Global Kiwi

Auckland born James Gemmell says he has always loved watching Kiwis perform on the world stage and being able to tell their stories to countries that admire them. But after years fronting sport for Sky UK, he was ready for his next challenge. So when independent television production company Whisper won a six year contract to produce coverage of the Black Caps cricket for Spark Sport, James jumped at the opportunity, and along with his English wife Olivia packed up and prepared to move their two young boys to Aotearoa, in the middle of a pandemic.

“I am not sure if I ever stopped and really thought about how hard it was, bringing my whole family halfway across the world. This was mid pandemic, we had two little boys. It was by no means a stress free experience, but it was an easy decision. The pinch point was probably the two weeks in quarantine that was hard, but Olivia and I knew we were doing it all for the right reasons.”

James and his wife Olivia have recently moved their young family to Auckland.

The opportunities for James’ two sons, Teddy (3) and Toby (1) were a big part of those ‘right reasons’ and while the boys are loving their new Kiwi lifestyle, James says there is always an added pressure on parents when they relocate their children.

“It’s taken an intangible toll on Olivia and I. Our inherent concerns for our boys have been heightened in the past few months. We want to make sure they are settled, to make sure they are happy. I think the displacement and the move definitely takes a toll on parents, but it’s fantastic to see them settling in so well.”

After more than a decade on camera, James was looking to transition into the business and management side of production, and had been impressed with the growth of UK-based Whisper. Global entertainment giant Sony recently invested in the company and James says it was pure serendipity that they chose New Zealand as their first international foray.

“Whisper saw opportunity in New Zealand and decided they needed someone down here serving the business in this part of the world. They felt it would be helpful to have a Kiwi at the helm, someone who knew the country and the culture and knows how things are done here. I was lucky that I fit all those requirements.”

The content creation market has exploded in recent years, and with that has come a changing broadcast model. James says this change brings exciting opportunities to engage with tomorrow’s sports fans, particularly in a country as sports mad as New Zealand.

James returned to New Zealand to take up a role with television production company Whisper.

“There is no denying that streaming is the future, it may not be the only way that people watch their content but it will be a part of it. Seeing Spark Sport and New Zealand Cricket commit to a six year partnership shows that forward-thinking organisations here are on board with this future. I definitely think you can sense the opportunity here. In my industry in particular there is as much opportunity, if not more, than I thought there would be. it’s really exciting to see.”

Like many Kiwi returning home, it wasn’t just the work opportunities but also the lifestyle that appealed to James and his family.

“It was great that we were able to move her over summer, the weather has been great and the boys have had lots of beach time. New Zealand is a vibrant country, it’s culturally diverse, it’s a little slower paced than the bigger markets, but we are past the point where we are going out and painting the town red! We can immediately see the benefit for us and our family. I think we both appreciate that if we throw ourselves into it, this will be a wonderful experience for our family.”

Jame’s wife Olivia is a personal trainer and teacher, and is in the process of launching a fitness club specialising in connecting new Kiwi and their families, many of whom will be making a life here for the first time. The ability to establish connections is important to James who says moving home has highlighted just how much New Zealand has changed.

James two young boys are enjoying the Kiwi lifestyle

“Auckland has changed out of sight in the last thirteen years, it’s bigger, it’s bolder, it’s more outward looking. New Zealand is going through some real demographic changes at the moment and it will be so interesting and exciting to see how things evolve as more long term expats come home.”

James and his family are looking forward to the rest of the New Zealand summer, but like many Kiwi who have lived offshore, he will always think of more than one country as home.

“My heart will always be in two places, we still have our family home in the UK and who knows what the future will bring, right now we are just going to see where this journey takes us. It’s fantastic to be in Aotearoa and with our two young boys and with all that is going on in the world we are really grateful for the freedoms and excited about this next chapter.”

A key focus for New Zealand in 2022 is to refresh and strengthen our global trade relationships, and to not only reconnect our country to the world but also the world to Aotearoa. And it is here that our offshore and returning Kiwi community should play a vital role.

One million Kiwi live offshore. This community offers New Zealand an incredible resource of skills, knowledge, connections and experience. Harnessing the power and inspiration of this community is key to ensuring a smooth and successful recovery and navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as we work to re-energise our economy and show our trading partners we remain competitive on the world stage.

