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Coming Home

In the MIQ video below, hear valuable insights on:

  • How to prepare for MIQ and what to expect from the experience
  • The release of new vouchers and the availability around Christmas
  • What quarantine is like for families and how to best prepare children
  • When and how MIQ requirements might change for people who are vaccinated

A huge thank you to Mobile Relocation Principal Bridget Romanes for giving our Kea Community the opportunity to participate in the Q&A. 

For more help in planning your return to Aotearoa, see our coming home resource list here.

Watch the full webinar recording below.

Can you tell us a bit about your career, both in New Zealand and internationally?

In New Zealand I started off working as a corporate lawyer, initially at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts then shifted to a tech-focused boutique law firm Simmonds Stewart (now known as Kindrik). Through my time at Kindrik I was exposed to some of New Zealand’s best entrepreneurs and the local investor community, which really fuelled my interest in the tech sector. From there an opportunity arose to move to Singapore to work at a venture capital fund, where I spent the next 3 years investing into tech startups across Southeast Asia. It was an amazing job but at some point I realised I wanted to get operational experience amongst the startup grind, and also experience living in Europe – so I moved to Amsterdam and joined a local enterprise SaaS company. About a year into my job we got acquired by SurveyMonkey, which was a fascinating experience to then be involved in the post-acquisition phase of merging a smaller tech company into a massive publicly-listed one. 

What was the catalyst in your decision to return home?

I always knew I would return to New Zealand – there’s so much potential here and I love the lifestyle, the people, and our environment. It was just a matter of when I felt ready to finish living abroad and move back, which Covid did help to speed up. In March 2020 I had made a trip back to New Zealand for a holiday just before Covid started blowing up, and was impressed by how much growth there was in the local startup scene since I’d left. It gave me faith that if I did make the shift back home, there would be interesting companies to join. After seeing out the rest of summer 2020 in Europe, I decided to make the shift home and returned here in September. 

How have you found reintegrating back into Aotearoa?

It’s been pretty smooth sailing, especially amidst this pandemic life it’s been wonderful being back home to be closer to friends and family. I’m also grateful for the welcoming ecosystem of the tech sector I work in – it’s been really evident that people want to help. It’s particularly a great time to be back in Aotearoa as many Kiwi expats are shifting home, bringing with them cool ideas/initiatives and diverse experiences.

To what extent do you think your international experience helped your return into the New Zealand job market?

Working overseas exposed me to operating at much larger scale (e.g. my customer success team in Amsterdam was about 20 people spanning 4 different timezones), different ways of tackling problems, and improved my cultural adaptability. This helped to inform my benchmark of what good looks like in a global setting, and coming back to New Zealand has given me a chance to apply my learnings to a local startup context. 

I’m now working at First AML – a software solution that helps law firms, financial services, accountants and real estate agents comply with anti-money laundering regulations while shortening their customer’s onboarding process. My role as the Chief of Staff is quite broad, and in any given week I could be working on legal, operations, customers, marketing, HR, fundraising or sales processes; some of which I know well but a lot also new to me. Working overseas also helped build up a strong professional network that I could easily reach out to for guidance, or seek intel on a particular market / industry. 

Your latest position at First AML has just seen you launch the start-up in Australia. Congrats! Can you tell us a bit about what that process entailed?

We were lucky that First AML already had some early adopter clients in the Australian market that were vocal advocates for us – which helped us build credibility when entering into a new market. One of our co-founders shifted over to start our Australian office to transplant institutional knowledge and culture; and my focus has mainly been on hiring the right people to establish the local founding team. Once we have good people in place, then we can trust them to figure out how to create a solid plan and execute. NZTE has been super helpful also in supporting our growth through funding or networks.

In your experience, what are the key barriers start-ups face when launching into a new market?

There can be many challenges – under-estimating the amount of capital required (or inversely – investing too much into scale too soon), mis-alignment on culture and expectations with the remote office, hiring the wrong people for this stage of growth (entering into a new market requires a scrappy mentality as we are building for the 0 to 1) etc. 

The main one I see is under-estimating the amount of unknown unknowns and relying on untested assumptions when formulating the Go-To-Market plan. Australia may seem culturally similar to New Zealand but we’re already noticing some nuances in how we sell; so we’re taking a pragmatic approach to experimenting and learning about the market, and hiring experienced locals to help us bridge the gap. 

Now that you’ve been home for a few months, what are you hopeful for in 2021?

