HOT TOPIC: Migrants in the New Zealand workforce

After the recent EPICNZ (Ethnic People in Commerce) Conference in Auckland the conversation about migrants in the workforce has been highlighted in a number of ways. Here four experts share their comments and feedback on this hot topic.
By Michael Richardson
www.aut.ac.nz

The Entrepreneur
Dorin Ranee, Creative Director, Studio81
Starting a business is challenging and more so in a foreign environment where the culture and values are different. When I started this makeup and photography business in 2008 my biggest fear was marketing myself as an Asian. I was afraid to communicate with the local Kiwis in fear of being misunderstood and judged. As part of my business plan I landed a job as a counter manager for an international cosmetic brand. For a year I was communicating and selling to a large base of non-ethnic people and my confidence grew.
It is important not to short-change yourself by falling into the pit of stereotypes. I feel that it works both ways, as much as New Zealand has to embrace migrants for economic advancement, ethnic people in commerce should also step out and embrace New Zealand. It is about adding essence to community and not making less of who we are.
www.studio81.co.nz
 
The CEO
Justin Treagus, CEO OMEGA Talent for Auckland
There are strong economic drivers for cultural integration in New Zealand. Not only does diversity create value, innovation and growth it is also linked to business productivity. Moreover, there are two pressing reasons why we need to up our game welcoming other cultures to this country and making better use of new talented migrants we already have.
Firstly, the skilled migrants invited to New Zealand are not here to take Kiwi jobs, they are here to support economic growth, which will create Kiwi jobs by bringing skills that are short in supply locally and globally. They bring skills that 84% of Kiwi businesses are struggling to find today.
Secondly, our ability to develop capability to trade with the emerging favourable and stronger markets such as China and India will determine how we build our domestic economy to compete internationally. The key to achieving this is building connections, networks and relationships within our local multicultural environment that will better connect us with economies of the future.
www.omega.org.nz