Research shows 18% or almost a fifth of Kiwi live offshore, many of them in countries which are several months further down the track with their opening up strategies. These Kiwi have already navigated various reopening challenges and are keen to share this knowledge particularly with the business community. The recent discovery of the Covid Omicron strain is a timely reminder that the pandemic situation will continue to shift and evolve. This is yet another reminder of the huge potential to be gained from learning from the ongoing experiences of this community.

Ganesh Nana, Chair of the New Zealand Productivity Commission – Te Kōmihana Whai Hua o Aotearoa, recently urged New Zealand to “be proactive in ensuring the distinctive skills, knowledge, experience, and connections of our offshore and returning Kiwi community are used to lift innovation, productivity, and the wellbeing of all in Aotearoa.”

Utilising the power of a country’s offshore community or diaspora, is not a new phenomenon. In fact many countries around the world are actively engaging in research on how best to leverage this growing opportunity.

The International Organisation for Migration predicts that over the next decade, governments, multilateral organizations and corporations will be drawn to the diaspora sector, with investment in it growing substantially. The sector will be seen as a “whole-of-government” issue that needs time, attention and resources.

IOM spokesperson for Asia and the Pacific, Itayi Viriri, says diasporas have a huge potential for leading sustainable development in their countries of origin and this potential is often most evident in island nations with large diaspora communities such as New Zealand.

“Members of a diaspora can help open doors for their country of origin politically, through public diplomacy and economically, through nostalgic trade and their own commercial activities. These opportunities would otherwise be difficult for the country to achieve due to limited visibility on the international stage, lack of connectivity due to geographic remoteness, and/or limited resources for formal diplomatic or trade promotion activities. This bridging role of diaspora communities is an invaluable resource for countries of origin, however it cannot be assumed as a given. Institutions in the country of origin must work to build and maintain the trust of their offshore community who may easily feel neglected or disconnected if there is a lack of proactive outreach.”

Across the world we can see inspiring examples of how connecting with a country’s offshore community has a positive impact on the growth and development of a nation.

For example, the Institute for International Economics found that Koreans living in the United States have generated an increase of trade between the two countries by around 15-20%.

The Korean Government considers offshore communities to be valuable sources of global talent and potential investment. By leveraging its overseas population with an eye towards enhancing national economic competitiveness, Korea trades more with countries where a larger number of ethnic Koreans reside. In 2017, more than 600 small and medium-sized companies in Korea signed deals with Korean entrepreneurs living overseas to further enhance Korea’s economic profile.

Further research this time into offshore Indian communities in the US further supports this economic advancement theory. Indians living and working in Silicon Valley in California, showed 27% regularly exchanged information on jobs or business opportunities and technology with people back in India. 46% had been a contact for domestic Indian business and 23% had invested their own money into Indian start-ups.

There is no reason why New Zealand shouldn’t be able to harness similar benefits from our offshore community. Our Kea Future Aspirations Survey showed 25% of Kea’s offshore community are interested in being a brand ambassador for New Zealand, 18% are interested in New Zealand board and advisory positions and 17% are interested in giving time and mentorship to NZ businesses. The opportunities that this community presents are there for the taking.

As we look ahead to 2022 and focus on reconnecting with the world we must make sure that we are not wasting an opportunity to harness the power of our offshore community. Next year will represent a key turning point in our battle against Covid and it is vital that we all work together to ensure the best outcomes for the productivity of all Aotearoa.

Kāhore taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini – we cannot succeed without the support of those around us.

If you’d like to enlist the ideas, experience and networks of our offshore Kiwi to support your business, get in touch with Kea and let’s engage more of our global explorers for a more productive New Zealand.

CONTRIBUTOR

Toni Truslove

Kea Global CEO

Kea New Zealand

Kea member

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Name it to tame it

Jacqui says first and foremost it’s important to acknowledge your feelings and accept that this is a difficult and challenging time. When we are separated from our loved ones and regular traditions emotions can heighten. Prioritising our wellbeing and self-care can help us not just ‘survive’’ the holiday season but rather to make the most of it.

