always been on the cards for Sarah and her husband, and after Covid they started thinking about returning to be closer to friends and family.

“Once borders reopened we came back from the UK for a holiday and had a look at schools and houses, then my husband was offered a voluntary redundancy package and suddenly, it felt like the universe was pointing us towards a new chapter.”

While her husband finished up work in the UK, Sarah returned home to Wellington with her two boys in time for the start of the new school year. While she waited for her nursing registration to come through, she had time to settle her kids into school and find a job.

“I’m a paediatric nurse, but I’ve gone back to basics and started back in children’s surgical. I’ve had to hit the ground running, and go back to things like shift work but now that my foot is in the door the opportunities are opening up and people are like, Oh, what about this? I’m already moving across to an outpatients maternity cover role, which uses more of my skills and experience as a community nurse in the UK.”

For Kiwi who have been offshore for a long time, returning home often triggers a process of self-discovery and adaptation and Sarah admits her and her husband have found it harder to put down roots compared to her two boys, who have taken to life in Wellington with gusto. 

“My boys have settled in so well. They have more freedom here than they did in the UK. I’m happy for my eldest to go to the football in town and get an Uber home, and I wouldn’t probably wouldn’t have let him do that where we lived before. The both love going down to the waterfront to the ASB Basketball stadium or just hiring an electric scooter and riding up and down. My youngest is quite a lover of sea life, and to have such easy access to beaches is great. The marine life is amazing in this city, we can see whales and dolphins out our window, to have that on your doorstep is pretty special.”

“We have been here for 7 months and I don’t feel like I have started to put down roots yet, but anywhere we moved would have been the same, you can’t expect to adjust to a place overnight. I left at 23, and I’m now 49 so what I want has changed, but I still love Wellington.”

“It’s great to be closer to my family, especially my parents, that is time you can’t get back. Wellington’s weather has been nothing like the winters I remember in my childhood, it’s been amazing this winter. Wellington is a beautiful city with lots of greenery and you don’t necessarily have to pay to do things here. The city also made a massive effort with the FIFA World Cup which was awesome to see.”

The other thing Sarah appreciates about her new life is the change of pace and the ability to find peace and beauty in her childhood home town.

“Alongside family, a change of lifestyle was a big motivator for us to return. We get an incredible view from our house, and even when I am having a really tough day I can come home and look at this view and think yep, this is worth it. You can always find your little piece of peace and quiet in Wellington and that wasn’t something I could ever say living in the UK. There is always the option to get a coffee, sit on a bench and watch dolphins, that’s really special when you think about it.” 

Sarah’s experience offers valuable insights to those contemplating a similar journey and highlights, Sarah says it’s important for those thinking about returning to do some research before moving .

“Be really, really realistic about why you’re coming back. If you’ve got family here, then it does make life so much easier. After 26 years, I didn’t exist in New Zealand, no one could find my NHI number, I couldn’t open an electricity account because I didn’t have a credit history, I couldn’t rent a house because I didn’t have a credit history or a job. So definitely do your research, come back and visit, and talk to people before you make that final decision.”

Returning home after nearly three decades offshore has highlighted to Sarah how important it is for Kiwi to travel, but also to bring their ideas and perspectives back home again. She feels the great Kiwi OE has been somewhat affected by Covid and hopes that people, especially young people will resume their passion for travel now that borders are open. 

“When I left in my early 20’s it felt like everyone went to the UK for a few years, I think for a country like New Zealand it’s really important that people go offshore, see the big wide world and then come home and bring those global views and experiences with them. I feel like Kiwi are really good at bringing those ideas back home and making them our own.”

This content was produced in partnership with Wellington NZ. Their ‘Esc to Wellington‘ campaign is inviting skilled people to Wellington Te Upoko o Te Ika, as a destination to work, live, and thrive.

Peter also spoke about his next expedition – a thought leadership journey to Antarctica in March 2024, and how Kiwi and join him and Sir Graham Henry on this voyage to discuss some of the big global issues facing our planet. Listen to the full webinar below and discover how you can be part of the expedition here.

Alex and his partner had been in Auckland for around 6 months when the pandemic first hit, Alex was working in Auckland for Kiwi company Icebreaker and he and his wife were enjoying the city’s improv theater community. Things were going well and only got better when the couple celebrated the birth of their first child – a baby boy. 

