On
Arrival - Voted Best Professional Business 2003/2004
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The Porirua City Business Awards are held every two years
to recognise outstanding businesses that reside in and contribute
positively to Wellington's Porirua City region. The gala
event was hosted by Business Porirua on October 16th.
Against five finalists, On Arrival took
top honours in the "Best Professional Business"
category. The judges were extremely impressed with On Arrival's
relocation services, and the team's ability to make such
a positive contribution to people settling in New Zealand.
Don and Eve Casagranda - directors of
On Arrival New Zealand - were ecstatic about their win.
"We pride ourselves on our ability
to go that extra mile for each of the individuals and families
that we relocate. Whether you're a new immigrant or transferring
within New Zealand, moving can be a stressful experience.
To be recognised for the outstanding service we provide
is a tremendous compliment to us and our team of consultants"
says Don.
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Article from local media, Dec 2009:
Taking the hassle out of settling
Porirua couple Don and Eve Casagranda have developed a successful business helping immigrants settle in New Zealand – and yet, if they’d had a return ticket when they immigrated to New Zealand from Canada 23 years ago they would have left within two weeks.
“I’ll never forget it. We arrived in a southerly gale and for two weeks you could hardly see Wellington,” says Eve. “We were put up in a grotty motel and while Don went to work I was stuck behind with two children, knowing no one.”
The memories of loneliness and isolation are still strong today and help drive Eve and Don as they work to take the hassle and heartache out of the resettling process for other immigrants.
The couple work closely with big businesses and government depart- ments that recruit internationally, and say settling the whole family is crucial to making those appointments work.
They have 22 consultants working in 14 destinations around New Zealand. Last year they settled 130 new immigrants into a new Kiwi lifestyle. “It can be a very lonely time. People don’t have their support systems here; nor their family. This is what we provide .... we become a friend; that’s what our business is,” says Eve.
With their strong Canadian accents still firmly in place, it’s clear to new clients they have “been there and done that” and understand first-hand the process of settling into a new country. And after those first few unhappy months in New Zealand, the couple are now very happily settled in Porirua City. “We just love it.”
On Arrival start working with clients before they leave their home country. Don and Eve have developed a range of guidelines, with information on such things as immigration requirements, employment, housing, education, cost of living, and healthcare. They also carry out a simple questionnaire to profile a client’s lifestyle, housing, educational, recreational, individual and family requirements and expectations. Based on this feedback and telephone conversations before they arrive, the couple research locations and properties that will best fit their clients’ needs.
When newcomers arrive they are met at the airport, taken to pre-arranged accommodation and left with a food hamper and information pack. Children receive their own settling-in package.
The next day they are taken on an orientation tour of their chosen city. On Arrival also accompany them to view potential homes, arrange school visits and help with the subsequent settling-in process, right through from organising bank accounts, IRD numbers, insurance, and buying a car, to signing on with a doctor, finding furniture, and getting the power on.
“Whatever people feel they need to have in place we handle for them. We like to say we are there until they tell us to go away,” says Don.
The relationship continues long after clients are settled, with Eve and her consultants organising regular social events to ensure new immigrants establish a network of friends.
It’s a social role she clearly relishes. “This is a lovely job...Our service never stops and I know it’s made a large difference to many people, particularly the women.”
The couple established the company in 2000, as Don looked for a change from the corporate IT industry.
Within a few years they were winning awards: Best Professional Business (2003) and finalist Best Vibrant Business (2005) in the Porirua Business Awards.
View the full PDF of the article.
newkiwi.co.nz . nukiwi.co.nz . immigrate.co.nz
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relocationprovider.com
. migratetonz.com . nuzealand.com
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