No more sudden lockdowns, reconnecting with family and friends, and lots of domestic travel. There are so many places in New Zealand I haven’t tried (it’s always a bit embarrassing to meet foreigners who have travelled more of NZ than I have) – keen to check out Gisborne, Christchurch and New Plymouth this year! 

CONTRIBUTOR

Lucy Luo

Chief of Staff

First AML

Kea member

COMING HOME?

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PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Borders May Close – Minds Need Not

As a Kiwi who lived offshore for almost eight years, I relished the opportunity to build on my New Zealand based skills and perspectives. 
Operating a digital business in a highly competitive market sharpened my ability to understand audience behaviour. It taught me how to use data to drive strategy, ways to develop alternate revenue streams and importantly, how to lead teams through change.
I was beyond excited at the prospect of bringing these, often hard-learned skills home to Aotearoa to see how I might be able to help grow a company on the soil where I grew up.  

Rude awakening

Arriving home four years ago, however, proved to be a rude awakening.
I was told by more than one recruiter that my skills were irrelevant in NZ, that I should be ready to halve my salary and hope to work my way back into a leadership position over the coming years. 

This is my story, but it is also the story of so many Kiwi returning home.  
We are a passionate nation, proud of what we achieve collectively. 
We love to see companies like Xero and RocketLab on the world stage. 
Yet we are also more than a little unwelcoming of tall poppies, particularly if they come in the form of Kiwi returning home. 
For some reason we feel a sense of abandonment that they left us, and more than a dash of incredulity that in a reality-shifting moment like a global pandemic, they would want to be home amongst family, familiar faces and places. 
As a small island nation on the edge of the globe we have learnt to be self-reliant and to build things our way.
Our response to the covid-19 pandemic was also purpose-built to make the most of our natural maritime border.  

Risk of closed minds

But I sense that in the current moment we are at risk of closing our minds, as well as our borders. 
As a country we need more high value innovative companies like Soul Machines and Seequent, we need to increase our frontier firms and our productivity. 
Part of this could be achieved through driving diversity of thought and including not only cultural differences from amongst our resident population, but also the different perspectives gleaned from our whānau offshore and recently returned.
In my work with Kea, I have seen the breadth and depth of passionate thought leadership and experience within our offshore network. 
These unique global Kiwi deliver innovation in a wide range of industries, for other nations. What might it take for NZ to open our mind to what they have to offer us?  
With the country riding high in global brand perception, we have more global Kiwi than ever wanting to support the country they are so proud of – through the talent or investment of those who choose to return, or the ideas and perspectives of those who remain offshore.

Carpe Kiwi

It is up to us as a community to navigate the solution, grabbing on to the amazing opportunity that exists.
On my return to Aotearoa, I had some soul searching to do. 
I needed to rethink my skill set and find the right terms of reference to appeal to a New Zealand-based company. 
Importantly, I had to find the right way to integrate myself into its team and culture. 
Returning Kiwi would do well to do the same.
But an enormous opportunity also exists for NZ to be open to new ideas and to find ways to amplify returning Kiwi skills that might not sit in a job description. 
We need to lose the fear of being told there’s another way of doing things and be ready to embrace healthy challenges to the status quo – the impact could be far-reaching.

Open minds

While it may take a few years to improve cost of living, housing and traffic issues, the one thing every one of us can do right now, is to open our minds.
We are the employers, the policy makers, the community and the whānau who can welcome these valuable Kiwi back home.
 And for a group who largely made the call to give up their lives to return to the familiar, this emotional support could go an awfully long way to securing their ongoing loyalty and value.

CONTRIBUTOR

Toni Truslove

CEO

Kea New Zealand

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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Kea World Class New Zealand Awards 2021 Press Release

The Awards ceremony inducted six new Kea World Class New Zealanders and one Friend of New Zealand, attracting an impressive crowd of past and present alumni who gathered to acknowledge this year’s winners and to welcome Supreme Award winner, Peter Cooper. 

These winners join an inspiring community of Kea World Class New Zealanders including Rocket Labs’, Peter Beck; Choreographer Parris Goebel; All Birds founder, Tim Brown; Former Prime Minister; Helen Clark; and Actor, Cliff Curtis. 

Kea chief executive officer Toni Truslove says that taking time to recognise and thank these Kiwi was a timely reminder of the incredible power and influence of our nation’s talent.

“The Kea World Class New Zealand Awards were created to recognise a diverse range of Kiwi who through the impact of their work, leadership and philanthropy raise New Zealand’s mana globally,” Truslove says.

