Global Kiwi

Jo Fletcher Manawa, London.

How long have you lived offshore? 15 years 

What do you love most about London? Access to the rest of the world, I’m going to Israel and Jordan in 2 weeks and it was far more affordable than it would have been from home. I also love London as a city – it’s so diverse and full of unique people to meet and things to do, I even get to do kapa haka here every week! Lastly, my career would not have been possible in the same way from home.

If someone was coming to visit the area, what are two places you would recommend them to visit and why? I live near Wimbledon, and although I’m not a tennis fan outside of that time of the year, I love getting in the queue once a year and going to watch when it’s on, it’s actually quite fun. My second recommendation would be to do a walking tour around the City of London, there is a beautiful, spookier side of the city there than what we get to see normally, with ancient temple ruins, Roman amphitheatre remains, unusual art galleries and collections, reminders of the great fire and the plague, tumble-down churches and tombs. It’s rather surreal.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? Meeting people from all over the world and working with them as part of my everyday. Seeing new places, experiencing new things.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? In all my travelling and experiences, there is nowhere quite like home. I miss New Zealand for the people, whānau and friends, the culture, the sense of humour and the grassroots, great outdoors feel of life.

What do you think will be the significant issues or events which will command attention this year? Women’s and Trans/queer peoples rights and lives are under fire, in Iran and in the US too. War is a little close to home here too. Lastly, AI is already changing the way we work. The impact to creative industries, and to an individual’s rights to their own intellectual property will be huge.

Finish this sentence “In 2023; the world needs more….. accepting. No matter how the person next to you is different from you, we are all still human. 

Jack Hu, Nanchang, China

How long have you lived offshore? 2 years and counting.

What do you love most about Nanchang? I must say the Nanchang Noodles and the Simmer soup are on top of my favourites list. Both of them are local specialties that you won’t find the same in other places or on the online purchase platforms. 

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them visiting and why? First of all, I would recommend the Pavilion of Prince Teng, which is the landmark of Nanchang and also one of the three great towers of Southern China. I get refreshed and filled with joy after getting to the top of the pavilion every single time without failure. I would also suggest Youmin Temple. Established in A.D. 503, this temple has been in active operation for over 1500 years.  It is located in the heart of Nanchang. The scenery is simple and unadorned. And there is a huge bronze bell cast during the Southern Tang Dynasty that is housed in the bell tower. I always come here to clear my mind and get inspired.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? As someone who has lived in both New Zealand and China, I become a better problem solver when facing clients in China. The more I integrate into the China market, the better outcome I get from my clients. Another interesting finding is that most Kiwi are environmentalists, it affects the details of my daily life even when I am offshore. I make an impact with friends and clients when presenting this concept in China, and it is much appreciated. 

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? I have a strong passion for my career, hence the thing I miss New Zealand the most is the local farms and alpacas. The New Zealand alpaca represents harmony, nature and peace. The power of nature is also what I miss the most. 

What do you think will be the big issues or events which will command attention this year? 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in NZ

Finish this sentence “In 2023 the world needs more….. positive energy and appreciation of nature.

Gabrielle (Gabbie) Tutheridge, New York City

How long have you lived offshore? 4 years… but it feels like a lifetime

What do you love most about New York? The endless opportunities; no one day is the same in NYC. There’s so much to do and see, which can be overwhelming sometimes – although I thrive off this energy.

If someone was coming to visit the area, what are two places you would recommend them to visit and why? Where do I even start? I’ll give two (touristy) spots that are must-dos.

1 – Walk from Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo, along the waterfront. Bonus points, end your stroll at TimeOut Market rooftop for delicious bites, or if you are looking for something stronger, 1Hotel Rooftop makes delicious drinks and has a fantastic view.

2 – The Edge is a viewing platform more than 1,200 feet above the ground, giving you 360 views of the New York skyline.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? Being able to proudly teach people about your culture, community, and country – especially if they have never heard about New Zealand before (trust me… there are people who still don’t know it’s a country).

