A website set up to give migrants a way to air concerns about
their new life in New Zealand is getting a surge of hits, and some
have been threatening.
The group of migrants who have set up the website are accusing the
government of luring them here with false promises. The reaction in
the community has been described as overwhelming, with thousands
visiting the site in the last 48 hours.
Agness Kaku and her husband Peter started their new life in New Zealand a year ago. Not long after came Expat Exposed, a site dealing with the downside of living here.
"We're actually surprised by how many Kiwis signed up expressly to condemn us," says Kaku.
Since ONE News rans the story on Monday night, they have got more than 100 new members - up to 20,000 hits.
Kaku says it has been a little bit overwhelming and they have recieved some pretty threatening messages.
"There were a few people that used the private message function to send not quite a threat, but an unpleasant private message to people they didn't even know, so I was a little surprised by that," says Kaku.
But this web designer is not surprised she has copped a bit of flack.
"I think most people confuse patriotism with denial of anything that's bad about their country, and I think we can all agree when we're feeling calm enough that that's a very dangerous road to go down. So no I'm not surprised by it," says Kaku.
One MP who specialises in immigration issues is tracking the debate.
"There's a level of anger of some of the postings and I look at it and there are some quite rational debates going on, but there's a group of people who feel quite let down in terms of getting jobs or racism," says National Party MP Pansy Wong.
She plans to meet the couple on Sunday to try to help them.
"New Zealand as a whole, we are a country of generosity, our people want to reach out and give people a fair go and I want to extend that ethos," says Wong.
But it may be too late for Kaku and her husband.
They hope to quit Christchurch for Tokyo, and another new start in
about six months.
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