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Global Kiwi

New Zealand is unique in this opportunity – with one of the largest offshore populations of any developed country, we’ve dealt with an ongoing ‘Brain Drain’ for several decades. Now, we’re facing a sudden injection of much-needed skills and talent that other nations only dream of.

This week Kea had the pleasure of releasing our latest report; Unleashing the Potential of our Returning Kiwis, and it reveals that the pandemic has caused many of our million-strong diaspora to rethink their plans for the future and to return home.

This report suggests we’re facing a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to bolster our labour market in sectors where we need volume, such as education and healthcare, as well as sectors where new ideas and global perspectives fuel growth such as technology and construction. Coupled with a strong desire to give back to charities and their communities, these returning Kiwis present enormous potential for transformation across the entire social and economic fabric of New Zealand.

The statistics are striking – in the period March 2019 to end March 2020, New Zealand saw the highest homeward migration in recorded history with 42,800 New Zealand citizens arriving home. Looking to the future, 49% of respondents to the Kea survey indicated their intention to return, 24% in the next 12 months and the remainder over the next four years – signalling a long-term trend. Many of these returners are Kiwis who have been away for 10+ years, on average aged between 35 – 55 and many holding senior positions in high-value sectors. 

These are Kiwis that, before 2020, would have been unlikely to come home – 77% stating that their intention to return has been directly influenced by COVID-19. Due to global instability and a desire to be closer to family, these affluent senior professionals are bringing their international ideas, experience and perspective back to New Zealand, with the majority planning to stay permanently.

This wave of returning migrants is what Distinguished Professor Peter Gluckman is referring to as “a once in a lifetime, seismic, Kiwi population shift”. It presents New Zealand with an unparalleled advantage in the global skills race: 12% of those intending to return are in the technology and science sector; 10% are in academia, 9% in infrastructure and 3% in agribusiness. 

Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley said this week that these skilled expats “are coming home, bringing with them skills and experience that make them an extremely important addition to our economy and society.”

Kea was created in 2001 to maintain New Zealand’s connection with the then thousands of expats who were leaving our shores for greener pastures.  Through cultivating this community, we have introduced expats to thousands of New Zealand businesses with global aspirations and watched them generously offer market intelligence, advice and networks. Now, 19 years later we’re seeing an incredible reversal as these same passionate Kiwis arrive home. Many have supported New Zealand from afar and now they’re here and more willing than ever to roll up their sleeves.

As a nation, we need to welcome these returnees, and enlist them to help us rebuild our economy, to create new opportunities for the long-term growth of New Zealand.  

Kea believes it is time to initiate a taskforce to look at how best we welcome these Kiwis, how we integrate them into our communities and businesses, utilise their skills and how we prepare ahead of time for any resource challenges. 

CONTRIBUTOR

Toni Truslove

Chief Executive Officer

Kea

Kea member

How did you start out your career as a cinematographer/camera operator? Was it always an ambition of yours to get into film making?

I always knew I wanted to get into film, but I wasn’t always sure that I wanted to work in the camera department. I got my first job in 1984 working for TVNZ working on a photocopy machine, and then after a year or so left to work on my first proper film set – Sylvia, which I loved. I then went offshore on an OE intending on going to London, but we got stuck in Sydney where I ended up working for 8 years. It was on a movie set on Easter Island where I met a Director who invited me to come to work with him in America, which is how I ended up living in the States for most of my career.

Can you explain a bit about the new technology that was incorporated in the filming of The Mandalorian that made it so unique?

Simply put, it’s walls and ceilings of LED panels which creates a perfect lighting environment where all of the actors are lit perfectly, but also a photographic background that you can shoot. It enables us to have a huge amount of flexibility in our shooting locations. Using this technology is efficient, and makes the post-production process a lot easier. From a production perspective, it’s super helpful.

Were there any challenging aspects of working on the Mandalorian?

There were two main challenges which were interrelated. Firstly, the Mandalorian character is basically dressed entirely in a mirrored reflective suit. This made it difficult to place the camera and lights, without being seen in the reflection. The new technology made this a lot easier. If we had been working with the traditional technology, a lot of CG work would have to be done on his costume as well as getting the right lighting and reflections.

The other challenge was that because the Mandalorian character was masked almost the whole time, we had to learn to convey emotion in a different way. There aren’t opportunities for the usual shows of emotion. Instead Pedro Pascal had to use really subtle body language, so we had to be careful with camera angles and lighting to be able to see that body language, however I think having Baby Yoda in the shots helped a lot.