“I always say you have to name it to tame it. Take time to acknowledge to yourself what is going on and how you feel about it. You may feel disappointed, angry, flat or upset at not being able to be where you want to be these holidays. Acknowledging that it’s okay for you or others around you to feel like this is important, as when we can label our emotions it helps regulate distress. Once we are calm, we are then in a position to proactively plan.

Keep calm and get creative

Jacqui says people should ask themselves what would help make their holiday season meaningful. “Focus on the things you can control rather than what you can’t. Too much time ruminating on things outside our control increases distress and overwhelm, making it very difficult to make good and clear decisions.

Think about ways you can connect with family over this period. For some people it may be a big group zoom call on Christmas day, for others that will be too overwhelming and a series of one to one calls with family and friends might be better.” Having purpose, feeling connected and experiencing frequent positive emotion will be key.

Surround yourself with familiar traditions…

While we may not be able to celebrate in person we can still connect thanks to the power of technology. Set up a time to open presents together over zoom or use a service like Teleparty which lets you watch Christmas movies together online. Jacqui says sticking to our favourite traditions can help people feel connected.

“When I was growing up we always had a champagne breakfast on Christmas Day, we ate brioche and fruit salad and listened to this one Christmas album. When I lived away from home I would put on that album and always make sure to have brioche and fruit salad on hand, sticking to this tradition made me feel more connected to my family.”

Surround yourself with familiar things like your favourite Christmas foods

…Or start new one

Just because celebrations this year will be different it doesn’t mean they can’t be just as enjoyable. Take this time to get out and explore somewhere you haven’t been before, or take the opportunity to do something completely different to mark the day. Helping out those in need can also be a powerful mood booster.

“We know that altruism or giving back to other people is a powerful way for people to feel connected. If you think Christmas day will be especially hard, why not spend the day volunteering at a shelter or a soup kitchen. Who knows you might even decide to start a new tradition.”

Be mindful that we are all unique

Psychologists have coined the term ‘collective loss’ to describe the feelings people all over the globe are experiencing due to the pandemic. Jacqui says it’s important to understand that this collective loss is grief. We are grieving for the things we can’t have under the current circumstances, and like the grief experienced when we lose a loved one, everyone will react differently.

“When we are able to remember that everyone has individual ways of processing loss (both triggers and expressions of loss), it enables us to be more compassionate to those around us”.

John Taite’s Brooklyn apartment is peaceful. Outside the sun is setting over the East River and inside his wife Pamela and their 18-month-old Oliver are getting ready for bedtime stories. But just a year and a half ago, things were very different.

“When Oliver was born, New York was the global epicentre of the pandemic. The death toll was around 1000 people a day and all you could hear were the sounds of ambulance sirens screaming day and night. Going into the hospital to have a baby at that time was pretty terrifying, but we did it!”

More than 56,000 people have died in New York state alone, since the start of the pandemic. And while the city that never sleeps is back on its feet, John says Covid has left its mark.

“People are used to the new normal these days, but there is a heightened sense of caution. You’d never leave the house without a mask, just like you wouldn’t leave without your keys, and we all carry hand sanitiser. Big events are slowly returning but you think twice about attending.”

Despite the heightened sense of caution John says the pandemic has created some positive changes, such as the hybrid working model, which he thinks is here to stay.

“I don’t think we will ever go back to five days a week in an office. In the last 18 months our business has grown by 400%. A lot of our work used to be created in big recording studios, and during the lockdown I kept waiting for my creative team to call and say ‘we can’t do anymore without going to the studio.’ But that call never came. The benefit of working with creative people is that they come up with creative solutions. The pandemic has taught us that we can do what we do practically anywhere. An office is not the secret recipe for productivity and innovation.”

John is the Executive Vice President of Brand Partnerships and Development at Made Music Studio. Essentially, he works with big companies to craft the iconic sound of their brands.

“Made Music is best known for its Sonic Branding and audio design, but we’re really an emotional connection company. We use sound and music to make consumers feel something about the brands they love.”