But life took an unexpected turn when Alex faced redundancy at Icebreaker due to the company’s relocation to Switzerland. Undeterred, he and his wife decided to stay in New Zealand and seek new opportunities, Alex says they were lucky that the gamble paid off. 

“When we got the news from Icebreaker there was COVID everywhere in Europe, but none in New Zealand, I had a two weeks old baby and my wife and I thought well there is nothing for us in Switzerland outside of work, we don’t have family or friends there and we can’t speak German, and at that point travel was really hard. We were happy in New Zealand and we decided that we couldn’t stop our New Zealand adventure just yet.”

Alex only had a short time to find another job as the couple’s visa relied on it, a time he admits was quite stressful. He connected with the CEO of Kathmandu on Linkedin and explained his predicament and his qualifications and was lucky enough the company were looking for someone just like him. 

“Kathmandu had the ambition to expand outside of New Zealand and Australia, but they needed someone with more expertise in these offshore markets and because that was my background things worked out well.” 

The couple moved to Christchurch and bought a house and now two years on, call the city their home. Alex is a keen surfer and loves the mix of lifestyle and business that the city provides and his son is growing up a proper Kiwi kid, and speaks a mix of English, French and Māori.

“We’re walking distance to the beach, you know we really are living the dream, my wife loves it here and so does my son. Sumner is a really beautiful place and we just feel really lucky. There’s a great sense of community here. People are very friendly. They’re always willing to give you a hand.” 

After helping Kathmandu to strategically launch in Europe, Canada and Japan, Alex’s role wound up as the local teams expanded and took over the operations. After this 2nd redundancy, he had the opportunity to work for another company in Auckland but the couple wanted to stay down south and so Alex has decided to try and give back to Kiwi businesses by using his offshore knowledge to start his own consulting company.  

“I’m hoping to be able to help either New Zealand businesses that want to export or help brands from overseas who want to come to New Zealand. I want to focus on assisting enterprises in growing while maintaining a positive impact on the planet and people. My goal is to help businesses to drive better businesses.”

Not content with just helping businesses, Alex is also planning to donate 1% of his revenue to New Zealand charities, supporting causes close to his heart and giving back to the community that welcomed him with open arms.

Throughout his time in New Zealand, Alex has been inspired by the country’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility and says he admires New Zealand’s efforts to protect its natural wonders, with nearly 40% of New Zealand’s land area designated as conservation land.

“New Zealand is a country that really embraces nature, and that was something that we were immediately drawn to. I love how there is a real focus here on protecting the planet.”

Alex’s professional journey has also allowed him to collaborate with indigenous Māori businesses, further deepening his appreciation for New Zealand’s rich cultural heritage. He says both him and his wife admire the Māori principles of Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality), which reflected a deep respect for the land and its people.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and changes in jobs,  Alex says his family has never regretted the decision to move to New Zealand. He believes that resilience and adaptability are essential traits for anyone, especially during uncertain times.

“Resilience is important for both life and businesses. If you are resilient and open to adapting, you can find opportunities anywhere. Our family considers ourselves really privileged to be able to live here and we hope that we can give back to a country which has welcomed us so readily.”

Stephen He, Shanghai

How long have you lived offshore? More than 15 years

What do you love most about Shanghai? It’s a mega cosmopolitan city full of energy and opportunity, as well as a blend of oriental and western culture with heaps of good cafés, bars and restaurants and super easy access for delivery.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them
visiting and why? If you wish to capture the rhythm of the urban city, Lujiazui will be on my list. You can admire the modern skyscraper along Binjiang Ave as well as various buildings of different architectural styles across the River. Another way to experience the unique lifestyle is to take a stroll along the old streets in Shanghai’s French concession area with leafy plants growing on both sides of most streets.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? Developing a global network of contacts both business and socially, China signs pacts with “friend and partner” of New Zealand, you will feel most welcomed here.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? Most of the outdoor sports, beaches, authentic fish and chips and mince pie….

What advice would you give to your pre-offshore self/What would you have liked someone to tell you before you travelled? Do some homework before taking any action. Once you hit the road, try to blend yourself into the local community, and learn some local dialect.

How do you remind yourself of home on days when you miss New Zealand? Meeting up for a beer with Kiwi’s watching AB and the Black Caps.

John Gao, Ningbo (and Wellington)

How long have you lived offshore? 3 years plus, since covid broke out.

