Theft a blow for job hunter

Ajith Joseph's aspirations to work as a nurse were dealt a cruel blow after his home-town qualification, together with almost all his belongings, were stolen hours before he embarked on a job search.

The 25-year-old, from the southern Indian state of Kerala, has pleaded for public assistance after losing all except his New Zealand qualification, a cellphone and his laptop from outside his Whangarei home about 4am on May 26.

Mr Joseph says he may have to go back to India to get a replacement certificate from the Kerala Nursing Council, without which he cannot prove his previous experience as a nurse while applying for jobs in Northland.

Two suitcases of clothes, a bag, his nursing qualification from India and a gold ring were among items he had loaded into his friend and flatmate's car overnight to travel to Dargaville the next day.

The Nissan Primera was parked outside his flat, on the street at Second Ave, when it was broken into and driven away.

The pair were scheduled to leave Whangarei about 5.30am on May 26 but, while preparing for their trip, they heard the car start and its music player blasting.

The car drove off as they rushed outside and three days later police found it abandoned in Tikipunga, minus the household items.

A registered nurse in Kerala, Mr Joseph came to Northland for his adaptation programme at NorthTec last November and, upon completion, obtained a New Zealand nursing registration certificate.

Luckily, his recently acquired certificate was safe as he had put it in his laptop bag but, without his Indian certificate, he reckoned job prospects would be slim.

"I need my qualification from Kerala because without that, I either won't be able to get a job or my prospects would be difficult.

"I may need to travel back home to obtain a replacement certificate but to do that I need a replacement passport, which will take between 40 to 50 days," he said.

Mr Joseph said he had been looking for work since February this year and that the theft has made life difficult.

"I can go without the clothes that were stolen but I really need my certificate and passport ... they are of no use to anybody."

Whangarei police are still investigating the theft of the vehicle and missing items.

Mr Joseph has asked members of the public to contact him on 021 185 3201 or the police with any information about his missing documents.