When Kristine Asuncion saw foot and mouth disease bankrupt her family’s farm in the Philippines, she wondered how they’d ever rebuild their lives.
In 2008 the family found a fresh start in rural New Zealand – and 16 years later Asuncion’s absolutely loving her new life as a dairy farmer.
She’s also recently been elected junior vice-president of Federated Farmers North Canterbury and chair of the Filipino Dairy Workers in New Zealand (FDWNZ). Asuncion is now determined to help other Filipino migrants not only succeed in farm assistant roles in New Zealand, but to step into higher leadership positions.
“My own journey has shown me the opportunities for migrants to make a new life for themselves and contribute to our communities here,” she says.
“In farming, I’ve seen a lot of focus on helping migrant workers gain good pasture management, animal husbandry and other practical farming skills.
“That’s great, but I want to see that expanded to help them become better managers of people and leaders in their community.”
Asuncion and her husband Abner are contract milking 1250 cows at Hororata, north of the Rakaia River in Canterbury.
She says it’s been quite a journey since arriving in Invercargill as a teenager.
“My parents and five siblings came here looking for a better future after a foot and mouth disease outbreak hit our farm and meat retail stores in the Philippines.
“We had absolutely nothing and needed to start again from scratch.”
Asuncion’s mother is a chemical engineer and spent six months working in Queenstown on her own before the rest of the family could come.
When she landed a laboratory role in Alliance Group’s Mataura plant, the family’s residency pathway was secured.
“Invercargill is a very cold place, but I met some of the warmest people I’ve ever met in my life – and it’s the same in other rural communities,” Asuncion says.
“Filipinos always find their feet and quickly find ways to look after each other and integrate into the community.”
She says her family members already had good English, but soon picked up the Southlanders’ rolling of their ‘r’s.
Asuncion married Abner, who came to New Zealand aged 20 to work on a dairy farm. She finished a commerce degree at Otago University and the couple now have two children, aged seven and nine.
She says Filipinos come here for better-paid work but top of mind for many is a better education for their children.
Her parents’ ambition and sacrifice have paid off – for their children and for New Zealand.
Asuncion’s siblings now work as a lawyer, a rural GP, small business manager, and in the Ministry of Education and Fonterra.
Asuncion still isn’t quite sure how she came about being elected as chair of FDWNZ – but she’s relishing it.
“I think this organisation is more critical than ever,” she says.
“We hear all the debate about visas and residency. Filipinos have much to offer in New Zealand, and not just on farms.”
She says migrant workers on-farm bring new vitality and spending to small rural towns and communities.
One person who agrees is Marty Gameson, principal of Hororata School, where Asuncion joined the board of trustees.
The farmer-turned-teacher says things have certainly changed since he arrived at the mid-Canterbury school in 2007.
“Back then we were a little forestry town, with some arable and sheep, and a school roll of 59.
“The dairy explosion in the district saw the roll hit 136 before dropping back to its current 100.”
At last count the school roll was 58% ‘international’, with nearly 40 Filipino children.
Gameson says pupil numbers track the fortunes of the district’s dairy farms, and the governments’ decisions on visas and residency.
There are challenges with the new arrivals, including language – but plenty of benefits too, he says.
“We’re now a real snapshot of New Zealand’s multicultural society.
“There are plenty of other schools that don’t have that. Their youngsters go off to high school or boarding school and they’re in for a culture shock.
“Respect, empathy and diversity are strengths of our school. Difference makes us strong,” Gameson says.
Hororata School’s first international dinner late last year, which Asuncion helped put together, fed a crowd of over 150.
Asuncion sees her role with Federated Farmers North Canterbury as another way to work for the good of her community, farming and Filipino New Zealanders.
“For me, it’s about people reaching their potential.
“If I can help with that, I’m willing.”
Federated Farmers, New Zealand’s leading independent rural advocacy organisation, has established a news and insights partnership with AgriHQ, the country’s leading rural publisher, to give the farmers of New Zealand a more informed, united and stronger voice. Federated Farmers news and commentary appears each week in its own section of the Farmers Weekly print edition and online.
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