Indian Man Faces Racism In New Zealand, Told to 'Go Back To India

Indian Man in New Zealand Faces Daily Racism, Seeks Support OnlineA 29-year-old Indian man who moved to New Zealand two years ago in search of a fresh start has shared his struggles with racism in a heartfelt post on Reddit. Posting under the username “Lopsided_Tennis69,” he expressed disappointment that his expectations of New Zealand as a “welcoming and multicultural” country have not been met.In his post, titled “Unwelcome in New Zealand,” he opened up about his experiences. “I’m a 29-year-old Indian guy who moved to New Zealand two years ago, hoping for a fresh start. I had this ideal image of NZ being welcoming and multicultural, but my experience has been far from that, unfortunately. I wanted to share my story and hear from others who might be in the same boat,” he wrote.Despite encountering a few friendly individuals, his overall experience has been marred by frequent racist encounters. “From random strangers yelling stuff at me on the street to getting weird looks or rude comments at work because of my accent or appearance,” he said, reflecting on the challenges he faces daily.He also noted how social situations have often left him feeling isolated. “Even in social settings, I feel like people avoid me, or I get treated differently. Sometimes it’s subtle like people talking over me or excluding me from conversations,” he shared.In one particularly direct incident, he recalled being told to “go back to where I came from.” While trying to adapt to life in New Zealand, he has made efforts to learn Kiwi slang, understand the culture, and remain open-minded. However, he admitted, “There are moments when it gets exhausting.”“I never felt like an outsider growing up in India, but here, even after two years, I feel like I don’t fully belong,” he confessed, highlighting the mental toll of these experiences. Reaching out to the Reddit community for advice, he asked, “Have any of you faced similar issues after moving abroad? How do you cope with the feeling of being an outsider or dealing with racism, especially when it hits so unexpectedly?”His post ended on a poignant note: “It’s tough because I really want to make New Zealand my home, but there are days I wonder if I made the right choice. How do you handle the mental toll of this, and does it get any better over time?”

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Similar Experiences Shared by Other Indians AbroadThe post echoes a story shared by Indian YouTuber Deepanshu Sangwan, who described his own encounters with racism during a visit to South Korea. In a video released in September, he talked about the “uncomfortable stares” and sense of “alienation” he felt due to his appearance. Sangwan remarked on how his brown skin seemed to attract attention, saying, “We’re Indians, we have brown skin—what can we do? We were born this way.”Sangwan pointed out that while people of African descent may sometimes face challenges in India, it is not as common to receive “dirty looks.” He also mentioned cultural differences, noting, “We could poke fun at Koreans too since much of their culture is borrowed from Chinese traditions and other influences.”He urged those planning to visit South Korea to be prepared for such reactions to avoid being caught off guard. Sangwan added that it's not just individuals with brown skin who stand out; even white visitors are seen as “exotic” in South Korea.