FILIPINO MIGRANT NEWS Issue 134

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REACHING FILIPINOS ACROSS NZ Vol 8 No 134 Published Fortnightly. Circulated Nationwide.

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H P m o fr w o h s n io h s fa e g a High volt

pg 13

By MEL FERNANDEZ CHRISTCHURCH – We have never seen the likes of this in New Zealand before. A high voltage fashion show transported directly from the Philippines, complete with all the bells and whistles.

And the creative director r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e s p e ctacular ‘Philippine Fashion

Exclusive NZ Podcast with Jontie Martinez at: www.filipinonews.nz

Show’ in Christchurch was none other than Jontie Martinez (above) – a high

PISTANG PILIPINO SA HAMILTON pg 06

From 25-27 October 2019.

All the fun of a Fiesta food, entertainment, sports and more. JASON DY the Prince of Soul (left) on 26 October. FB: TFCNewZeland

p r o f i l e , M a n i l a - b a s e d f a s hion designer specializing in Philippine traditional costumes.

The New Zealand event on 14 September was sponsored by a community group in Christchurch – the Philippine F.A.C.E.S. Guests at the Celebration Centre in Wainoni in Christchurch were able to marvel at a collection of

100 exquisite creations, e a c h s h o w i n g t h e c r a f t smanship in Jontie’s d e s i g n s a n d p r o u d l y p r esented on the catwalk by 20 Filipino-Kiwi models – male and female.

“I like promoting Philippine costumes because that is where I come from, that is my home and I love it, of course,” says Jontie.

“For the females it’s the

pg 10

Philippine Terno, one that i s p o p u l a r i s e d b y t h e b u tterfly sleeves. It comes with a lot of details like beadwork, embroidery, lace applique and it speaks of the beauty of the Filipina. It speaks of b e i n g w a r m a n d h o spitable. The fashion there is very traditional, but we c a n g i v e i t m o d e r n t o u c hes. Like in the beadwork

PICTURE THIS CAUSE Stunning calendars that will generate social benefit for three community groups in PH. Order now to get it in time for Christmas.

MISS SAIGON CHCH pg 05

we can put metalwork, or w e c a n d o d i f f e r e n t s i l h o uettes.

“For the males it’s the Barong Tagalog, again the s i l h o u e t t e i s v e r y t r a d itional, closed neck and long sleeves. But again, w e c a n d o d i f f e r e n t t r e a tments like the embroidery o r w e c a n u s e n o n - t r a d itional materials such as pineapple fabric.”

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ISSUE 134

LOCAL ELECTIONS

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Voter turnout at NZ local elections keeps falling, but paying people to vote could backfire

By Julia Talbot-Jones. Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington Rather than encouraging people to become better citizens, rewards and fines can actually reduce peoples’ natural tendencies to do the right thing by others.

Last week voter enrolment for the 2019 local government elections closed in New Zealand and concerns about low voter turnout resurfaced.

During a panel discussion run by Auckland Council, the idea was raised to pay people to vote to encourage participation.

The concerns about low voter turnout are well founded. Voting rates in local government elections have been falling for at least 30 years and voter participation now rests at around 40% – almost half that of general elections.

The idea that we should be paying people to cast their vote in New Zealand isn’t new. But the notion ignores the evidence that using explicit monetary incentives to induce prosocial behaviour can be counterproductive.

Homo economicus The suggestion to pay people to vote rests heavily on the assumption that

people subscribe to the self-interested motivations of Homo economicus: the idea that people make decisions purely on extrinsic motivations often determined by financial incentives.

This type of thinking has guided political theorists and constitutional thinkers since the late 18th century; influencing policy and causing laws to be designed to induce people to act as if they were civic minded, rather than explicitly encouraging the cultivation of civic virtues.

But this approach to policy making ignores the fact that we frequently observe people making choices in the best interests of society, rather than solely on what might best financially benefit themselves. These decisions are understood to be guided by intrinsic motivations, as opposed to extrinsic motivations.

The crowding out paradox The issue is that in situations where intrinsic motivations are ignored and substituted for market mechanisms, such as rewards or fines, we can

'crowd out' intrinsic motivations.

In other words, rather than enhancing prosocial behaviour, rewards

Voting rates in local government elections have been falling for at least 30 years and voter participation now rests at around 40% – almost half that of general elections.

Photo: FM N

Photo: Elections

and fines can actually reduce peoples’ natural tendencies to be good citizens.

Perhaps the most well known illustration of crowding out was a controlled behavioural experiment in Haifa, Israel, where parents who were late picking up their children at the end of the day were fined.

Parents responded to the fine, but not as the daycare centres had hoped.

Rather than encouraging cooperative behaviour the fine

appeared to undermine the parents’ sense of personal obligation to avoid inconveniencing the teachers and late pick-ups more than doubled.

Another well known example found that paying people to give blood in the United Kingdom caused donations to go down, while another study found that paying people to collect money for charity caused the volunteers to collect fewer donations.

In each of these cases, peoples’ natural tenden-

cies to do good were crowded out by fines, bonuses or other incentives that put a price on their civic behaviour and left them less inclined to act in a pro-social and generous way.

Message for policymakers Voter turnout rates help to show how citizens feel about government, both in terms of their confidence in political institutions and whether their participation can make a difference. Because of this, the long-term trend in local government voter engagement should be raising red flags among decision makers in New Zealand.

So what to do?

Although there is unlikely to be a panacea for increasing turnout, a mix of strategies that integrate structural reform with behavioural tools, such as requiring voters to opt out rather than opt in or offering 'I voted' stickers, could offer incremental

improvements.

Likewise, investing in civic education could stimulate long-term changes in beliefs and norms, thereby increasing the scope of citizens’ intrinsic motivations and levels of voter engagement.

