Albanian New Zealanders

[4][3] The Albanian community has been present in New Zealand since the mid twentieth century and are an integrated part of its society.

[8][3] By 1953, most MS Goya refugees had relocated to Auckland including the Albanians for economic considerations, where their small community became established.

[8] Albanian refugees fled the conflict and some choose New Zealand as a destination where they had family and viewed the state favourably for its democracy, modernity and opportunities.

[20][22][23] The Albanian Civic League led efforts to assist the refugees and it received much coverage in local media.

[24] Widespread media focus resulted in donations and assistance being provided for the first groups of refugees from New Zealand community organisations, businesses and private citizens.

[25] All refugees had family members established in the country, many came from a highly educated background and shared a European origin with much of New Zealand's people.

[26][27][3] Unlike other refugees taken on quotas, they were required to be sponsored by New Zealand family members who were mostly based in Auckland and composed the small Kosovar community.

[22][3] The adult refugees were given English language courses and job retraining, while the youth were prepared for and began their schooling.

[32] In the early twenty first century, Albanians in Auckland own various businesses, some in the food industry, others work in labour trades and the youth have focused on professions gained from a university education.