There has been a major change in New Zealand's immigration policy. As of April 7th, bus and truck drivers applying for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will no longer be on the Green List.
This means that the fast-track route to immigration by driving buses in New Zealand has been blocked.
In this issue, we interviewed a young man who is already working as a bus driver in New Zealand, listening to his story of "emergency landing before the policy change, one year of low-cost flourishing in New Zealand".
Interviewee: Gong
Photo materials provided by: Gong
Interview, writing: Fangfang Ma
Being a Town Scholar
Decision to Go Abroad
On Gong's social media account, the first tag he gave himself was "Town Scholar(小镇做题家）"."Coming from a small town, buried in studies, good at exams, but lacking in vision and resources," is a summary of the town scholar crowd before the age of 22, and that was him.In his junior year, his life began to derail.
That year, with excellent academic performance, he could have secured a chance for further studies, but he chose to give it up.
In his senior year, like other law students, he passed the judicial examination as expected. According to the normal script, after receiving his university degree, he could have found an internship at a law firm or joined the ranks of civil service exams to secure a stable job.
But Gong was like the black sheep in the flock, choosing to stray from the herd.
He planned a new path for himself - going abroad.
Going to Guangzhou as a Law Student
To Become an Apprentice in Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy
Graduating from college and going abroad for postgraduate studies is a path chosen by many. But for Gong, who didn't have much savings, it was too expensive, so he hoped to work abroad.
A background in law from China is hard to find a place for abroad, so he planned to learn a trade.
Hearing many people say that massage therapy abroad can earn money, he became interested in learning massage.
Gong saw a recruitment information for an apprentice in traditional Chinese medicine therapy online. The company seemed to have good conditions and benefits, so he bought a train ticket and headed to Guangzhou alone.
When he arrived at the company in Guangzhou, he was dumbfounded: in order to start working, he needed to pay a tuition fee of 9,000 RMB, and after completing the training, the organization would recommend a job.
He felt he was being deceived, and with only 4,000 RMB on him, he gave up this opportunity.
Since he was already in Guangzhou, he decided to find a job locally.
Gong still wanted to learn massage, so he sent resumes to several places online, but HR saw him as a law graduate novice and didn't give him any opportunities.
There were not many job postings on job websites, so he tried to create opportunities.
He searched for massage parlors near his accommodation on Meituan, contacting each one to ask if they were hiring.
Persistence pays off for those who are determined, and one traditional Chinese medicine therapy clinic accepted Gong, giving him an interview opportunity. He passed the interview smoothly and officially became an apprentice in traditional Chinese medicine therapy.
To save money, he slept directly in the clinic at night, and this sleep lasted for half a year.
Seizing the Opportunity with a Working Holiday Visa
Realizing the Dream of Going Abroad
While working as an apprentice in traditional Chinese medicine therapy, Gong learned about the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa and began to seize the opportunity.
New Zealand issues only 1000 working holiday visas at a time, and applicants need to go online on the day of availability to "grab" them. Luckily, Gong became 1 of 1000 and got the visa, marking the beginning of his journey abroad.
After receiving the visa, Gong bid farewell to the clinic, bought a ticket from Guangzhou to Auckland, and upon landing in Auckland, he had only 900 NZD (less than 4000 RMB) on him. He first found a youth hostel to stay in, then applied for a tax number and bank card to prepare for work.
On the seventh day after landing, Gong found a job as a waiter, but the pace in New Zealand was slow, and it took three weeks to complete the onboarding process. During this time, he could only live frugally.
Living expenses in New Zealand are not cheap, so he bought the cheapest food at the supermarket and cooked pasta for himself most of the time. When he wanted a change, he would buy a 1kg banana cake for 5 NZD, high in calories to stave off hunger.
Although the youth hostel was relatively cheap accommodation, it still cost around 40 NZD per night, so he found a hostel exchange and worked a few hours a day to save on accommodation costs.
Just like that, he persevered until payday. By the time he received his first paycheck, he only had 70 NZD left. Upon receiving a salary of over 700 NZD, he was very happy. Finally, his dream of working abroad was coming true.
This job mostly involved night shifts from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., and although it was hard work, the income was stable and the working atmosphere was good, so he persisted for a long time.
Normally, Chinese citizens holding working holiday visas can only stay in New Zealand for one year, and each job can only be done for up to six months. However, due to the pandemic during Gong's entry, the local shortage of labor in New Zealand prompted the immigration department to grant an additional six months of visa to some eligible individuals, and also removed the restriction on working hours.
Thanks to this stroke of luck, Gong had a longer stay, but it was still far from enough for him to settle in a foreign country. His next goal was to obtain permanent residency.
Plans Can't Keep Up with Changes
Dream of Immigrating to Australia Shattered
In Gong's plan at the time, New Zealand was not his first choice for immigration because he still had a second ticket in hand.
While working in New Zealand, he was also fortunate enough to be drawn for an Australian working holiday visa (Australia's immigration department allocates around 5000 places to China each year, and applicants first fill out information online, and then the immigration department draws in batches).
When he bought the ticket and prepared to fly to South Australia the next day after his working holiday in New Zealand ended, news suddenly came out that the bonus points policy for South Australia in the 491 visa had been cancelled. This meant that the path he had originally planned was "blocked".
The road to Australia was no longer viable, so he decided to explore opportunities in New Zealand instead. He began to study New Zealand's immigration policies more seriously, searching for a viable exit strategy.
Extreme Move
Becoming a Bus Driver
While searching for immigration-related policies and information, Gong came across some content about bus drivers, and he keenly sensed that this might be an opportunity.
At the time, he didn't think about actually becoming one, especially since he was a novice driver in China with less than 200 kilometers of driving experience.