Whatever the strategies explored, policymakers need to be aware that fines, bonuses or other incentives have the potential to compromise peoples’ pre-existing civic values and intrinsic motivations.

Subsequently, New Zealand decision makers need to take a comprehensive view of the things that motivate people to act when considering ways to increase voter engagement at the next election.

First appeared in ‘The Conversation NZ’.

Disclosure statement: Julia Talbot-Jones is an affiliate of Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. Victoria University of Wellington provides funding as a member of

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ISSUE 134

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Time to take tough action against

predatory lenders O P I N YO N

By LOUIE ENCABO What’s worse than being unable to afford basic commodities for your family, such as food and basic clothing? To have your desperation exploited by opportunistic loan sharks – as happens in many low-income neighbourhoods plagued by so-called 'mobile shopping' trucks.

These are trucks carrying a mobile grocery that sells items like food, clothes, gadgets, among others, at inflated prices, but offer cheap credit to pay for them.

They drive through communities in Auckland and Wellington, specifically targeting low-

income households that would not be able to afford to purchase the same items upfront from mainstream supermarkets.

Attracted by the cheap credit, with low weekly payments, these households are bound into extended periods of debt – and sometimes with little information provided regarding their loan balance. An investigative report by Newsroom.co. nz revealed that basic food items such as chicken drumsticks and cans of corned beef were being sold at prices four or five times higher than supermarket prices.

Also problematic are the short term, highinterest, unsecured loans known as payday loans, that provide quick cash loans to those with imme-

diate needs. The borrowers are often from lowincome households and inadvertently become indebted for long periods of time and often end up paying more than double the principal amount of the loan.

Their practice has become so notorious that the finance industry called for tougher regulations against payday lenders.

In June, the Commerce Commission started legal action against payday lender Moola, for 'failing to make inquiries into the borrowers’ ability to repay their loans without substantial hardship', indicating that they lent money to people who they knew could not repay the loan taken with the given interest rates.

Minister for Consumer

Affairs Kris Faafoi announced that the Coalition Government will finally take action against these predatory lenders, introducing caps on interest rates and other fees imposed on debtors.

There will also be tougher regulations imposed on mobile shopping trucks, such as requiring operators to ensure that the credit terms offered are affordable and suitable for each customer before providing them with goods that aren’t paid for upfront.

The Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill, currently going through Parliament, contains measures that will ensure that borrowers of high-interest loans never have to pay back more than twice the principal amount, this includes interest rates and other fees.

Initially the legislation did not include an interest rate cap, but after undergoing the select committee stage an overwhelming number of submissions called for one to be included.

Minister Faafoi noted that of the 400 submissions the committee received, about 85% were calling for a cap on interest rates.

“At the moment, highcost credit is too easy for people in hardship to access. While this type of credit can be an immediate solution to financial problems, we know that high-cost, easy credit leads to worse problems in the long run,” the Minister said. continued on pg 8

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ISSUE 134

BALITANG NZ

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Blessie Gotingco's killer loses last bid to overturn convictions

Photo: © RNZ / Diego Opatowski

The man who killed and raped Auckland w o m a n B l e s s i e Gotingco has lost his last bid to overturn his

convictions.

Tony Robertson was jailed for at least 24 years for running over the North Shore mother of three and then brutally murdering her in May 2014.

The Court of Appeal refused to hear Robert-

son's case and in the latest legal chapter the Supreme Court has also rejected his bid to quash the convictions.

He was pursuing the appeal on the basis that manslaughter should have been a verdict available to the jury.

In a decision released today, the court found there was no evidence for a manslaughter verdict.

The appeal was dismissed.

Support for victims of sexual violence: NZ Police Victim Support 0800 842 846

Murder most horrid.

By Mel Fernandez AUCKLAND - Exactly a year after her death in 2014, 28 year old Tony Douglas Robertson was convicted of raping and stabbing to death Blessie Gotingco, 56, a Filipina mother of three from the Philippines who lived on Auckland’s North Shore in Birkdale.

After a 'rollercoaster' four week trial the jury took just 3 hours to convict the man.

On 6th August 2015 in the High Court in Auckland 28 year old Robertson was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 24 years for Mrs Gotingco’s murder. In addition, he was given preventive detention with a 10 year non-parole period.

According to the New Zealand Herald, he later claimed in the Court of Appeal: “that running her down was an accident and the jury should have been given the option of finding him guilty of manslaughter.

That appeal was rejected.

“Robertson then tried the Supreme Court - making the same argument.

“However, the Supreme Court ruled that Robertson did not raise anything during the trial to suggest that the alternative charge of

WELLINGTON - New Zealand’s over 65s – there are 750,000 of them and there will be a million within the next decade - now have easier ways to find SuperGold discounts and more places to use their card, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Minister for Seniors Tracey Martin announced recently.“We’ve brought the card into the digital era with

manslaughter could have been reached.

He was refused leave to appeal further.”

As Louie Encabo reported on his blog site (thedefiant.nz) “the Filipino mother of three was in the headlines for several days, not only because of the extraordinary circumstances in which she was slain, but also because such an incident was a rarity in a relatively peaceful North Shore suburb.

“On the 24th of May 2014 Blessie bid goodbye to her children as she left for work and she never came back home.

“Her daughter tracked down her cellphone just a short walk away from their house – lying on the grass with her other belongings scattered all over the place.

“This immediately raised red flags and within hours a search party was on the hunt for Blessie and her name and photos were spread all across news channels. Within a few days her body was found in a cemetery around her area and immediately a suspect was apprehended.

“The incident was a shock to a previously crime free community.”

