Lincoln Tan: NZ a long way from home for Chinese

From the moment the plane hit terra firma, the excitement began to build. Wei Ming, 19, from Shaoxing in China's Zhejiang province had been told that New Zealand was "the most beautiful place on Earth" - and he could not wait to see it for himself.

He was on his way to realising his dream of a better life in a place his parents called "Xin Xilan" - "God's own country", a crime-free land of beauty and opportunity.

He had been told that New Zealand was so safe that houses had no gates and people could even sleep at night with their doors open.

To most New Zealanders Wei Ming, the only child of carpenter Li Cheng and school teacher Li Hui is just one of the many Chinese students.

To some Kiwis, he spells trouble - a potential reckless driver, gambling addict, kidnapper or even murderer.

As an English language student, Wei Ming will be in a class made up of his own countrymen, or from some other parts of Asia.

And like many others who have passed this way, Wei Ming will probably go home without ever making a Pakeha or Maori friend.

Every day Kiwis walk past students like Wei Ming. But sadly, for many New Zealanders, they only get acquainted with the Wei Mings through the news headlines when something goes awfully wrong. Lately, it has been as victims of kidnap and murder.

The latest murder victim was body-in-the-suitcase victim Wan Biao, and like Wei Ming, he was also 19 and from the Zhejiang province, not far from Shanghai.

The murder has sent shockwaves through the Chinese community. Discussion forums have run hot on Chinese websites. There was a feeling of a "loss of face" with one contributor writing: "It is not one person who has lost face here, it is all Chinese."

Anger was also directed at the media for insinuating that triads may have been involved.

Questions were also asked of the Ministry of Education's statement that New Zealand was still a safe place to study.

Newspapers carried reports daily on the murder of Wan Biao, and in death, this one Chinese student was given a face, name and an individual profile.

But does it mean things have to go awry before Kiwis get curious about them?

Would it have made a difference if Wan Biao had a local friend to turn to?

Jimmy Xu, 19, who came to New Zealand in May last year, recounts how difficult it was at first. He has asked for his real name not to be used for fear of repercussions.

Before arriving in New Zealand, all he knew about the country was through brochures and photographs: pohutukawa trees lining Tamaki Dr, sandy beaches and the Sky Tower. His initial reaction was like "all the dreams have come true".

But that slowly changed when he met his homestay family.

"When my New Zealand agent sent me to my homestay family, the only word I knew was hello, so I cannot talk with them," Jimmy said.

"On the first day, they showed me my small room and taught me how to take a bus to school and then went out." Unhappy with his homestay situation, he went flatting with two other classmates and they rented a central city apartment.

Two months into staying in the apartment, three men stormed in and demanded that he pay $500 for "protection service". He was told that he would likely face severe beatings if the money was not paid.

His found out later his flatmate had tipped off the men, and was given 10 per cent for each tip-off on new students.

He has since moved out and is now renting a room in Mt Roskill.

"People say New Zealand is safe, but it is not a safe place for Chinese students," Jimmy said. He believes students are drawn into crime for easy money. "My friends say if we want to make money from P, or get [extort] money from people, this is the place to do it, because if we try it in China, we may have to face the death penalty," he said.

Ironically, it was also this view of New Zealand's lenient laws that deterred Jimmy from reporting his extortion case to the police.

New Zealand had now become a cold, dull, dry place.

"My parents spend so much money for me to come here to learn English and hopefully get a good education and residency, but I will want to go back home to China soon. I miss it very much."

President of the New Zealand Chinese Students Association Nancy Hu said Chinese students were deeply affected by the murder of Wan Biao.

"As a Chinese student myself, I cannot imagine the sadness that the parents of Wan Biao must feel," Ms Hu said.

"Because the law only allows one child, parents would sacrifice everything and place all their hopes for the future on their son or daughter.

"For Wan Biao's parents, it has been all for nothing now."

Ms Hu said the association was organising a student safety seminar next month in response to Wan Biao's murder. But she realised that a solution would not be as straightforward as just telling students what to do if they are in trouble. In all likelihood the predator and the intended prey could be sitting in the same room at the seminar.

* Lincoln Tan is the managing editor of iBall newspaper.