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? I miss my Whānau dearly but I would say New Zealand as a whole – the people are hands-down the loveliest and have the best sense of humour.

What do you think will be the significant issues or events which will command attention this year? It’s more imminent than ever that we need to focus our efforts on climate change. It starts systematically through government policy for global business conglomerates to step up and make a change – this then will thread throughout society. It doesn’t start with plastic straws (sadly).

Finish this sentence “In 2023, the world needs more…..Women in power

Ben Cohen, Tel Aviv, Israel

How long have you lived offshore? A year and half – it’s hard to believe, as this time has passed incredibly fast.

What do you love most about the place you’re living in right now? In Israel, I think there is a sense of social cohesion despite the varying sub-cultures and populations living within Israel. The vast diversity and melting pot of cultures enriches everyday activities, providing new perspectives. There is always new things to learn and perspectives to be share and the people are so open, inviting and friendly.

If someone was coming to visit the area what are two places you would recommend them visiting and why? Firstly, Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv showcases Israel’s economic dynamism and the heart of the startup national High-tech scene. Start-up’s pioneering advancements in finance, healthcare, agriculture, AI, and sustainability among various other industries are concentrated around Tel Aviv, each advancing potential solutions towards global challenges that anticipate us. That said, at sundown the city transforms to resemble a much smaller albeit, New York or London, with an energetic nightlife matched by the Israeli populous spontaneity and positive nature to maximise their daily experiences and make the most of each, and every moment.

Second? It would have to be Jerusalem. It’s a must-see for any person visiting the country. The city’s combination of modern architecture combined with some of the world’s oldest architecture is a sight to behold. The city’s culture is multilayered with adherents of the three main Abrahamic religions living alongside one another. This is complemented by the markets, street performers, art and history at every corner. Jerusalem derives its meaning as “Yeru” to see and “Shalem” meaning peace or complete, and it definitely provides the complete experience for all to see upon visiting.

What’s the best thing about being a Kiwi offshore? Pertaining to being a Kiwi in New Zealand, a solid chunk of the Israeli population has very positive views about New Zealanders. Many have even travelled to New Zealand and perhaps wish that Israel were a bit more like New Zealand in various aspects. We have a great reputation here! I wish that more New Zealanders made the trip to Israel to experience for themselves the hospitality along with the vast diversity and richness of the Israeli culture, traditions, and lifestyle.

What do you miss the most about New Zealand? The landscape, I took it for granted for so many years and upon seeing it again I feel the magic so many tourists experience firsthand. Travel provides perspective and a greater appreciation for what you have, and I’d recommend it to anybody at any stage of life they are in

What do you think will be the big issues or events which will command attention this year? The emergence of ChatGPT and various additional AI tools are bound to be transformative to the way we live our lives. Despite the fears of change, we can expect the technology’s continual incorporation into our daily lives, and I am optimistic about the enhancement they will bring and the solutions they will offer to meet the challenges we face. Israeli companies are at the forefront of the development of cutting-edge AI technologies, and we can already witness the use of AI improving healthcare patient outcomes, predictive agriculture, computing capabilities and beyond.

Finish this sentence “In 2023 the world needs more…..crossover between different peoples so that we may truly begin to understand one another. I believe that should New Zealanders make the long journey here, they are guaranteed to confront new perspectives and ways of doing things in the business, cultural, social dimensions that would only enrich our Island nation. New Zealand has the potential to become the Startup Nation of the South Pacific, and it is imperative that more Kiwis come to learn how Israel has succeeded in establishing their Start-up environment. We can implement and adapt similar strategies, adding value to world-famous kiwi ingenuity and our unique history and culture.

Josh was born in Australia and lived in Malaysia and Israel before moving to New Zealand where he and his Hungarian wife became Kiwi citizens and bought a home together. Following the pandemic, they decided to move back to Israel for a year where Josh’s parents are based. Since relocating he’s met a number of other Kiwi in the area and was keen to help grow the New Zealand network in Tel Aviv and the wider area.