For over a year he hid

behind name suppression whilst the victim’s name was bandied about in the media – in New Zealand and internationally. Then in July 2015 name suppression was finally lifted.

The media were also allowed to unveil his previous convictions. The most shocking of these was when Robertson kidnapped and molested a 5 year old and attempted to abduct two other children in Tauranga.

He was imprisoned for nearly eight years and got out of prison in December 2013. The Parole Board had imposed strict conditions for his release, including wearing a GPS tracker.

After the sentencing Mrs Gotingco’s husband Antonio said in a prepared statement: "While no sentence can ever return Blessie to us we are thankful that this part of the legal process is completed and that we can now focus on our family once again.

"We are forever hopeful that now this sentence has been passed down that Robertson will never walk the streets again. Blessie's death was totally preventable and highlights that the current New Zealand system does not effectively monitor high risk offenders.

throughout the country.”

The Minister said that seniors really value the SuperGold Card, particularly the travel concessions and shopping discounts.

This Government is investing $7.7 million into the card in this year’s Budget to bring these main

- RNZ

Flashback He did not have the right to viciously rob my children and I of our loving mother and wife. - Antonio Gotingco

“On the 24th of May 2014 Blessie bid goodbye to her children as she left for work and she never came back home.

“Within a few days her body was found in a cemetery around her area and immediately a suspect was apprehended.”

- Louie Encabo Offenders like him should not be released, given their extreme risk . . . Blessie paid for this with her life.

"There are other Robertsons living within our communities and the family is hopeful that the independent review's scope will ensure that the monitoring capabilities and processes of the Corrections Department are reviewed and corrected urgently. Blessie's death must not be in vain.

"Blessie was our guiding light; the centre of our home and the glue that bonded us together. He did not have the right to viciously rob my children and I of our loving mother

Blessie Gotingco, 56, a Filipina mother of three.

and wife. How can this happen to good, ordinary, faithful people who are living honest lives?" he asked.

Mrs Gotingco’s eldest son John added: "My mother was the greatest person I've ever known.

She epitomised everything that's good in the world. I can only hope that her passing was not in vain and that she doesn't become another statistic.”

Ruth Money, a Victim Support adviser to the Gotingcos, had another message for the public:

Smarter version of SuperGold card the launch of a new SuperGold App and a completely upgraded website,” says Minister Martin.

“We’re making it easy for increasingly tech-savvy older people to stretch their dollar further and take advantage of thousands of SuperGold discounts

Rape Crisis 0800 88 33 00 Rape Prevention Education HELP (Auckland) 09 623 1700 Te Ohaakii a Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together

changes: • Revamping the website and updating the details of all businesses • Creating a SuperGold App for smartphones, linked to the website information, so that people can

"The family are extremely relieved that the jury have rightly found this offender guilty of these heinous crimes. “… the family wish to remember Blessie for who she was and not for the evil that happened.

"Blessie was, and always will be, a much loved mother, wife, sister, aunty, daughter and friend. Her smile would light up your heart and will continue to do so.”

find where deals are when they are out • Working with current partners and bringing on new ones to increase the range of discounts available Recently 500 new businesses signed up to offer discounts to the over 65s, including companies such as Qantas, Countdown, Spark and The Warehouse.

The SuperGold website is: www.supergold.govt.nz.

ISSUE 134

EVENT REPORT

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Miss Saigon Musical blazes in Christchurch

PLUM ROLES FOR PINOYS: About 20% of the cast of Miss Saigon Christchurch comprised of Pinoys - including from left: Fil-Aussies Marcus Rivera and Daniel Aguilar

with Filipino-Kiwi Tina Bergantinos Panlilio (now resident in Hawaii).

The Miss Saigon musical staged by Showbiz Christchurch at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch opened on September 27 to a captivated audience.

Judging by the number of people up on their feet in a standing ovation at the end of the show, it was a huge success. Even during the intermission, the buzz and lots of smiling faces indicated that the audience was suitably impressed by what they had seen so far.

The musical, which was written in tribute to Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, by ClaudeMichel Schönberg and Alain Boublil of Les Misérables fame, has been toasted globally.

I have previously watched three productions of Miss Saigon in Sydney and can confidently say that this time, again, the story was well told and will have a strong season in Christchurch.

The story of the lead up to the fall of Saigon draws out and gets the audiences involved in the drama of the lives of people affected by the American war. It centres on the romance of a young innocent Vietnamese girl (Kim) and an

American GI (Chris), which turns into a tragedy when they get separated when Saigon falls. Unbeknown to Chris, he fathered a son with Kim. Their reunion years later is heartwrenching, with Kim meeting the wife of Chris (Ellen), then deciding how her son could have a better life.

Overall, the cast and the ensemble delivered through the haunting and challenging songs, the convincing acting, the music and the crisp and well synchronised group moves.

They were aided by the simple but effective set and props, effects, lighting, costumes and makeup. Notably, the helicopter scenes and the gates cleverly shifting, shutting out the anguished crowd wanting to get out, were so realistic that the audience felt that they were part of the scenes.

Marcus Rivera, who played The Engineer, was the standout performer. I have watched him twice in that role and I would say that he again has gone a notch higher in his latest portrayal.

He commanded the stage in 'The Heat is On in

Marcus Rivera, who played The Engineer, was the standout performer. I have watched him twice in that role and I would say that he again has gone a notch higher in his latest portrayal.

Tina Bergantinos Panlilio, a FilipinoNew Zealand singer and musical theatre actress who played the role of Kim and Jack Fraser as Chris, get equal votes from me in their level of performance and contribution to the success of the show.

- Violi Calvert Saigon' and 'If You Want to Die in Bed' and was mesmerising in 'The American Dream', amidst the backdrop of scantilyclad showgirls and male dancers. He personified an unsavoury and disreputable pimp, with his confident singing not missing a beat with the orchestra's accompaniment.