“Previously I worked for global media companies like MTV, AMC Networks and the BBC. As that industry was being disrupted, I noticed consumers were spending more time with audio-first content, using voice-assistants, and choosing sound-on experiences. This highlighted a big gap in the market. Brands spend millions on their visual identities, but they’re invisible in audio-first environments.”

John is no stranger to the importance of sound. His father was the late great music journalist and broadcaster Dylan Taite and John is still very involved with the New Zealand music scene through his work with the Taite Music Prize.

“The Music Prize is something I’m very passionate about. It’s a wonderful testament to my father and all he did for the New Zealand music industry. All that love he put into his work continues to resonate, all these years after he’s gone.”

However, it was during a trip back to New Zealand pre-pandemic to celebrate the Taite Prize that John noticed something was missing from Aotearoa’s cultural landscape.

“I was at the awards and a young TV reporter was asking about my father and it dawned on me that she actually had no idea who he was. It wasn’t her fault, dad’s work isn’t easily accessible to the public. But it was a stark reminder that all of his stories, all that history and Kiwi culture is locked up gathering dust in the archives.”

John has started digitising some of his father’s stories to make them available. However, given the depth and breadth of Dylan’s 30 year career, and the fact they’re all on old beta tapes, it’s a mammoth task.

“I’d love to just give my dad’s work back to the people that paid for it, the New Zealand public. Every full interview with Bob Marley, Lou Reed, Darcy Clay, the Sex Pistols and Split Enz. Every talented New Zealander, every slice of Kiwi life he captured. It belongs to the people. It’s part of our story.”

John with his wife Pamela and daughter Amelia at a Taite Music Prize event

“The other day someone said to me ‘now that Peter Jackson is done with his Beatles doc, maybe he can work on the Dylan Taite story.’ I have a storage unit packed full of my dad’s original tapes and extended interviews. They’re all up for grabs if he’d like to get in touch!”

John usually travels back to New Zealand several times a year. Along with his work on the Taite Music Prize he also has a teenage daughter Amelia who lives in Auckland. The pandemic has meant father and daughter haven’t been able to see each other in person since 2019. It also means Amelia hasn’t met her little brother Oliver in real life yet, but thanks to technology they have been able to talk most days.

Right now New York is getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving and John and his family have plans to spend it with his brother who is also living in New York. As for the future he’s hoping next year will bring more opportunities to travel home to New Zealand and also the chance for another of his favourite sounds to make a comeback.

“A big thing I’ve missed during the pandemic is the sound of live music. I can’t wait to experience big, loud, live gigs again!”

Annie Lewin is Google’s Senior Director of Advocacy and Head of Asia Pacific. She says technology provides an amazing growth engine for businesses, communities and individuals. But it’s important to recognise that not everyone has the same access to the opportunities and if we are not careful the most vulnerable parts of our societies are going to be left behind.

“When I think about digital inclusiveness and digital equality I think about the work we can do to ensure everyone has equal access to the kinds of digital skills they need to fully participate in society, to grow and develop their careers and to access government and other businesses services which are increasingly going online”

SeniorNet sees older adults signing on to teach their peers how to use technology

To help combat this inequality Google supports a range of organisations including the nonprofit SeniorNet. SeniorNet runs a programme that sees older adults signing on to teach their peers about how to use the internet for everyday tasks such as banking, emails, and online safety. During the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns Annie says the service became a key point of connection for many of our older adults.

“We have had a couple of years now where the normal social connections have not been available in the same way. During the lockdowns we heard stories of seniors joining multiple sessions in a day because that was their only touch point with the world. When we talk about digital inclusion I think we often stop at the technology, but as always with these things it’s the people behind the technology and what they are doing with it that determines whether we are creating a society that is inclusive and equitable.”

The World Economic Forum has named Digital Inequality as a critical threat to the world over the next two years and the seventh most likely long-term risk. There are multiple organisations in New Zealand helping to bridge the digital inequality gap and one of these is RAD or Recycle A Device.

RAD is a nationwide Not For Profit organisation which tracks down donations of old laptops and devices and refurbishes them before donating them to people who would not otherwise have access. Donor Liaison Rebecca Harris says her organisation sees first hand the difference a device can make to not just an individual but a community.