Do you think being from New Zealand influences your work in any way?

I became highly aware of the subtle differences between the people and culture as I moved between New Zealand, Australia and the United States. You would think that, because as English speaking countries we are quite similar culturally, there wouldn’t be much need for adaptation, but there certainly are differences. I think, when working offshore, I became such an asset on set because of my candor which I think ultimately stems from my Kiwiness.

You recently won an Emmy for your work on The Mandalorian, how did it feel and was there anything about the process that surprised you?

Well, as you know, this year it was all online because of Covid-19 restrictions. While we were filming the Mandalorian, we were aware that we were making really great work. But I don’t think any of us anticipated the global reaction it would get. Personally, I was humbled and surprised with our nomination and subsequent win.

We know Covid-19 is continuing to have an impact. What do you think the future looks like for your industry?

It’s quite scary, if I’m honest. With large gatherings not allowed, the movie theatre experience is unable to happen. This is accelerating an already moving trend of fewer people watching movies in the theatre. I am hopeful though. When you look back at the Spanish Flu, there are a lot of similarities to now, and after the world recovered from that, they experienced the roaring 20s. I’m hopeful that within a year or so we’ll be able to experience our own roaring 20s.

The Mandalorian season 2 was just released on Disney +. What projects do you have coming up next?

I can’t talk much about them, but I’m working in Australia at the moment on Thor: Love and Thunder which I’ll be working on until the end of 2021. Then, I’ll just see what happens. Personally, my wife and I are hoping to move back to New Zealand next year.

Can you talk briefly about your professional background. How did you get to be where you are today?

I received an undergrad degree and double masters (hon 1) from the University of Canterbury, and an MA and PhD in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I taught first at Stanford, then at the University of California Berkeley where I have been on the faculty for over 30 years.

At UC Berkeley I founded what is now called the Institute for Business Innovation. In recent years, my research has been focused on strategic management. I have also continued my long standing research and writing on technology commercialization and competition policy. Along the way, I’ve built three enterprises to revenues in the hundreds of millions, and taken two public.

I’m currently Chairman of the California headquartered Berkeley Research Group, which has over 1300 employees and over 40 offices worldwide. I also have farming, forestry, and viticulture (Mt. Beautiful) interests in New Zealand and am a partner with Sir Stephen Tindall in Branches Station. I also partner with fellow Kiwis Mark Ching and Chris Alpe with the Vomo Island resort, Fiji.

What were your intentions, alongside Sir Stephen Tindall, when setting up Kea almost two decades ago?

We set out to define greater New Zealand, not by its geography, but by where Kiwis live, whether at home or abroad.  We estimated that there were about 1,000,000 New Zealanders living abroad; and we believed then and now that practically all of them had strong and positive views of New Zealand. 

We wanted to help galvanize this community to allow not only greater networking amongst the expatriats, but to allow and enable stronger connections to New Zealand, whether it be in business, the arts, the sciences, or otherwise.  We started with a Silicon Valley chapter, but then Kea rapidly expanded reach to New York and London and then around the globe.

Why do you believe it’s so important for New Zealand to continue to engage with Kiwis once they head offshore?

We thought that there were benefits both ways… to New Zealanders’ at home as well as the expat community abroad… flowing from greater interaction, and professional, business, and scientific engagement of all kinds. We believed Kea would facilitate transnational learning and the development of opportunities for exchange, communication, working partnerships, and friendships.

How do you personally stay connected to New Zealand?

I stay connected through family (including a brother) in Nelson, friends, investments, and through recreational activities mainly on the South Island.

What are the top skills you believe are essential in running a business?

One always needs some basic operational skills, and/or the ability to work well with those that do.  But the secret sauce to greatness is an entrepreneurial management style that I call Dynamic Capabilities… which requires the top management team to be adept at integrating internal and external assets and resources in innovative configurations that enable businesses to identify and address and expand new market opportunities.

Covid-19 has had a detrimental effect on many Kiwi businesses. What advice would you give to those still looking at expanding into offshore markets?

Move on and move out; the US economy is now expanding rapidly and there are opportunities for New Zealand and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as the US decouples from China.

What are the top things you believe small businesses should be focusing on right now?

Developing technology based solutions to global market opportunities.  New Zealanders are good at solving problems; but new businesses are needed that focus on users/customers in large markets, and are not too focused on New Zealand and Australia.  Having one foot in the US, Europe, and/or the Indo-Pacific region is important.