Josh got in touch with Kea to find more Kiwi in the area and recently hosted his first meetup event which was attended by a group of expat Kiwi and featured several speakers to discuss the topic – ‘Does the NZ expat community in Israel have a role to play in influencing and strengthening Israel’s relationship to New Zealand?’

While Josh is keen to connect Kiwi from all sectors, he has a particular interest in the tech sector. This interest is behind his latest company – The New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub’ an organisation aimed at facilitating tech sector collaboration and communication between Israel and New Zealand.

Josh says the rise of the tech sector in Israel has been rapid particularly when it comes to scaling companies up to go global. He says Israel’s growth in this area could offer up some interesting learnings for New Zealand given the relative size of the two countries.

“Kiwis have got such great ideas and they are energetic and want to bring their ideas to commercialisation but I feel they sometimes lack the know-how. When I was in Aotearoa I would speak to CEOs of startups who weren’t quite sure how best to scale – Do they conquer New Zealand first? Should they try Australia or think bigger?”

“The one thing Israeli companies do really well is to think global from the very beginning. Some of their models for accelerators and incubators and how they meet up and build connections could be really helpful for New Zealand businesses to take a look at. I also think there is the potential for private equity firms and venture capitalists to look at New Zealand as a source of potential talent and undiscovered ideas and innovation.”

Josh would like to see more collaboration between the two countries when it comes to sharing ideas and information and hopes that one day that could lead to more export opportunities. He also hopes that by building a stronger Kiwi community in that part of the world, he will be able to share more of the culture.

“I like people to see that Israelis are very hospitable people, they’re friendly, they will invite you over for dinner and genuinely want you to come. There is a real closeness in Israel which comes from the fact that as a country, they have in the past, felt quite isolated from the countries surrounding them. They view each other as real compatriots and really want to help each other succeed.”

Josh is already working on plans for his next event and would love to hear from anyone who wants to be involved. He says his long term ambition is to show New Zealanders that Israel is a place they can and should do business, something he hopes will be a win-win for both countries.

If you are interested in hearing more about Kea events in this part of the world please keep an eye on our events page or get in touch with [email protected] if you would like to be connected to Josh directly.

Tim and Isabelle Sun originally moved to China as a bit of an experiment, to see what opportunities lay in the vast city that offered a completely different architectural experience to that of New Zealand. The original plan was to live there for a few years before returning to New Zealand but the couple quickly found themselves immersed in Beijing’s culture and in 2004 set up their business Office AIO. 

Office AIO focuses on mid to small scale interior designs – primarily commercial interiors, a market Tim says is constantly in demand as Chinese businesses strive to keep up with the latest trends. 

“The refresh rate for businesses in China is really high, there are so many new businesses starting up every week and then on top of that established businesses are always looking for a facelift. Businesses always want to look fresh, to stay current and do plan for upgrades in their business plan; thus creating a lot of opportunities here.”

The couple’s business has been going since 2004 and they have a well-established team in Beijing, something which proved fortunate when the couple got trapped in New Zealand during the lockdowns. Isabelle says they were lucky to be able to run their business online from Auckland when their two-month break turned into a two-year stay. 

“We were back in Auckland visiting family for Chinese New Year when the pandemic hit, we decided we didn’t want to travel as we had a two-year-old and didn’t feel it was safe. Initially, everything stopped, but because a lot of our projects then were in their design phases and both our team in Beijing and us were able to work from home and remain productive.” 

Tim adds that the time difference between China and New Zealand actually helped the couple keep their business on track, while the family were able to help out with childcare. 

“It actually ran quite smoothly because of the time difference we were able to use our day to get all the work organised and then when our colleagues were ready to start work on their end everything was ready to go. Being able to stay in Auckland and keep the business going allowed us to remove the stress of travel and stay in Auckland for a lot longer than we may otherwise have been able to.”