“Now more than ever, we need to acknowledge the enormous impact our exploring Kiwi make to our nation, at a time when their breadth of knowledge and valuable skill-sets are most needed to boost New Zealand’s productivity and support our economic recovery.”

Handing over to 2021 Supreme Award Winner is 2019 winner and recent returner Peter Gordon. He says that the awards are an important way to say thank you to those who through their efforts and talent have helped put New Zealand front and centre on the World’s stage.

“It is really exciting seeing what New Zealanders are doing around the world. We need to shout a bit more about our success, and the awards are a great way of saying thank you, spreading the aroha and celebrating everyone’s mahi,” Gordon said.

Picking up the Kea Supreme Award, California-based businessman Peter Cooper was a unanimous choice for judges. Cooper’s many acts of philanthropy and support of the arts is well-known.

Only son of a truck driver and devoted mother, and with Ngati Kahu, Ngati Kuri and Te Aupouri heritage, Cooper’s journey has taken him from humble Kaitaia beginnings to the pinnacle of business and philanthropy, both here and in the US. 

Cooper’s focus is on projects that establish and build communities while valuing and preserving the heritage of the places and the people. He is best known in New Zealand for developments such as Auckland’s Britomart Restoration project and Northland project, The Landing, which involved the extensive creation of wetlands, native bush and preserving areas of high archaeological value.

Judging Panel Chair, Phil Veal said that “Peter’s absolute commitment to heritage, quality and authenticity in everything he creates makes him the very embodiment of a World Class New Zealander”.

Other winners include journalist and author Anna Fifield, who became the editor of the Dominion Post and the Wellington editor for Stuff in October, returning to New Zealand after 20 years abroad. She was a foreign correspondent for the Financial Times and the Washington Post during those years, posted to Seoul, Tehran, Beirut, Washington DC, Tokyo and, most recently, Beijing. She was a Nieman journalism fellow at Harvard University and was awarded a Stanford University prize for her reporting on Asia. Her book, “The Great Successor: The Secret Rise and Rule of Kim Jong Un,” has been published in 24 editions.

Jane Henley joins the ranks of Kea World Class New Zealanders, acknowledged for outstanding work globally, shifting the thinking of the building and construction sector towards sustainability. As global CEO of the World Green Business Council, Henley worked on setting standards for the sector, focussed on reducing energy use and waste. She returns to New Zealand to continue that work, focusing on the challenges New Zealand faces around affordability and cost of housing, and how to incorporate sustainability into that equation. 

Neil Ieremia’s Black Grace Dance Company and its critically acclaimed productions have been thrilling crowds throughout the US, Europe and Asia since 1995, telling our stories, exposing our creative talent and exploding stereotypes about New Zealand and its place in the world. Ieremia took Samoan culture and rugby’s intensity and gave the world a new movement that is explosive, dramatic and an expression of soaring athleticism.

Producer/Director, Chelsea Winstanley is well known for her work as co-producer of Oscar-nominated Jojo Rabbit and vampire hit, What We Do in the Shadows, but is most passionate about telling Aotearoa’s stories. From her 2005 documentary on activist Tame Iti, through to Media Peace Award winning 2018 documentary, Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen, Winstanley has been winning recognition for her courage, humility and aroha in her storytelling.

The work of Prof Graham Le Gros, Dir. of Research, Allergic and Parasitic Diseases Programme Leader, at The Malaghan Institute has never been more topical, nor as important. With breakthroughs in the treatment of CovID-19, along with ground-breaking research in therapies that harness the power of the human immune system, Prof. Le Gros is devoted to changing health outcomes for people, both here and all over the world.

The Kea Friend of New Zealand Award, which recognises the significant contribution made to our country by someone who is not born here, was presented jointly to Film Director James Cameron, and Suzy Amis Cameron – who’ve made New Zealand their home and the base for their international movie empire. They’ve been outspoken about their love of New Zealand and its people and have seen the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars into the economy here through the creation of the movie Avatar and many other projects. Their love of our environment is also reflected in their passion for Predator Free New Zealand, which has seen the Miramar Peninsula become part of an ambitious plan to create the world’s first predator-free capital city.

“Kea was established to connect and engage with our global network of exploring Kiwi and it is exciting to see how this network continues to grow and prosper despite the challenges the world is facing’” Truslove says

“New Zealand benefits from these incredible Kiwi, whose strong work-ethic and compassionate values win them access to the highest levels of business and achievement around the world, and then are prepared to share their knowledge and influence with those of us back home”.