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CHIKA MUNA Review by Violi Calvert

But don't just Photo: Dice Sales take my word for it. Patrick Shepherd, who did the review for Stuff.Co.NZ, also felt that: "the show's success rests on the three main leads and especially the engineer. “ M a rc u s Rivera was excellent as the sleazy, self-serving manipulator making a buck amidst the GUEST APPEARANCE: Miss Saigon Christchurch cast members at chaos ... Rivera the Philippine Fashion Show and the S.IK.P. Awards in Christchurch relished this role, singing with an easy adjustment of the cast, more confidence on stage. confidence and plenty of performed the role of This Miss Saigon procheeky sauce."

Thuy superbly. He played duction is a stunning theBackstage Christchurch the same role years ago atrical spectacle and reviewer Kate Divett also and his confidence from amazing musical theatre. said: "Marcus Rivera that stint showed.

I tip my hat to the (The Engineer) is sassy James Foster's acting Director, Stephen Robertand clever as the oppor- and vocals, in the role of son, the Musical Director, tunistic club owner – his John, get a big tick too. Richard Marrett and moment in 'The American His exchange with Chris Showbiz Christchurch for Dream' was memorable." as a concerned colleague a job well done.

Tina Bergantinos and friend in 'The Miss Saigon runs Panlilio, a Filipino-New Telephone Song' and his through to October 12 at Zealand singer and musi- leading of the all male the Isaac Theatre Royal, cal theatre actress who choir in the Opening of Christchurch. played the role of Kim Act II - 'Bui Doi' especialEditor - Violi Calvert is and Jack Fraser as Chris, ly touched and drew a producer/broadcaster of get equal votes from me in much appreciation from Radio Tagumpay, Triple their level of performance the audience.

H 100.1FM and winner of and contribution to the Hannah Austin played the Parliament of New success of the show. the role of Chris' wife South Wales MulticulBoth have strong voices Ellen in a touching way. tural and Indigenous and convincingly con- Her rendition of 'I Still Media Award for veyed the deep emotions Believe' with Kim as Coverage of Community they were feeling. If I thousands of miles sepa- Affairs (2015). were to pick only one song rated them and 'Now This article first by each of them to put on That I've Seen Her' appeared in Australian the weighing scale, it expressed a torn yet hope- Filipina. Reprinted with would be Panlilio's rendi- ful heart. the permission of the tion of 'I'd Give My Life Sion Choi (Gigi), who Publisher. for You' and Fraser's made her musical theatre PODCAST: Check our 'Why God Why'. debut, is a talent to watch exclusive podcast featurDaniel Aguilar, another out for. As she gains more ing Martin Rivera and Fil-Aussie singer and experience she will be Tina Bergantino Panlilio stage actor, who was a late able to show off more of at www.filipinonews.nz addition following an her vocals and exude and www.halohalo.nz

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ISSUE 134

PISTANG PILIPINO

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ALL THE FUN OF A FIESTA PISTANG PILIPINO 2019 SA HAMILTON HAMILTON - This will be a Filipino City on Labour Weekend when Waikato Filipino Association (WFA) hosts one of the biggest gatherings of Filipinos from Friday to Sunday 25-27 October for Pistang Pilipino 2019 (Filipino Fiesta 2019).

There will be events at

various venues across the city involving sports, culture, food and entertainment.

The organiser expects up to 5000 Filipinos to be part of this Fiesta with over 30 Filipino organisations participating from as far as Invercargill, Dunedin and Christ-

The full schedule of events for long weekend The Filipino Fiesta will include the following: 1. Friday 25 October 6:30-8pm: There will be an opening night welcome for guests, Federation Officers, team representatives, sponsors and others. Hon. Minister of Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa will be the guest speaker.

Meanwhile, the youth will also have a Friday Gimik at The Zeal.

2. Sports competitions on Saturday and Sunday in venues across the city. There will be 94 basketball teams competing in seven categories at Hamilton Boys High School, The Peak, Unirec and the YMCA. Volleyball is at Fraser High School and has 30 teams.

Badminton at Eastlink has over 300 registrations. Bowling at Skycity has 15 teams. There will also be billiards, darts, table tennis, chess and futsal.

3. Kainan, Musika Atbp (food, music and others). Just like the ‘fiestas’ back home, food and music cannot be missed. During the day there will be over 20 Filipino food and information stalls plus an ongoing variety of entertainment at Hamilton Boys High School.

4. Pulong-pulong (Community forum). This is in collaboration with the Philippine Embassy, with speakers on immigration, employment/ exploitation, union membership and embassy services.

5.

Culture Night and Sama Saya Kapamilya - 26 October 2019.

TFC joins the Waikato Filipino Association and Philippine Airlines to bring ‘Sama Saya Kapamilya’ with the Philippines’ Prince of Soul, Jason Dy, on the celebration of their 25th anniversary.

Tickets: $10.

6. Miss Philippines-NZ pageant.

To be held at Southwell School Performing Arts Centre, this is a highlight of the event on 27 October from 7 to 11pm. Tickets: $20.

church in the South Island and the major towns and cities in the North.

The WFA has been in existence since 1992, establishing itself as an important Filipino organisation serving the interests and needs of Filipinos in Hamilton and the Waikato. During this period it has successfully

hosted two Labour Weekend gatherings. The first and largest one in 2008 was held at Mystery Creek Events Centre and the second one was held on short notice in 2011 when Christchurch was damaged by the earthquake.

www.pistangpilipino.co. nz

A BIG THANKS TO THE SPONSORS Sponsors: Hamilton City Council, Office of Ethnic Communities, DIA – Lottery Grant, Trust Waikato, Wel Energy Trust and Four Winds Foundation plus sponsors such as Orbit Remit, Pino Plus, Tibiao Catering, New Zealand Home Loans, 2Cheap Cars, CC Recruitment, Doterra and Roland Automotive.