Despite China still taking a tough line stance on Covid Isabelle says the general feeling is one of optimism for the future and that is highlighted by the amount of work their company is receiving as businesses look to refurbish their spaces while trade is slower. 

“I think the Chinese are very open to new and original ideas as they strive for uniqueness and individuality. The market is so big to a point that they are not scared to fail, there are so many possibilities in entrepreneurship that gives people the confidence to attempt different paths. Chinese people think big, they never think about just opening one store, they think about opening 50 stores. This creates a lot of opportunities for a company like ours.”

While Tim says the growth mindset is something he admires in China, he also admits it is sometimes the downfall for some companies and that something could be learned from the smaller more boutique ways of New Zealand firms. 

“If you’re successful in Beijing, then you can move your business around China. That’s no problem. But sometimes we do miss the Kiwi way of just holding onto one dear thing and making it your absolute best. I love that, and sometimes I think that’s what’s lacking in the Chinese market because they are always thinking about scale.”

The couple say their Kiwi upbringing has helped them immensely in the Chinese market and Isabelle says they enjoy bringing a Kiwi way of thinking to their projects and designs. 

“There is a lot of good ambassadorship between Chinese and New Zealand. Chinese generally have a very good perception of Kiwis and New Zealand, we are a newer country so there isn’t so much cultural baggage between the two countries.”

“Growing up and being educated in New Zealand, we are very open to different experiences and not afraid to try new things and I think that helps. Growing up from New Zealand we tend to feel there’s nothing really to lose and that you should try to do something you enjoy as long as you are following your own values and doing what you think is right and I think that can make us more successful as we are not weighed down by some of the expectations that come with the more traditional Chinese culture.”

Tim and Isabelle say they are both big brand ambassadors for New Zealand and are always encouraging friends and people they meet during their work to visit the country. Tim says being a Kiwi is a great way to start a conversation in China and the couple are keen to help other Kiwi looking to enter the Chinese market. 

“China is very different from New Zealand and doing business here is quite different. For example, people don’t really send emails, all correspondence is done via WeChat – essentially a messaging service and replies are very short and to the point. China is also so vast that you can succeed in one city and fail in another. It helps if you know someone and can get advice, but above all people need to travel here and experience it for themselves because there are so many opportunities.”

For Katie Sadleir the Commonwealth Games holds a special place in her heart. She’s attended six Commonwealth Games as an athlete, was an assistant chef commissioner during the 1994 games in Canada and was part of a team that investigated bringing the games to New Zealand in 1996 (they ended up taking place in Melbourne.) Katie is the first to admit the Commonwealth is ‘in her blood’ and this year she’s in the spotlight as the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation. 

“I know the Commonwealth Games and I know the Commonwealth movement, it’s in my DNA. I was born in Scotland to a Scottish mother and an Australian father, I’ve lived in both New Zealand and Canada and I’ve competed for New Zealand as an international athlete. So when the job came up, I looked at it and I thought who wouldn’t jump at this? One of the things I really enjoyed during my previous role at World Rugby was the core development aspect, and it’s the same in this job. The byline for the Commonwealth Games Federation is ‘Sport is just the beginning.’ So whether it’s working on the Games themselves, working with members to engage Governments, or connecting with the wider Commonwealth movement to help people all around the world benefit from sport, that’s a great opportunity to really create change. The Games are exciting, but the movement is even more exciting.”

Part of Katie’s role is to reinvigorate and reposition the games to secure their future. In 2030 the Commonwealth Games will celebrate 100 years, so it’s an event with history. Katie says part of her role is to protect that history but also to ensure the games remain relevant for another 100 years. A task which comes with challenges and plenty of opportunities. 

“It’s about saying let’s not throw everything away, we still want to preserve the mana of the games, but let’s be open to opportunities. Things like esports, like having multiple villages hosting the games or even co-hosting across nations.There is a lot I’m really looking forward to. What’s really exciting is that our transformation 2022 strategic plan finishes this year, so I’ve got this opportunity to work with the Commonwealth leaders and really look at how the Games will be special for years to come, that’s a great opportunity.”