What do you believe the long term impact of Covid-19 will be on Kiwi businesses?

New Zealand is paying a high price for its COVID-19 strategy economically. Industries like tourism and international education have been crippled and the public seems to have largely forgotten about them as the nation essentially goes about its business. Whilst it’s been successful at managing the health risk, the country needs to dramatically and urgently privatize and scale quarantining to allow the free flow of long stay visitors, with a talent and tourism heavy focus. Safe entry at scale is possible and allowing it will help the New Zealand economy and society immensely. 

CONTRIBUTOR

David Teece

Chairman and Principal Executive Officer

Berkeley Research Group

World Class New Zealander

Government help

Stories and resources for offshore Kiwis:

  • Kiwi Kids Abroad – Connect with other Kiwi families living all over the world and provide your little ones a taste of home with the Kiwi Kids Abroad newsletter.
  • New Zealand’s European Correspondents – Kea spoke to TVNZ’s Daniel Faitaua and Newshub’s Lloyd Burr on reporting on the pandemic from London.
  • Piha Pies: Home Away From Home – We spoke to Jeremy Hewson, who, along with his wife Susanne founded Piha Pies, the Kiwi pie company using an old family recipe that’s taking London by storm!
  • Nurse Jenny: Doing Her Part -We spoke to Jenny about what it was like being thanked by the UK Prime Minister, how she’s coping, and how she’s staying connected to her New Zealand roots.
  • Clair Mills: Médecins Sans Frontières – Clair Mills is no stranger to working in health crises. We spoke to her about her role at Médecins Sans Frontières, and how they’re dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
  • Dream Catchers – A dynamic broadcast and online series about inspirational New Zealanders making an impact in the United Kingdom.

For businesses resources to help you start your business in New Zealand, or manage your global business from New Zealand, click here.

Can you tell us a bit about your career background?

I undertook a BA in Art History and Law from The University of Otago and an MA in Art History from The University of Auckland, specialising in cross-cultural representation, Māori and Pacific arts. I later completed an internship at The Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, working on one of the world’s largest festivals, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, celebrating cultures around the globe.

Previous Auckland based posts include Public Programmes & Cultural Relations Manager, Auckland Museum; Visual Arts & Public Programmes Manager, Auckland Arts Festival; and Manager of Alberton House, Heritage New Zealand. While in Britain I was most recently Director of Urban Soul Orchestra. Prior to that I was employed as Visual Arts Officer, Arts Council England and Patrons Programme Manager, Venice Biennale for Creative New Zealand.

How have you found returning home to New Zealand after your time abroad?

It has been a very strange time coming home, mainly as it has coincided with a global pandemic. I started my role at the beginning of March and found myself in the first lockdown soon afterwards. One of the areas I focused on in my MA thesis was the geographical distance between the U.K. and N.Z. and the subsequent cultural implications, especially in terms of national identity. This duality is part of my DNA, having a Kiwi Mother and British Father and spending parts of my life living in both countries. With the effect that Covid-19 has had on travel, that tyranny of distance has been exacerbated.

I am sure other Kea members can empathise with that impulse of having been being drawn towards the company of New Zealanders to experience a sense of home while living overseas. Now I am back it is interesting to find common ground with some of the more than 50 000 of us who have found ourselves on N.Z. shores again.

What is the purpose of the British Council?

The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It was founded in 1934, and our first overseas offices opened in 1938, making us the oldest cultural relations organisation in the world. Originally, we were called the British Committee for Relations with Other Countries.

The early 1930s were a time of global instability and Britain’s influence was weakened because of a global financial depression, which reduced living standards, jobs, and trade. At the same time, extreme ideologies were gaining ground, with the rise of Communism in Russia, and Fascism in Germany, Italy and Spain. In response to this, the UK government created the British Council.

Why do you think it is so important to facilitate cross-country relationships to highlight art, culture and education?

Generally I think it is vital to connect across countries and to build inter-cultural understanding. When times are difficult this is even more so and especially when geographical isolation comes into play so succinctly. We can also work together for the greater good in areas that are vital to us such as equality, diversity, and inclusion. I sincerely hope that we can find spaces where the UK can work together with Māori and Pacific organisations, artists and scholars as well as connecting with other diverse communities in Aotearoa. 

How has Covid-19 affected your operations?

Aside from the financial implications for our partner organisations and ourselves, many projects have had to be cancelled. At the time of this interview we were undergoing a second lockdown, which is both challenging in terms of planning and also the psychology of trying to operate under the shadow of uncertainty on an ongoing basis. This was something I am aware my grandparents experienced during wartime but not something many of my generation have experienced so it will require the development of a new operational framework. 

