Tauranga couple Petra Savicova and Petr Katreniak, from the Czech Republic, moved to New Zealand in 2018. Photo / Supplied
Tauranga couple Petra Savicova and Petr Katreniak, from the Czech Republic, moved to New Zealand in 2018. Photo / Supplied
When Czech couple Petra Savicova and Petr Katreniak moved to New Zealand in 2018, they sent their CVs “across the whole country”.
They decided to move wherever one of them got a job first.
“I got the first job in Tauranga in one cafe,” Savicova said.
The couple were amongsix Tauranga-based migrants who recently completed a migrant workplace communication training course delivered and funded by Multicultural Tauranga.
After the course, she felt more confident and learned to “calm” her voice.
Savicova said Katreniak was recently promoted to site manager.
“This course helped him to express himself better at work and to be fair, home as well,” she said with a laugh.
Tauranga couple Petra Savicova and Petr Katreniak recently completed the migrant workplace communication training course, delivered and funded by Multicultural Tauranga. Photo / Supplied
Savicova said she wanted to learn English after finishing university because it was important for working in the transport industry.
The couple moved to London for a year, “but I didn’t learn anything”.
She said many people were from overseas and spoke in their native languages.
The couple went to Canada for 18 months, where she did a three-month fulltime English course and “learned a lot”.
They moved to New Zealand in 2018 and had stayed since.
Tauranga couple Petr Katreniak and Petra Savicova, from Czech Republic, bought their first home about a year ago. Photo / Supplied
Savicova worked in Tauranga cafes for about two years before finding a job in her industry.
While working in hospitality, she asked “everyone” if they knew of any jobs. This led to a job at Robert Monk Transport.
After about seven months, Savicova started working at C3 at the Port of Tauranga and had worked there for four years.
Savicova said she found living in New Zealand “very relaxed” compared to Europe.
“When I work in a cafe, they look at me like, ‘Why you so speedy?’”
She said the couple got residency and bought their first home a year ago.
Multicultural Tauranga migrant workplace communication training course students and team members: Petr Katreniak (left), Petra Savicova, Niall Baker (course facilitator), Glenda Pearce (Speech NZ examiner), Pieter de Zwart (course facilitator), Meng Gu, Ruiyi Li, Samar Nijim and Martin Andres Fuentes Salas. Photo / Supplied
Multicultural Tauranga had offered the migrant workplace communication training course for several years, but falling enrolments prompted a redesign last year.
A new hybrid tuition model – online and in-person – proved successful, with six completing the programme.
Multicultural Tauranga programme co-ordinator Premila D’Mello said for many participants, “English isn’t the only barrier”.
“Confidence, cultural understanding, and professional communication can make all the difference when it comes to finding meaningful work or community connection.”
The 10-week course culminated in participants achieving the Certificate in Professional Speaking through Speech New Zealand.
Participants learned how to speak confidently in job interviews and professional settings, handle feedback and conflict in the workplace, present ideas clearly to groups, and adjust their tone and body language to suit different audiences.
Speech New Zealand executive manager Helena Coulton said the voices of migrant communities were “vital” to the identity and future of Tauranga.
“When we invest in communication skills, we’re investing in inclusion, employment, and belonging.”
