Printer-friendly VersionPortraits: Youth
Portraits: Youth is an Office of Ethnic Affairs publication that celebrates young ethnic New Zealanders. Here is a snapshot of some photographs and the stories published in Portraits.
Foreword
When I first came to New Zealand as a young man, I didn’t know anybody. I used to look at all the houses and wonder: “What do people do inside those homes? What happens there?” As I got to know people I found out. That knowledge brought understanding, and this is what I hope will be the result of Portraits.
In Portraits we have photographed over 20 young ethnic people, all with different backgrounds, experiences, and hopes and dreams. In doing so we wanted to show something of the vitality of the ethnic sector, and to offer insights that are difficult to communicate through words alone.
The key message we wanted to convey was that over and above the difference, there is similarity. So when you look at these images we hope you will see not just an Indian, a Greek or an Iraqi, but an individual person.
Someone who, like you, is a New Zealander with unique experiences. Without the goodwill that comes from understanding there is a risk of division and misapprehension. This is why we have produced this book.
I would like to thank all the young people featured in Portraits. All of them shared something of their lives and, in some cases, generously shared the things they felt most deeply about.
Mervin Singham
Director, Office of Ethnic Affairs
The Russian Soccer Team
“We have Russians, Polish, Ukrainian, Korean, Brazilians, Germans, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, French, Swiss … people just come and join when they see us play … We borrowed the old uniforms from the Latino team, and the goal nets from the Polish team. But we just got some funding from the Community Trust and now we’ve got everything to play tournaments.”
Roustam Temirkhanov organises the Russian soccer team. He came to New Zealand in 2001 from Daghestan (in southern Russia), after reading a book written by a Russian New Zealander. On his second day here he asked, “where can you play soccer?” He joined the Russian social team and by an odd coincidence found that one of his teammates wrote the book that attracted him to New Zealand.
Anton Suslov has been with the team from the beginning. “I’ve known these guys for four years,” he says. “We always go out Friday and Saturday, go out to town, go partying, go to barbecues …” Anton was 16 when he came here from the Ukraine. After an English course, high school and two years doing shiftwork at a hotel, he is back studying — doing a BCom in management and marketing. As well as soccer, Anton is into karate and snowboarding. “I just like the will to win, and then there’s the friends, team support, all that stuff.”
Izelson Camargo came to New Zealand last year from Brazil. He joined the Russian team after seeing them play in Hagley Park. “It is fun,” says Izelson, “to take off the stress. You can forget everything when you are playing.” Izelson began playing indoor soccer when he was seven. His favourite team is Gremio, from Porto Alegre. “This is Ronaldinho Gaucho’s team the best player in the world, I want to put up the flag of my team in Christchurch.”
The Stamping Ground Theatre Group
Stamping Ground Theatre Group is the production of theatre director Jade Eriksen and a group of young New Zealanders from refugee and migrant backgrounds. The group tells stories about their lives, from dreamlike childhoods to New Zealand experiences of racial and sexual harassment, and dealing (often humorously) with cultural dislocation.
“You have to go to the mosque every day, you have to go to school, I want you to pray, stop going to the movies all the time it’s not good for you. Start being like a normal child and listen to your parents.”
Fatuma Jeylani plays the part of a parent. Born in Somalia, Fatuma Jeylani came to New Zealand with her family when she was 10 or 11. Her dream is to act. “I’m starting at the Wellington Performing Arts Centre in July, studying creative arts and therapy. Those courses will get me ready for the acting course there next year.”
“People are always asking me where I’m from. I’m hesitant to say I’m from Iraq – the media is not my friend. People always follow up with the same questions like: ‘Is it true that little kids drive tanks?’, ‘Did you ever see a bombshell explode in front of you?’, ‘Are your parents still alive?’, ‘Are you grateful that you’re in New Zealand?’, ‘What do you think about the war?’ They can drive me crazy. So sometimes I tell them I’m Maori or something. (Every now and then) I wish I had an anti-stupid-questions repellent lotion.”
Phillip Pithyou, Assyrian, is studying theatre and psychology at Victoria University, and working at Evolve, Wellington Youth Services Centre. He arrived in New Zealand at the age of four fleeing Saddam Hussein. "I love acting, it is my platform where I can bring to light personal stories. My voice may be blurred elsewhere, but on stage I have a voice. A voice of my own."
“On that day, I didn’t know how to feel...”
Aya Al-Umari was born in the Emirates and moved to Christchurch when she was young. She is now a second-year student majoring in economics and international business. Stamping Ground is her first experience with the theatre. “After Stamping Ground I’m a bit uncertain what I want to do. Maybe something other than business things – my mother is an artist, and so is my aunty.”
“Black is beautiful. I’m proud to be one and I’m unique.”
Tammilka Nurokina came to New Zealand via Canberra, where Tammilka’s father had a government job. The family moved to Wellington when her mother got a job at Wellington Hospital. They are originally from Ghana. “I enjoy theatre but it’s not my big thing. I really want to be a lawyer.”
“Know me before you judge me – peace.”
Martin “Sparks” Oraha has been in New Zealand two and half years and is currently doing a computer course. He is Assyrian. “I’ve been working with Phillip and some African brothers on these hip hop recordings. We might make a CD. I just want to talk about life – and some personal stuff like growing up in the war and coming to this country.”
For a complete copy of Portraits please Contact our office.