Overcoming Challenges and Pursuing Dreams

Employment is about far more than earning an income. It is about dignity, belonging, and the opportunity to contribute. For newcomers to Aotearoa New Zealand — including former refugees and migrants — meaningful employment can be a crucial step in rebuilding their lives, gaining confidence, and feeling part of the communities they now call home.

Yet despite the skills, experience, and determination many newcomers bring with them, barriers to employment opportunities still exist. These barriers can include unfamiliar recruitment processes, limited local work experience, or employers not yet fully understanding the challenges newcomers may face when trying to enter the workforce.

This is why our work at HOST matters. By working directly with employers, we help create understanding on both sides — supporting businesses to recognise the value newcomers bring, while also helping break down the practical barriers that can stand in the way of employment.

Sometimes, this collaboration leads to powerful and practical solutions – like for Mohammad, a jobseeker from a refugee background. One employer created an internship opportunity for Mohammad, recognising that local work experience is often the missing piece for many jobseekers. The internship became more than just a job placement; it helped build a bridge. The newcomer gained valuable experience and confidence, while the employer discovered first-hand the skills, perspectives, and resilience newcomers bring to the workplace.

Experiences like this remind us why we do this work. When employers and newcomers connect in meaningful ways, everyone benefits — individuals, businesses, and our wider communities.

Here, Mohamed shares a short reflection on what this internship experience meant to him.

My Journey in New Zealand’s Financial and Legal Sectors 

My name is Mohammad Zubair Karimi, I am from Afghanistan. I came to New Zealand November 2021 as result of a political change in my country and a potential risk of life. I was working as Associate Attorney on the ground for NATO allies.

Arriving in New Zealand, I faced a whirlwind of challenges. Adapting to a new country, finding my footing in a professional landscape vastly different from what I was accustomed to, and adjusting to cultural and workplace nuances all posed unique obstacles. During this time, HOST International Aotearoa (HOST) became an invaluable source of support, offering guidance that helped me gain stability and the confidence to take my first steps toward a career here.

Through HOST, I was introduced to Nikko AM Investment Management. This opportunity marked a pivotal moment. Nikko AM offered insights into New Zealand’s investment landscape, helping me deepen my understanding of the country’s financial systems and strengthen my professional foundations. The connections I built there opened the door to my next significant role: working with the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).

Following the completion of the internship, I’ve had the privilege of working with the FMA, initially with the Governance and Oversight team and later with the Perimeter and Response team. This experience has been invaluable, allowing me to engage with New Zealand’s financial regulations and compliance frameworks.

I’ve grown immensely, not only in technical knowledge but also in resilience and adaptability. Now, as my last day approaches, I am filled with gratitude for the professional and personal growth I’ve gained here.

Parallel to my professional journey, I pursued an assessment from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE) to better understand the pathway to becoming a qualified lawyer in New Zealand. Based on this evaluation, I need to complete five courses, including the bar examination, to achieve my goal. This is a challenging path, but my experience with the FMA has only strengthened my resolve.

Each of these experiences—beginning with my early struggles, receiving support from HOST, working at Nikko AM, and learning at the FMA—has solidified my commitment to a career in New Zealand's legal field. The journey ahead requires dedication, but I am inspired to continue, aiming to contribute meaningfully to New Zealand's legal and financial sectors as a qualified lawyer.

If stories like this resonate with you, consider supporting HOST — through employment partnerships or donations — so we can grow our internship programme, work with more employers, and create more opportunities for newcomers to take that vital first step into employment in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Donate now: https://www.gofundraise.co.nz/beneficiary/hostinternational