“I thought I spoke English,” Sarah Chen, a marketing professional, recalls with a laugh. “Then I heard a Kiwi say ‘sweet as’ and ‘she’ll be right,’ and I realized I was in a completely different world”. Sarah had the qualifications, but she felt like an outsider, struggling with the “humor gap” and the indirect communication style that Kiwis often use to avoid sounding rude.
The Safe SpaceIn the Culture Connect workshop, Sarah didn’t just learn about New Zealand history; she became a Tangata Tiriti—an active participant in the Treaty partnership. The workshop provided a safe, comfortable space where she could open up freely about her confusion.
The TransformationSarah’s biggest breakthrough came from understanding Pono (courage and honesty). She realized that her cultural strengths weren’t things to hide, but assets to contribute to the Kiwi workplace.
- She learned to decode the “Kiwi accent” and the flat vowel sounds that had previously confused her.
- She began practicing Manaakitanga, building authentic relationships that mattered more than a cold LinkedIn connection.
The ResultSarah no longer felt “othered”. As she noted in her review, the workshop helped her understand how her own cultural background could thrive alongside Kiwi values. She moved from “guesswork” to genuine confidence.