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New parent category visa comes into play WELLINGTON - “As part of its work to ensure that businesses can get the skilled workers they need, the Coalition Government is re-opening and re-setting the Parent Category visa programme,” Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says.

The move will: • Support skilled migrants who help fill New Zealand’s skills gaps by providing a pathway for their parents to join them.

• Remove the need for parent applicants to have guaranteed lifetime income and focus instead

New visa will help retain skilled migrants, says govt.

“The new Parent Category settings will increase financial requirements, focusing on their adult child’s income rather than the circumstances of the parent and align with the ‘highly-paid’ settings under the Skilled Migrant Category and the recent changes to employerassisted Temporary Work Auckland – Entrust, majority owner of Vector, today announced its annual dividend will be $360, stemming from its shareholding in the listed energy

on the ability of their skilled migrant child to support them.

• Help New Zealand businesses find the skilled labour they need.

• Further strengthen the economy by helping businesses thrive.

The current scheme will

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway

visa settings,” Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway says.

“The ability for a parent to gain residence through having a guaranteed lifetime income or settlement funds will be removed under the new settings.

Parents will still be required to meet health and character require-

ments as part of the application process.

“The Parent Category will be closed under its current settings from today and will re-open under the new settings from February 2020. This will allow those who have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) under the old settings to consider

be closed from today and the new Parent Category option will be opened with new criteria in February 2020 and a cap of 1,000 people.

“Skilled migrants and their parents have been in limbo since the previous National Government

what they want to do,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

Applicants with EOIs currently in the queue will be able to update them to reflect the new requirements and still hold their current place in the queue.

Applicants who do not meet the new eligibility criteria will be able to withdraw their EOI and apply for a full refund.

Notes: The Parent Category enables citizens and people who have been residents for at least three years to sponsor their parents for

Entrust 2019 dividend - 336,000 beneficiaries to receive $360 company.

This year in addition to the $360 Entrust dividend payment, a further payment

of $15 from Vector which is customers’ share of the credit received from Transpower, known as loss

rental rebate will be paid to beneficiaries.

The payment will be made to more than 336,000

decided almost three years ago to effectively close the Parent Category by placing a moratorium on it. This created unnecessary and unfair uncertainty for people,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

“This Coalition Government is committed to

residence in New Zealand.

Parents wishing to join their children in New Zealand must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for consideration under the Parent Category.

When the EOI is selected from the pool it is assessed against current eligibility criteria and, if these are met, the parent applicant is invited to apply for residence.

Under the new settings, the financial requirement: For one sponsor will increase from $65,000 annual income to twice the Aucklanders and businesses in the Entrust district that are connected to Vector’s electricity network in late September.

Entrust Chairman,

attracting and retaining highly-skilled migrants by providing a pathway for their parents to join them in New Zealand, while ensuring that they will be supported by their children when they get here.

New Zealand median income (around $106,000 a year) if sponsoring one parent and three times the New Zealand median income (around $159,000 a year) if sponsoring two parents.

For joint sponsors will increase from $90,000 a year to three times the median income (around $159,000 a year) if sponsoring one parent and four times the median income (around $212,000 a year) if sponsoring two parents.

-

Supplied

William Cairns says Entrust is pleased to pay the dividend, which will contribute more than $120 million to Auckland’s economy.

08

ISSUE 134

BALITANG NZ

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Opinion

By AARON MARTIN Anyone who has settled in New Zealand will be affected by the Parent visa – whether they arrived two years ago or 20 years ago.

Immigration Law expert Aaron Martin points out that even New Zealand citizens who migrated here half a lifetime ago are no longer able to bring their elderly parents to New Zealand – unless they’re earning a whopping $106,000 a year.

The Parent Category visa programme is open again – but with steep new rules.

The Parent Category visa allows parents to join their children in New Zealand if they are a resident or citizen.

An enormous backlog led to the visa being closed in 2016.

It’s now been re-opened – but the rules may mean it’s still out-of-bounds for most would-be applicants.

As of February 2020, the child of parent applicants will be the sole ‘sponsor’ –

Parent Category visa ‘grossly unfair’ for long term migrants and they must earn almost twice the New Zealand median income. Previously, the Parent Category visa simply required parent applicants to have a guaranteed lifetime income.

And it’s not just recent migrants who will be affected, but anyone who has settled in New Zealand – whether they arrived two years ago or 20 years ago.

Immigration Law expert Aaron Martin says that the changes are “grossly unfair”.

“A lot of people think that it’s all about the migrants who came yesterday, but it’s not,” he says.

“Consider, for example, the plight of a New Zealand citizen who migrated from the UK over 20 years ago and has an elderly mother

back home in the UK. Previously, the plan might have been to bring Mum to New Zealand so she could be looked after by her family.

The visa changes have effectively ruled this out – unless the migrant son or daughter is earning at least $106,000 a year. They are now faced with the dilemma of moving back home to look after her.

“It’s bizarre,” says Aaron, “that a substantial income of $90,000 a year – or even $140,000 a year – is deemed to be 'not enough' to support an elderly parent in New Zealand.

“It’s going to cause a lot of hardship for a lot of people who were qualified under the old system and are now

P R E DATO RY L E N D E R S

continued from page 3

“While most mobile traders are already subject to some regulations, some are not. We believe that all mobile traders who sell goods on credit should be subject to the same levels of disclosure and responsible lending requirements, including affordability checks, before credit is given,” he added.