“It’s not just giving someone a laptop. That device gives them opportunities, it helps even the playing field and it creates a snowball effect. We had a story recently of a person who was exiting a domestic violence situation and she had three kids and wanted to study online to improve her job choices but she couldn’t without a laptop. We gave her one, and that device is going to have a huge effect not just for her but for her ability to provide for her family.”

Students refurbish devices as part of the RAD programme

RAD was born out of a school project started by two students at Aotea College that has since been funded and rolled out nationwide. Rebecca says the programme is unique in the sense that it not only supplies devices to communities in need but also works with high schools in those communities to carry out the refurbishment work.

“We collect old devices from businesses and send them to a professional company to make sure they are wiped. Then the two students who started the project, who are now both studying at Otago university, will come in and run a workshop with the schools on how to refurbish them, after that the school will pick up the programme themselves with on-call support from our team and the process continues. Once the laptops are refurbished we work with trusted community groups to make sure they are donated to those who will benefit the most.”

Of course being connected is about more than just having a device and South Auckland business owner Peter Elbourne wants to use his charity ‘equity in connectivity’ to ensure some of our more disadvantaged groups have consistent access to data.

Peter is working on a model which would allow consumers and businesses to donate unused or rollover data to families who can’t afford the internet. His aim is to connect 2 million people by 2025.

The RAD programme not only donates devices it also encourages students to take part in STEM subjects

“When we did some research we found that students would say they had internet access, but actually they were tethering off mum and dad’s phone, so mum and dad had to have credit or they had to be home, not at work for kids to go online and do school work and even then the internet only lasted as long as the credit.”

Peter says a lot of kids don’t want to admit they can’t connect to the internet and giving them the opportunity to access the same resources as their peers is important for their feelings of self worth.

“Being connected empowers people. It’s like that saying ‘when the tide rises all waka rise’. Many of these kids are whakama (embarrassed or ashamed) about their lack of opportunities. They want to have the same opportunities as everyone else. Being digitally connected gives kids access to essential services, it gives them better cultural connectivity. It puts them on that path to a life of engagement with learning.”

While the digital divide affects many sectors in Aotearoa one of the most affected groups are Maori and Pacific people. 27 year old Julia Arnott-Neenee is working to change that. She says she co-founded the organisation PeopleForPeople after hearing too many stories of people who simply didn’t have access to our largely digital society.

“I heard stories of students sitting outside of McDonald’s to access free Wifi; of one device being shared amongst 8 people; of students writing essays on a mobile; of the deep isolation and loneliness of not being connected, and of the inability to access support which moved digital without considering those without access.”

Julia says a world where people are left out because of their inability to be part of a constantly evolving digital culture is a dystopian future she doesn’t want to see, however she says there are plenty of opportunities for Aotearoa to be part of the solution.

“A lot of levers need to be pulled at different levels to create systems change. What I want to make clear is that the responsibility is NOT solely on the individual. It is fundamentally incorrect to point fingers at communities and say it is their fault they are being excluded. There is a mammoth task to create the change I hope to see and many parties need to be working together to achieve a more equitable and inclusive digital future but it is possible.”

New Zealand’s opportunities in the digital inclusivity space is something that Kiwi immigrant Arash Tayebi is passionate about. His company Kara Technologies creates avatars which are used to make sign language more accessible for the deaf community, another group which can be left out by a fast evolving digital culture.

Kara technologies creates digital avatars which help with sign language interpretation

He says the secret to creating digital equality lies in the public and private sector making sure they work closely with the communities they are trying to help.

“We have been really privileged to work closely with the deaf community, we have tried to co-design our elements with that community and that’s a really differentiating part of our company. How closely the tools have been designed with those who are actually using them.

Arash says that while the pandemic has increased challenges around digital accessibility it has also created opportunities.

“Covid has forced technology to accelerate quickly, and when that’s the case it’s often for maximum impact, which means the solution focuses on the majority of people. This leads to minority groups being left behind. However I think New Zealand has a great sense of community, we have many communities here and we look after people. We have already been world leaders in a number of areas and the next one could definitely be accessibility.”

The Air Ambulance retrieves New Zealand’s most critically ill and injured children, bringing them to the country’s only dedicated Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Starship in Auckland. One of the people who sees the positive effects of this service every day, is flight retrieval nurse Kirstie Johnson.