“New Zealanders everywhere continue to pursue their dreams, but they’ve made it clear that no matter where they go and what they achieve, their hearts and minds are still firmly home in Aotearoa,” she said.

  • How to get a head start on finances, including opening bank accounts from offshore, what you need to know about Kiwi Saver, and handy insights around living costs.
  • Tips on the relocation process including what to expect in your first few months in Aotearoa
  • The different visa pathways available for non-NZ family members, the pros and cons of each option and timeframes.

A huge thank you to BNZ Business Development and Operations Manager Chantal Groothengel, Mobile Relocation Principal Bridget Romanes and KPMG Immigration Manager Caren Donald for joining the conversation!

Make sure to take a look at our full coming home resource list here.

Watch the full webinar recording below.

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Your career in journalism has spanned much of the globe. Can you give us some background into the last few years, and a couple of highlights from your global experience?

Joining Reuters News Agency after spells as a kid on New Zealand newspapers was transformational and I spent 15-years around the world. I was fortunate to cover stories from the fall of the Soviet Union, to Nelson Mandela’s election, and the first Gulf War. I moved into digital news at The Times, Microsoft, and CNN. In the US, I led an investigative reporting group, which did the Panama Papers. I’ve been very lucky.

How has the media landscape changed over the course of your career?

I have managed to work at reputable organisations with strong ethics. Journalism is still the “rough first draft of history” rather than being definitive. We’ve never had more access to higher quality journalism: there was no past golden age, it’s now. The financial challenges of an advertising-led business model are clear but I fear the move to subscriptions will mean more and more high-quality sources are closed off and that the free space risks being left to sensational journalism and misinformation.

In an age where fake news is more prevalent than ever and mistrust in journalism is growing, where do you believe the future of media is heading?

Media organisations have brought some of this on themselves by blurring what is opinion and news, let alone entertainment, which leaves readers confused as to what the intent is. There’s also a general trend in society to favour belief over fact which is evident in New Zealand. Fortunately, during Covid-19, New Zealand has been well-served by politicians, experts, and to a large extent media. I think brands that stand clearly for trust and accuracy will do well.

What influenced your decision to return to Aotearoa?

I came back for a family funeral and then the first lockdown happened. I normally live in the UK and there has been very little good reason to go “home” and every reason to re-embrace Aotearoa. I have also been very fortunate – after so many years away – to have some fascinating work projects here. I’m grateful.

What has your work looked like since returning home? What differences are there between NZ media and outlets you’ve worked for around the globe?

Peter with his beloved Renault near his home in Spain

I recently judged some investigative news nominees for the Voyager Awards and was deeply impressed by the quality of the work and the commitment of news proprietors to funding it. It’s great to see start-ups like Newsroom, Business Desk, and The Spinoff doing so well. I have written the odd thing for all three. I did a wonderful project with New Zealand On Air related to public interest journalism, and I’ve consulted to Sinead Boucher since she bought Stuff – which is one of the most interesting media projects anywhere in the world. New Zealand is well served by public and commercial media and I suspect a renewed emphasis on quality and a focus on trust will help raise standards. Personally, I’d like a little less “New Zealand exceptionalism” which I’d hope we abandoned since the days of cultural cringe when we asked visitors if they liked New Zealand on the tarmac at Mangere.

What has your experience been of resettling here after living so many years abroad?

I’m grateful to have been accepted back in a professional sense. On a personal level it has been quite discombobulating, but I have a wide whānau to reconnect with more deeply than you do on holidays. I am well aware how fortunate I have been to be in New Zealand during the pandemic and I respect how the government, citizenry, and media have handled the science and the rebound.

What would your advice be to Kiwis looking to do the same?

This period of  a diaspora returning is remarkable. I’ve met – often through Kea – great talents in all sorts of fields. It means having or reactivating networks and I think in some industries that can be more difficult. You absolutely can’t swagger in with a “don’t you know who I am attitude”. You have to respect those who made different choices and made a contribution to New Zealand by staying.

What do you believe the opportunities are for New Zealand in 2021 and beyond?

I sometimes worry that there is an anti-growth climate in New Zealand and yet there is a vibrant start up culture and some world-leading innovation as well as established world-class companies. It would be great to see returnees creating new businesses and adding talent to existing firms to create a burst of activity and growth. The opportunity to capitalise on that returning talent (and I don’t mean me) is immense and I hope investors, employers, and colleagues can embrace that stimulus.

CONTRIBUTOR

Lucy Luo

Chief of Staff

First AML

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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