The interest cap will be set at 0.8 percent per day, whether simple or compounded is yet to be decided by Cabinet.

For simple the aggregate rate is 292 percent per annum – still an exorbitantly high rate, especially for the lowincome households that this bill is intended to protect.

If that interest rate was compounded, then borrowers could end up paying 1000 percent per year, which is even more likely to trap them in a cycle of debt. Surely the Coalition Government can do better than this for consumers?

These payday lenders argue that they charge much higher interest rates because they take

There are charitable trusts which offer interest-free loans, such as Nga Tangata Microfinance and Good Shepherd New Zealand’s No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) program.

Those are more ethical and more humane channels to seek help from during times of desperation, but many – especially those with the most need – do not know that they exist, causing them to fall prey to predatory lenders instead.

By making people aware of these providers the demand for mobile shopping trucks or payday lenders will become obsolete. In the meantime, these predatory lenders are making supernormal profits on their practice and are unlikely to voluntarily cease their operations or at least modify their business model to be more humane.

Hence government action is necessary – and the reforms needed should be more meaningful than a 0.8 percent interest rate cap that is still too high.

on much riskier loans; their customers are those who cannot get credit elsewhere and turn to them as a last resort.

That makes sense, it is common sense to charge higher rates the riskier the loan is, especially loans which are unsecured.

But when you offer credit to someone knowing that they cannot pay it at all, unless at the cost of their ability to pay for basic necessities to survive, is that moral?

Therefore, the issue with predatory lending is not only an economic or financial debate, but a moral one also.

What makes this reality even sadder is that there are avenues for impoverished families to turn to when they are in dire need of financial aid.

Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) offers food grants to lowincome earners, with no interest and no requirement to pay them back.

The Salvation Army, who were one of the earliest critics of mobile shopping trucks, also run food banks nationwide.

being told, ‘your parents aren’t coming anymore',” he says.

Under the new rules, a single person sponsoring one parent will have to show that they are earning about $106,000 a year. If they want to sponsor both parents, then their income must be $159,000 a year. Joint sponsors for one parent also must be earning $159,000 a year (up from $90,000) and a whopping $212,000 a year for two parents.

Parent applicants will also still have to meet certain health and character requirements. The visa has also been capped at 1000 people per year.

Aaron says that the new income threshold is almost certainly unobtainable for most of the migrant population.

“It’s an income of people who are software develop-

ers, lawyers, accountants – people who have gone to university,” he says. “It reeks of elitism.”

The ability for migrants to start a family may also be in jeopardy. Under the old rules, a couple’s combined income of $90,000 allowed them to bring over one or both parents.

Now, if a spouse has to leave work to start a family, their partner will have to earn at least $159,000 in order to bring their parents here.

This is compounded by the fact that many migrants belong to an extended family network in which it may be traditional for one or both parents to live with a son or daughter.

The bonus of this arrangement is not only that the grandparents are provided for, but that they will often take on the role as caregiver for a couple’s young children. This will often allow the couple to continue working to provide for their family.

However, the changes appear to have been made with the assumption that the migrant’s parent will be sitting at home doing nothing – or worse, becoming a ‘burden on the state’.

“This is rarely the case,” says Aaron. Fewer people are retiring at 65 and many older people are continuing to work at least part time. He adds that there is no empirical data to suggest that migrant parents are indeed drawing on State resources to the level that people and politicians assume.

Instead, the loss of that parent as a live-in caregiver will likely put more pressure on young migrant families rather than assisting with their settlement in New Zealand.

He has scoffed at the Immigration Minister’s claim that the rule change would ensure “businesses could get the skilled workers they need by providing a pathway for their parents to join them”.

“Very few skilled workers are going to be earning at that level,” Aaron says.

Ultimately, the changes could see many settled migrants rethinking whether they can stay on here.

“A lot of highly skilled people will be saying, ‘Okay, I’ve got my residency (or citizenship), but I’m going to have to leave because someone’s got to look after Mum',” he says.

ISSUE 134 |

CAREER PLANNING WORKSHOP |

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Run a little faster, jump a little higher

By Abha Rao Coming to a new country is fairly disorienting for a new migrant. With a shaky grasp of English and an even shakier grasp of the local culture, they are strongly disadvantaged in the job market.

‘The Advanced Career Planning Workshop’ run

by Mel Fernandez at Migrant Centres reached out to the disenfranchised newcomers and gave them a step into the world of employment.

The workshop which ran for 20 hours across four days, although participant interest often meant that it lastsed longer.

In the course of the worskhop participants were led through CV and cover letter writing, searching for jobs through various media sources, interview strategies, employment contracts and even Kiwi English.

Participants come in jaded, tired and losing hope, but by the end of the workshop, they are more confident and prepared to face the real world.

New Zealand has a shrinking labour force. A newspaper report pointed out that at one stage over 32,000 Kiwis left New Zealand each year, and about 21,000 new migrants came in. Given this disparity, why is it so difficult to find a job?

A native Kiwi takes, on average, three months to find a job - this figure is

A unique Job Search seminar template that eases new migrants into the world of employment.

As for improving their English, the new migrant needs to register with the local college or ESOL for classes. He or she also has to spend time outside talking with the locals and listening to the local radio and watching local television to try and improve their knowledge of English and its accent.

Another important, but often overlooked factor is presentation.

Proper presentation is essential - whether in the form of a CV or cover letter, a telephone conversation, or in the shape of an interview.

They all need to be clean, neat, confident and without excess. They have to show that the applicant is all there and is perfect for the job. Not surprisingly, a large section of the seminar was devoted to this.

Participants saw slides of CVs and cover letters written by other people and through discussion decided what was and was not needed, such as age and residential status.