What’s next for the British Council, and arts and culture exchanges between NZ/Pacific and the UK?

Personally this year will be about reconnecting with former contacts and meeting new ones, discussing what is important to them and finding synergies as well as possibilities for collaboration and partnership. We are also trying to look for areas of opportunity in the new context, such as the digital arena. We are at an extremely pivotal time in our history when we have time to pause and potentially reset, which could well be crucial for our planet going forward. As such climate change is another area of common interest for both the UK and NZ and we are exploring potential arts and cultural projects to this end.

CONTRIBUTOR

Natasha Beckman

Country Director, New Zealand and the Pacific

British Council

Kea member

COMING HOME?

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Resources

We’re here to support returning Kiwi. Here’s our list of resources to help you plan your return and next steps.

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Jobs

Looking for a new role in New Zealand? Visit the Kea job portal and find your next career opportunity.

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PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

When Robert Muldoon famously quipped to a journalist that New Zealanders who migrated to Australia “raised the IQ of both countries”, his response diminished the value of those who left and reflected the indignation of those who remained.

As a nation we’ve always had a love/hate relationship with those who’ve departed (even as most of us have, at one time or another, departed). For almost 30 years there was a feeling that some of our best and brightest were abandoning us and heading to greener pastures. Those departures felt like insults directed at those who’d stayed. Whether through envy or tall poppy syndrome, we perceived that the departees earned more overseas, had greater career opportunities, travelled more, had more exposure to culture and more fun than those New Zealanders who remained.

But clearly, whatever Muldoon may have said or implied, the estimated one million New Zealanders we lost offshore were hard-working and smart. Among them were likely many of the best and most talented minds we’d ever bred, educated and trained here during our recent history.

When Kea was established in 2001, it was out of recognition that these expats, sitting just across the ocean, could provide essential human capital and the diversity of perspective New Zealand needed to build a great economy – innovative business people, tech entrepreneurs, exceptional creative talent… we just had to reach out and ask them to stay connected to NZ, to help. We did ask, and many answered.

Almost 20 years on, in the time of Covid, as many of these overseas New Zealanders now seek to return home and the country’s brain drain has reversed, they’re now finding a very mixed welcome.

That is a missed opportunity for New Zealand.

Not only are we failing to arrange a soft landing for these New Zealanders we have long lamented the loss of, they’re facing an unclear process and sometimes hostile rhetoric from the media and public – increasingly convincing them to stay away.

New Zealand has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reap the benefits of a multitude of candidates with offshore skills, experience and perspective in a world where borders remain closed to non-citizens.  With the second largest offshore population in the OECD, New Zealand has a competitive advantage in the skills race.

In managed isolation right now (or waiting for a flight) potentially is the kind of talent established New Zealand businesses are increasingly looking offshore to recruit. Essential skills holders such as nurses, vets and diesel mechanics along with entrepreneurs, investors and technology masterminds. With closed borders, the flow of talent to those businesses will slow and potentially stunt the growth of some of our economic mainstays.

In addition to established business, more than ever New Zealand needs innovation, start-ups and investment. Looking at the bigger picture, we need to consider which industries are going to sustain New Zealand in the longer term, and what minds are needed to develop them.

We are in the process of missing an enormous opportunity to embrace the skills and perspectives needed to complement and diversify the New Zealanders’ brains already here to drive our recovery in the Covid era.

This opportunity is New Zealand’s “brain gain”. It’s about time we started proactively welcoming these people both in our attitude and the planning/infrastructure we put in place to ensure they thrive.

Kea launched its global Welcome Home Survey in August and is seeking the help of New Zealanders to forward it to their compatriots offshore. Let’s encourage our overseas friends and family members to check in with NZ, and build an essential data set to enable New Zealand to better support them.

It’s time to change the narrative and to instead say to these returning New Zealanders, “nau mai, haere mai, welcome home”.

CONTRIBUTOR

Toni Truslove

CEO

Kea New Zealand

Kea member

COMING HOME?

Join

Join the Kea community, NZ’s online home for returning Kiwis.

READ MORE

Resources

We’re here to support returning Kiwi. Here’s our list of resources to help you plan your return and next steps.

READ MORE

Jobs

Looking for a new role in New Zealand? Visit the Kea job portal and find your next career opportunity.

READ MORE

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