What do you love most about your current home? Convenient and great environment.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them
visiting and why? Ningbo Bang Museum: You will be amazed how much people from Ningbo have achieved. In the early morning visit the area around Dongqian Lake: There are nice cycling tracks and tramping tracks. The scenery will be like a nice painting.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? How big the world is, and how great New Zealand is.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? Beef and friends.

What advice would you give to your pre-offshore self/What would you have liked someone to tell you before you travelled? Learn some Chinese before leaving NZ.

How do you remind yourself of home on days when you miss New Zealand? Catch up with Kiwis I can find in Ningbo, have some kiwi food.

Christiana Zhu, Shanghai, China

How long have you lived offshore? 9 years. 8 in Beijing, 1 in Shanghai.

What do you love most about your current home? The safety and convenience of everyday life. Beijing and Shanghai are two of the safest cities in the world. There’s very little petty crime and I’ve never felt unsafe on the streets, even as a female walking through hutong alleyways late at night. The proliferation of e-services also makes life very convenient. From grocery shopping to managing chores like household maintenance and postage, and even self pampering spa services, you can easily book anything with a click of a button and everything comes to you. With e-cash being king in China, I’ve also not had to carry a wallet for years!

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them
visiting and why? A hypermarket like Hema or an international brand retail outlet like IKEA, it’s a quick way to get a feeling of what everyday life is like for the middle class. When you compare the brands, product selections, and product formats to what things are like at home you can get good insights on cultural differences and similarities. If you are visiting Beijing – Ritan park in the morning or around sunset. This is when the retired folks come out to exercise and socialise. You will find interesting pursuits such as taichi, whip cracking, and saxophone practice. The content may be exotic, but the joy and passion with which they practise their hobbies is something that is easy to connect with on a base human level and give fresh perspectives on life.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? The community of awesome Kiwis doing incredible things. It almost sounds silly that one thing I love doing outside of NZ is finding other Kiwis, but I think because of our creative and adventurous spirit, Kiwi expats tend to get involved in some really cool projects, especially when we might not have the same platforms available back home. Connecting with these awesome people at local kiwi drinks is one of the true highlights of expat life.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? Being able to head off into the mountains every weekend. NZ’s access to nature is second to none. I lived in Queenstown before coming to China, so I was definitely spoiled in that regard.

What advice would you give to your pre-offshore self/What would you have liked someone to tell you before you travelled? Make sure you remember to top up your NZ phone number every year, or you’ll lose it!

How do you remind yourself of home on days when you miss New Zealand? Marmite on toast!

Sarah and Steve were first introduced to each other by friends who knew they would hit it off because they were both curious and loved bringing people together to start a conversation. After meeting, the duo knew their shared passions had the beginnings of a business, and Sarah says they wanted to create something that was impact rather than profit driven. 

“We started Wonder and Wander seven years ago and we kind of approached it with a bit of patience. We both had experience in innovation, human-centred design, travel and events and we knew we wanted a company which would bring people together to solve problems in a different way, but creating a company that was more about impact and purpose rather than profit, was at the time, not the norm, so we had to build things slowly.”

The couple spent a lot of time defining the values of the business and being inspired by the sustainable development goals of some of the companies they were working with within their current roles. It was also important for them to focus on raising their blended family of five young children. 

As the company grew so did people’s perceptions. Steve says these days impact driven businesses make a lot more sense to investors and clients alike. 

“We believe that travel can be a catalyst for change. Whether it’s walking around Tasmania and gaining new perspectives or embarking on transformative experiences, travel has the power to get you away from your day-to-day routine and create a new perspective, and when you bring the right people together this can be really powerful.”

The couple’s dedication to creating purpose-led experiences caught the attention of big corporations like Australia’s Commonwealth Bank and Energy companies AGL and Energy Australia and now the Kiwi arm of their business is catching on with companies here as well. 

Steve says the rise in interest comes mainly from the fact that Wander and Wonder doesn’t just talk about changing perceptions and thinking, it creates experiences that back that up. 

“We take people through these experiences that create real ‘a-ha’ moments. We’re not asking people to completely change their lives or give up everything they know, instead, we’re inviting them to explore and unlearn fixed ways of thinking and adopt a ‘dragonfly’ mindset – nimble and agile, capable of changing flight mid-air.”