They need to have confidence when they answer the phone and this confidence needs to be evident to the caller.

While New Zealand is a fairly informal society, it is imperative to dress formally for a prospective job, for a welldressed person shows preparedness.

exaggerated for migrants. Part of the problem, is that the jobs generated are often in very specific fields, such as senior hairdressers or yacht riggers.

Employers spend only seven seconds looking at one application, and the key is New Zealand experience and English communication skills.

Applicants with little or no experience, or poor English skills, are dismissed summarily.

The NZ experience issue is akin to the chicken and egg problem.

Without NZ experience it seems impossible to get a job, but without a job, how does one go about gaining NZ experience?

A new migrant has to gain experience through a volunteer job although it is difficult for a newcomer to spend a few months without pay, the eventual returns are well worth it. They can also work through a contractor or a temp agency. continued on page 10

BUHAY NZ

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ISSUE 134

MAGANDANG BALITA

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A y l a M a t e n c i o and over a 1 0 0 other F i l i p i n o - K i w i H e r o e s honoured by Filipino Migrant News since 2014 : w w w . f i l i p i n o h e r o e s . n z

Ayla’s stunning calendar that will generate social benefit for three community groups in PH.

PICTURE THIS CAUSE AUCKLAND – It started out as a hobby – “to immortalise the moment in photographs”.

But now Ayla Louise Matencio, a 22-year-old Systems Engineer, is channelling her passion for photography to generate a social benefit for her community back home in the Philippines.

Last year she produced a gorgeous calendar capturing her love of nature and keen appreciation of beauty - it featured New Zealand landscapes.

Proceeds from the sale

of the calendar went to two community groups in the Philippines.

This year the ‘With a Smile’ project supports three groups: 1. Project Kaluguran (for kids) provides financial support to cover their daily allowances for food and transportation, as well as a yearly stipend for books, uniforms, bags and school supplies.

2. Tagumpay ng Panginoon provides feeding programmes for the homeless held every Thursday at 6:30pm with

around 300 to 500 average participants coming from all over the surrounding areas of Manila.

3. Leyte Development Centre Inc in Eastern Visayas empowers communities to be disaster prepared and capable of collectively rehabilitating themselves after every disaster and sustains their efforts towards a better quality of life.

“I now have two types of calendar - the wall ($20) or the desk calendar ($25). Plus I have two versions – the Classic

Calendar or the Premium Calendar (with a Bible verse every month).

Shipping is available internationally.

To receive Ayla’s calendars in time for Christmas place your order now: aylamatencio @gmail.com or on mobile 021825418. https://www.facebook. com/aylalouisecyrene/ p o s t s / 10216666136178366

From Beauty Queen to Community Ambassador AUCKLAND – She was then only 17, a soft spoken teenager, helping her parents - who are passionate about paying it forward raise funds for a charity at a Filipino community event. But what came next may have had a great impact on her life journey.

Ayla Louise Matencio was invited to participate in the first ever Maginoo at Binibining Cultural Pageant 2013, organised by Filipino Migrant News to help young Filipinos connect with their cultural roots.

“I agreed to participate without hesitation,” she recalls. And according to the pageant organiser, Ayla came out of her shell at the pageant and communicated her belief that young people should be actively involved in community work. She wowed the audi-

ence and the judges with her riveting speech and walked away with the crown.

In 2016 she developed another passion - photog-

Run a little faster, jump a little higher continued from page 9

A sensitive, but significant topic, is prejudice.

Kiwis are, in general, friendly people, but an

unfortunate prejudiced grants.

They may of English

number are against mimistake lack as lack of

raphy. “For me taking a photo is immortalizing the moment, so that I can look at the photo 10 years from now and relive the memory of when I was taking that

photo.

“Since we moved to NZ I have come to appreciate nature more. I love going on walks or hikes around Auckland. One Tree Hill is my favourite place to go for a walk. I usually watch the sunset at the summit and take photos with my phone.

“Then I thought about buying an entry level camera and learning more about photography. I learned more techniques online and by meeting people with the same passion through social media.

“My photography skills peaked in 2017 when I made friends on Instagram who had the same passion.

I then decided to travel around NZ to photograph landscapes.”

She then went on to produce a 2019 calendar for sale to the public featuring

knowledge, or poorly accented English as stupidity. They may also be acting out of fear, or selfprotection of one’s jobs or interests. Some participants also believed that their dark skin worked against them.

Since changes in attitude take a long time, the best that one can do is show their friendly face to society. This may convince any potential employer that your presence is nonthreatening and even advantageous.

The seminar, however, was not so much lecturing as it was participation. All the participants actively involved themselves in discussions and exercises and all of them liked the interactive nature of the seminar.

The participants had to complete assignments such as completing their CV or contact list or searching through various sources for jobs. Each participant was given individual feedback on their exercises and was

some of her amazing photographs.

“As per last year's project, with every trip I do I would like to fulfil a greater purpose - and that is not only to share my landscape photos in social media but also to use them for a project that will make a difference to the lives of people who are in need and are not as fortunate as

provided with contact names and numbers by the director of the program. Practical concerns like the Employment Relations Act of 2000 and minimum wages were also discussed.

On the last day a little Maori culture was shared with them.

The success of the seminar was evident from the fact that all the participants voluntarily stayed longer than was required.

In feedback forms, all of the participants rated the

most of us who are in New Zealand.

“I noticed that most of the landscape calendars being sold here promote the beauty of New Zealand. But my 2020 Landscape Calendars go beyond that - I am using photos from both around New Zealand and from Europe (photos I took on a holiday there), so that they

seminar as very useful and recommended it to other migrants. The seminar was about finding a job, but it was not just about finding a job.