Birmingham 2022 is already making waves, for the first time the games will have an esports tournament that will run alongside the traditional sports and will include representatives from the Commonwealth countries, and in a Commonwealth Games first, the last day of competition will feature a programme of Women’s finals – traditionally only men have competed on the final day. But for Katie the key to making the event a success is to once again use sport to bring people together – something which has been difficult over the past few years. 

“I guess it’s what these games will be doing, in the safest way, is creating an environment to bring people together and create that cool audience experience which really suffered during Covid. The slogan for Birmingham 2022 is ‘Bring it on’ and everyone is really bringing it. There is a great atmosphere on the ground and there is this real buzz that comes from the mixture of culture, sport, and entertainment. It’s that emotional connection to people that sport creates, from kids in schools right through to people in rest homes. We want these games to really be the games that once again bring athletes, supporters and fans from all over the world together.”

For Choreographer and Movement Director Corey Baker bringing  everyone together is a huge task. When he was first approached about choreographing the opening ceremony he said it felt a bit like coming full circle. 

“When I first moved from dancing to choeograhping I was chipping away at my own self funded projects alongside working in assistant choreographer roles. The first real professional choreograph commission I got was here in Birmingham exactly 10 years ago. After that I stuck around the city and it became sort of a creative home for me. When the organising committee were looking at choreographers attached to Birmingham they found me and knocked on my door, and now I’m the Choreographer and Movement Director for the opening ceremony which is crazy but also really exciting.”

More than a billion people are expected to watch the opening ceremony which will last three hours and from beginning to end Corey has a team of 1800 people working with him, including professional dancers, coaches and a huge group of volunteers.  

“It’s massive and pretty daunting, but what’s really crazy is that you do all of this work, I’ve been working on this for more than a year, and then you have one show, that’s it. It’s all over. Normally you choreograph a show and it’s performed multiple times- this is a single show.”

It might only be one show but at three hours long it’s a mammoth undertaking and added to that is the pressure to make it something people have never seen before. Corey says the secret to doing that is to make it unique and focus on the here and now.  

I purposely didn’t watch any of the past ceremonies. At first I thought our team would have a whole weekend together watching them all and look at what worked and what didn’t but then we just didn’t have time and in some ways I think it’s good because then you just focus on this show on the stories we’re trying to tell in 2022. The opening ceremony will be really connected to Birmingham and we’re trying to make it feel a bit more gritty than normal. It’s hard because you have all these amazing ideas but you have to scale back and do what’s possible when you look at timeframes and health and safety and protocols, but it’s going to be amazing.”

Corey and his team have been working full time on the show for almost a year and the cast and crew is now in full rehearsal mode – running all the different dances every day from 9.30am until 10.30pm. The production is so huge that a full rehearsal is only possible three days out – so it will be at the very last minute before anyone sees the entire production start to finish. And as with any production this size, Corey says there are a hundred challenges to mitigate on any given day. 

“It’s funny this job has taught me incredible fire fighting ability, because every ten minutes there’s a problem. I think I’m more of a problem solver than a choreographer some days. It’s like a huge puzzle you are constantly doing. I spent an hour on the phone the other day working out how we get some floats offstage whilst we manage some cast exits and then some puppets coming in at the same time, but there’s not enough space backstage to manage this transition. There is constantly the next thing to work out, but it will all be worth it on opening night.”

Opening night is increasingly getting closer and closer and Corey says for him, success will lie in the performance really connecting with people, not just in the stadium in Birmingham, but also in the billions of living rooms all over the world. 

“I want it to feel magnificent and magical, I want people to just sort of get lost in the magic of the opening ceremony. Especially in the time that we find ourselves in, still recovering from Covid, this is the biggest show to take place in three years in the UK. But we’ve got 40,000 people who are giving it their all and our Broadcast director is the person who does the Super Bowl, so we’re in good hands.”