Kirstie has been working as a PICU Nurse for nine years and has been part of the flight retrieval team for the last eighteen months. In that time she estimates she has done around 30 retrievals. She says people don’t really think about the Air Ambulance until the day they need it.

“When your child needs help they need it fast, that’s why the Air Ambulance is so important. Starship provides specialised paediatric services that aren’t available anywhere else in the country. To be able to get kids to Auckland is often a matter of life and death.”

The Boyce family knows just how crucial the service is, 14-year-old Amelia was hit by a car while using a pedestrian crossing last year, just six days before Christmas. She suffered numerous injuries including three skull fractures, concussion, and a broken hip. The seriousness of her injuries meant she needed the Air Ambulance to transport her to Starship, in Auckland. Her parents Adria and Dean say they’re incredibly grateful to the team.

“Starship and the Air Ambulance is an amazing life support which the whole of New Zealand relies on. The dedicated and experienced staff helped us through a very difficult time.”

Amelia is loaded onto the Air Ambulance for transfer

This year alone the Air Ambulance has made 145 retrieval flights. Kirstie says she still remembers her first flight, when she was sent to Palmerston North hospital to retrieve a six year old girl who needed the highly specialised care that PICU provides.

“We transferred the wee girl and her mother to PICU and a few days later she was becoming more stable. However, every time her mother saw me on the ward she would burst into tears, because I reminded her of that awful time when her child needed our help. As the girl recovered, so did her mum and she was just so thankful to us. It made me realise just how valuable Starship is for Kiwi kids and their families.”

Supporting family and whānau during the retrieval is a key part of the team’s role. While their primary focus is the patient, Kirstie says they are talking to the family every step of the way.

“When you turn up at the hospital and meet the family it’s one of the most scary and stressful times of their life. We come in with a lot of equipment, our bags are huge. The situation is often critical and parents take one look at us and they get so overwhelmed. It’s such a highly emotional time for them. From the time we arrive at the regional hospital we are talking to the family all the time, talking them through the flight and the transfer and making sure they always know what is happening and what is going on. It’s hard to talk to them on the plane with the noise and the space restrictions, so we try to explain as much as we can to them before we take off. It’s important that they trust us.”

The support the Air Ambulance team provides to the family is something Havelock North mum Tammi is familiar with. Her son Jordan was born prematurely at just 27 weeks. In his two short years he has already had two return trips to Starship via the Air Ambulance.

Jordan’s first trip came at just six months old when his lung collapsed, and his heart stopped. Tammi says she is so grateful to the Starship team who were there to help her baby.

“The hardest thing was watching him lie there and not be able to help him. But the team kept me on point – he was in the best care, with the best help, and in the best place. They’re like heroes, like the heroes of New Zealand, I reckon. They kept my baby alive.”

Jordan was able to recover in Starship before returning home. But less than 18 months later, just before his second birthday, a similar event saw him back on the Air Ambulance to receive more specialist care at Starship.

Tiny Jordan is bought to Starship PICU via the Air Ambulance

For children like Jordan and Amelia the Air Ambulance is a vital service. Without it, outcomes for both families could have been quite different. Kirstie says being able to see the difference the Air Ambulance makes is what keeps her going even during the longest and toughest shifts.

“I would like to think that if my child needed medical help, they would have the opportunity to be taken to Starship and to get that specialist support. The reason I love my job is because I know the Starship Air Ambulance makes such a difference to people’s lives. It allows children to receive the best possible care. That gives them the best chance to lead long happy lives and there really isn’t anything more important than that.”

We need your help to keep Starship Flying.

Every year the Starship Foundation relies on the support of generous donors to raise around $1.5 million dollars to keep the Air Ambulance flying. You can help by donating at keepstarshipflying.org.nz.

Alternatively you can gift corporate clients and staff Air Smiles. By donating or purchasing Air Smiles you’re helping critically ill and injured children from around New Zealand get the highly specialised care they need at Starship. Give the gift of Air Smiles this Christmas and help ensure the Starship National Air Ambulance is always at the ready 24/7 for children in need

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Toni Truslove

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