Only one person found a job within those four days, but everyone was given confidence and faith in their abilities, strategies to overcome obstacles, hope to find the perfect job and a few laughs.

Editor: The organiser claims that about 70% of participants found a job or were self-employed

ISSUE 134

EVENT REPORT

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G O N E G O S YO

Cross cultural integration at

NZ Fashion Week

By Mel Fernandez

AUCKLAND – A second Filipino Fashion Designer from Auckland has made a big impression in the emerging couture category of the New Zealand Fashion Week held in August this year.

This annual fashion showcase brings together local and international fashion designers, fashion editors and suppliers.

Last year Ruscoe Busternera-Kirby, who moved to New Zealand in 2011, rocked the runway at this event with his edgy fashion creations: www. filipinonews.nz/events/str eet-fashion/designer-fash-

FILIPIANA MEETS KIWIANA ion.

Following in his footsteps, Dwayne Mallo, 50, an electronics and communications engineer by day and a creative powerhouse in events and fashion after hours, was persuaded by friends to take the plunge this year.

“I guess I had a latent interest in fashion from a young age. My mum was a

seamstress, dad worked in textiles and my brother is a fashion model.

“I became an accidental fashion designer. At a business meeting someone was looking for a designer to present a collection for an event. They asked me and I just went for it.”

What was the inspiration for his designs? “You could say that I am striv-

ing for cross-cultural integration. I combine New Zealand spring colours and Philippine fashion elements to create a range that has got people talking.

“My range features boleros, butterfly sleeves and other Philippine inspired designs using stunning fabric, beautiful colours and overall they

look very vibrant.”

Dwayne voices the lament of other Filipino designers like France Matirez that there are limited materials to work with in New Zealand. “I have to get supplies from the Philippines and I also have a seamstress there who makes my dresses,” confides Dwayne.

At Fashion Week his

designs were paraded by mainly Kiwi models, including two Filipina models. In an interview with media, the fashion models who paraded his clothes said that they were delighted to wear his refreshing designer fashion.

Photo Credit: Lens by Macar

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EVENT REPORT

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HIGH VOLTAGE PHILIPPINE FASHION SPECTACLE

CHRISTCHURCH – We have never seen the likes of this in New Zealand before. A high voltage fashion show transported directly from the Philippines, complete with all the bells and whistles.

And the creative director responsible for the spectacular ‘Philippine Fashion Show’ in Christchurch was none other than Jontie

Fashion photography

by Dice Sales

One of the most glamorous designers in the Philippines Jontie Martinez specialises in Philippine traditional costumes.

By Mel Fernandez

Martinez – a high profile, Manila-based fashion designer specializing in Philippine traditional costumes.

The New Zealand event on 14th September 2019 was sponsored by a community group in Christchurch – the Philippine F.A.C.E.S. Guests at the Celebration Centre in Wainoni in Christchurch were able to marvel at a collection of

about 50 exquisite creations, each showing the craftsmanship in Jontie’s designs and proudly presented on the catwalk by 20 Filipino-Kiwi models – 3 males and 17 females.

“I like promoting Philippine costumes because that is where I come from, that is my home and I love it, of course,” says Jontie. continued on page 15

ISSUE 134

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HIGH VOLTAGE PH FASHION SHOW

can put metalwork, or we can do different silhouettes.

“For continued from t h e page 13 males it’s the JONTIE: B a ro n g For the females Tagalog, it’s the Philipagain pine Terno, one the silthat is popuhouette larised by the is very butterfly tradisleeves. tional, It comes with closed a lot of details like beadwork, EXCLUSIVE NZ INTERVIEW: n e c k a n d e m b ro i d e r y, Listen to the podcast with l o n g lace applique Celebrity PH Designer Jontie Martinez at: sleeves. and it speaks www.filipinonews.nz B u t of the beauty of again, the Filipina. It speaks of being warm and we can do different treathospitable. ments like the embroidery “The fashion there is or we can use non-tradivery traditional, but we tional materials such as can give it modern touches. pineapple fabric. But being Like in the beadwork we creative as an artist we are

given certain freedoms to tweak it for the modern male.”

FMN: How long have you been in the fashion field?

JONTIE: I’ve been in the fashion business for roughly 30 years.

Immediately after school.

Ever since I was a child I was already interested in clothes.

FMN: Do you focus solely on traditional wear?

JONTIE: Of course, I also do mainstream. But in all my shows I always have Philippine fashion, especially if the show is in another country.

I have shown my fashion in Hawaii, in New York, in New Jersey and in Canada.

This is my first time here in New Zealand. And I want not just the people from the Filipino community of Christchurch, but

everyone, to see Philippine fashion - to really feel it, to appreciate it, because I am sure that the Filipinos here are hungry for this.

FMN: Do you focus exclusively on the local market in the Philippines or do you export as well?

JONTIE: I only take orders for one-offs and cater mostly to the local market.

I do not supply to the outlets because it is more complicat- Photo: Dice Sales ed. But if there are orders from other and pageants. Aside from countries, then I am able to designing the clothes for pageant contestants I also accommodate them.

I love doing bridal gowns train beauty queens.

To enter text: 027 495 8477 filipinonews@xtra.co.nz organised by: www.filipinonews.nz & www.halohalo.nz

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FMN: Can you name some of your famous clients in the Philippines?

J O N T I E : Ye s , Pauline Luna and I did the debutante gown for Anne Curtis.

FMN: Would you consider coming back to New Zealand?

JONTIE: Well, if I am invited again. It’s really very hard to put on a show like this as it involves months of conceptualisation.

And there are expenses as well. This is my first time here and they really rolled out the red carpet for me.

BANANA TURON

filipinonews@ xtra.co.nz

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