While some might see the impact as a grandiose concept, the Pirie-Nallys believe it can manifest in various ways, from small incremental shifts in thinking to profound transformations. Sarah says many people think of impact as an overnight revolution when in fact most of the time change starts small and can come from something as simple as a single conversation. 

As the company expands the couple are looking to expand their impact even further. Next March, they plan to lead an extraordinary stewardship expedition to Antarctica, an opportunity for travellers to engage with the challenges of climate change and conservation firsthand.

“The trip to Antarctica is a unique experience to bring together thought leaders and change-makers from across Australia and New Zealand together with some incredible expedition leaders like Peter Hilary and Sir Graham Henry and get all these people on a boat and facilitate some incredible conversations around climate change and allow these business leaders to share their ideas and create a sense of connection to what is possible. We want people to have richer conversations that ripple back into their communities, countries, and the world.”

Sarah says issues like climate change can seem too big to tackle, but being in a place where you can see first hand the effects something like this is having can have a transformative effect on people.

“I think there is a lot of fear around a conversation around climate change, and people don’t really want to talk about what it could mean, can I still travel? Can we ship things across the world? Can I drive to work – there is a lot of unknowns. The curious part of my mind goes to, well, what’s the problem we’re actually trying to solve? And ultimately at the end of the day, that problem is how do we ensure the survival of our species and the survival of our planet? Those two things don’t need to be solved with a knee jerk reaction, instead, we need a whole lot of innovative solutions, and so rather than never jumping on a plane again or selling your car it’s actually about connecting with ideas and people around the world to come up with more innovative solutions.”

Some of the Kea World Class New Zealand community are taking part in the Antarctic expedition and there are limited spaces left for you to join us, to find out more please visit https://insiderexpeditions.com/stewardship/
If you book a discovery call please mention Kea to receive a special package deal.

Matariki celebrations were popular before the arrival of Europeans, and continued into the 1900s. At the beginning of the 21st century Māori began to revive the practice of celebrating Matariki as a time of remembrance, joy and peace. This year Matariki will be marked for the first time with a public holiday in New Zealand. 

Matariki is an important time for Māori and returning Kiwi Adrian Smith says honouring the indigenous holiday is a really positive reflection of New Zealand’s cultural evolution.

“When I lived in London the Māori and Polynesian community would celebrate Matariki together. We would teach our kids the songs so they knew what all the stars were. To come home and discover that it is now a public holiday is really affirming, and once again, sets New Zealand apart on the international stage by showing our cultural uniqueness.”

Matariki is named for the cluster of nine stars that appear just before dawn during the mid-winter months. The first star, Matariki, is known as the mother of the eight stars in the constellation. Matariki is connected to health and wellbeing. The second star Pōhutukawa, serves as a reminder of those who have passed on, encouraging us to take the time to remember them and acknowledge their impact on our lives. The next four stars Tupuānuku, Tupuārangi, Waitī and Waitā are connected with food that comes from the ground, the sky, freshwater and the sea. The seventh star, Waipuna-ā-rangi is connected to the rain, and the eighth is Ururangi connected to the wind. The final star is Hiwa-i-te-rangi, a wishing star, helping us to realise our hopes and aspirations for the coming year.

New York based Kiwi Maia Nuku says honouring Matariki is an important event for Kiwi all over the world. 

“The observation of Matariki as an official holiday is a welcome and wonderful opportunity both in Aotearoa and overseas. It gives us a chance to share our Maoritanga – our culture, ideals, and practices – in an expansive way so people can understand our connections to cosmology and the stars, and their impact on our ocean and landscape in terms of seasons and planting cycles. It’s an exciting development.

There are a number of ways offshore Kiwi can celebrate Matariki. One of the easiest is by sharing kai. Food gives people a connection to the harvests that lead up to the Māori New Year and brings people together to share entertainment, hospitality, and knowledge. Why not check out some of these recipes. Matariki is also an important time for reflection and to remember those who have passed during the year, and honour their memory.

If you would like more information on Matariki please visit this page from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, or for information specific to children you could check out online resources such as this one from Christchurch City Libraries which includes a link to download and print your own Matariki activity book.

Most importantly for our offshore community, Matariki offers the perfect opportunity to connect with friends and whānau either in person or online. It’s a chance to celebrate the unique culture, people, and stories that connect us all as Kiwi no matter where we live. 

Mānawatia a Matariki, celebrate Matariki!