In order to address the shortage of bus drivers, the New Zealand government opened the door for this occupation, allowing bus drivers who meet certain criteria to submit immigration applications after working for two years.
This policy attracted many foreigners to apply for the position, and by mid-2023, the job market for bus drivers had become saturated. In June 2023, after accumulating two years of driving experience, Gong began the process of obtaining a local New Zealand driver's license, a necessary requirement for bus drivers in the country.
He diligently sought out driving instructors and swiftly went through the examination process, ultimately successfully obtaining his local driver's license. With the requirements fulfilled, he embarked on the journey of job hunting.
As a newcomer from China with just recently acquired local driver's license, in a job market already saturated with bus drivers, Gong tirelessly searched for opportunities. He repeatedly scanned job postings and crafted personalized cover letters according to the requirements, but these efforts seemed to yield no results. After several rounds of disappointment, he began to feel disheartened, thinking that perhaps there were no opportunities for him.
Before giving up, he made one last attempt. Just like when he was searching for jobs in Guangzhou, he employed a "stubborn method," painstakingly searching through each bus driver company's website, finding contacts, and sending out job inquiries. Although time-consuming, he was determined not to let go of any potential opportunity.
Finally, he secured an interview opportunity. While many might interpret it as luck, I could sense from the interview that Gong is a highly purposeful and driven individual. He wouldn't give up easily until he achieves his goal.
During the interview, he was accompanied by applicants from all over the world. When asked why they wanted to apply for the position, many shared beautiful stories such as "love for driving" or finding the job meaningful. Gong, however, was candid: "I want to immigrate through this job." His sincerity resonated with the interviewer, ultimately granting him the opportunity.
On August 14, 2023, Gong officially joined the company as a bus driver.
On Gong's social media account, someone joked when he shared his story of becoming a bus driver: "Hope I don't end up on your bus." A newcomer with only 200 kilometers of driving experience in China, driving a bus does sound a bit unreliable.
However, the local bus companies in New Zealand are not foolish; they wouldn't entrust a vehicle to an unqualified individual. Before taking the wheel, new drivers undergo paid training provided by the company. While most bus drivers have full licenses, Gong was an exception with his learner's permit and short driving experience. Therefore, the company provided him with a full three months of training before allowing him to start driving.
Gong still remembers vividly his first solo drive as a bus driver. It was a route from Auckland's eastern area to the city center, involving highway driving. Before boarding, he meticulously studied the route and familiarized himself with the road conditions. Eventually, he safely reached the final destination.
The beginning of any endeavor is often challenging, but once the first step is taken, the subsequent ones become clearer. And so, Gong embarked on his journey as a full-time bus driver.
The bus company where Gong works not only operates regular bus services but also runs school buses, private charter buses, and other types of services. This variety offers him opportunities to drive different types of vehicles.
Being a bus driver is not an easy job. Gong works an average of five days a week, with each shift lasting 10 hours. To prevent driver fatigue, they are required to take a 3-hour break in between. Consequently, the work hours are stretched out.
When driving, Gong needs to stay focused, often unable to engage in conversation, making it a somewhat solitary job.
Of course, there are moments of danger as well. Sometimes, in less favorable areas, passengers refuse to swipe their cards. Gong has even been threatened by emotionally unstable passengers. Once, while waiting at a traffic light, a man suddenly ran up to the bus and demanded to be let in. Despite Gong's explanation that it wasn't a suitable stop, the man angrily threatened him, saying, "I'll count to three. If you don't open the door, I'll kick it!" With no other choice, Gong opened the door and cautioned him to "be careful."
Nevertheless, there are also heartwarming moments at work. On a busy afternoon, while driving from Auckland City to the eastern area, a Chinese auntie struck up a conversation with him. Upon learning that Gong was young and Chinese, she praised him, saying, "You're amazing, so young and driving so well!" She worked at a Chinese restaurant and later brought him some food to eat, which deeply touched him.
Some might say "Chinese people cheat Chinese people abroad," but in reality, most people are kind-hearted, often helping each other out.
Many of Gong's colleagues are also Chinese. At his bus company, 40% are Indian, 30% are Chinese or other Asians, 20% are Pacific Islanders, and the remaining 10% are New Zealanders. Most have chosen this job for immigration purposes, and due to similar goals and circumstances, cooperation at work tends to go smoothly.
Being the architect of his own destiny, Gong has paved his own way. Now, after eight months of working at the bus company, just a little over a year more, and he can submit his immigration application.
Unfortunately, this month, the green immigration pathway for bus drivers has been closed, meaning future bus drivers cannot immigrate through this route.
Gong's daring move secured him a job and set him on the path he desired. Reflecting on this transformative year, he describes it as a period of "turning points and enlightenment." He believes in doing his best while acknowledging that change is the only constant and adapting accordingly.
Now, with a stable job and immigration goals in sight, Gong continues to learn and create outside of work. He meets people from different fields for coffee chats and creates short videos to share online, keeping his creativity flowing like a perennial stream. Because for him, the journey doesn't end here.
On social media, Gong goes by the name "Black-Haired Yang Wenli," inspired by a character from the Japanese novel "Legend of the Galactic Heroes." Described as a calm scholar rather than a soldier, this character possesses great military wisdom and strategic foresight. Gong likely admires and appreciates him.
There's a hint of this "Black-Haired Yang Wenli" in the 24-year-old Gong, setting goals, calmly seeking solutions, and giving his all.
People who learn about Gong's experiences online might label his current life as "lucky," but the cheerful and straightforward Gong doesn't deny it. Because he knows that Lady Luck favors those who are sincere and hardworking.
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