Over three in ten migrants still feel unsafe after spending years in New Zealand

WELLINGTON - Over three in ten migrants in New Zealand still feel less satisfied and unsafe after spending several years in New Zealand, according to a survey released on Monday by the New Zealand Department of Labour and Statistics.

According to Xinhua, 24.2 percent of migrants were less satisfied with their lives at three years, compared with 14.1 percent who were more satisfied.

More than 5,000 migrants were interviewed at six months, 18 months and three years since moving to New Zealand.

However, 92.3 percent of migrants said they were satisfied or very satisfied at three years, the number who were very satisfied decreased over time, from 44.7 percent at six months to 35.5 percent at three years.

Migrants were also less likely to feel safe from crime, with 36. 1 percent saying they felt less safe at six months compared with 13.8 percent who felt more safe at three years.

The number who felt unsafe or very unsafe increased from 3.2 percent at six months to 7.5 percent at three years, while the number who felt safe or very safe decreased from 85.5 percent to 76 percent.

Migrants were generally more satisfied at work, with many earning more and reporting greater job satisfaction.

The survey found more migrants now owned homes in New Zealand, with 30.6 percent owning property at six months and 51.9 percent at three years.

Almost half of all migrants lived in Auckland, at 49.3 percent, with 31.5 percent in the rest of the North Island and 19.3 percent in the South Island. (ANI)