To Tmprince. Moving to New Zealand as a South African is usually motivated by a combination of economic and political factors, the former generally being the deciding factor. One can afford 24 hour security against crime as long as you have an income.

Having some form of support (family) in NZ will prove to be one of your greatest assets. As a South African immigrant you will face many challenges purely based on your identity. NZ attitude towards racism is controversial and contradictory. It is an issue that polarises the nation in two basic groups, the so called liberals (representing the group that protested against SA rugby) and the extreme conservatives, reminiscent of Neo Nazi groups (Afrikaner weerstandsbeweging). It is a paradox though, because both groups portray aggressive anti Asian sentiment, arguing that Asian immigration will develop into a situation where it outnumbers Kiwis and therefore it is not racism.

It remains uncertain how that differs from the South African apartheid situation, which was an official statement of segregation based on a fear of being outnumbered.

Note however, as a SA immigrant, you will not face controversial opposition from Kiwis only. The largest immigration group in NZ is British, who have generally made no secret of their dislike of South African immigrants overseas. They argue that South Africans should stay in their country to sort out the problems, rather than "run away". A statement drowning in contradiction from British immigrants and Kiwis who emigrate to Australia in staggering numbers. I suspect that the anti-South African sentiment in NZ has majority British origin and is merely propogated further by Kiwis, who seem to be intimidated by the British. (purely personal observation). This complicates the paradox even further because of the little known fact that the inception of segregation between white and black started with British rule in South Africa.

Examples :
1. The Urban Areas Act (1923) which introduced residential segregation in South Africa and provided cheap labour for the white mining and farming industry;
2. The Colour Bar Act (1926), preventing blacks from practising skilled trades;
3. The Native Administration Act (1927) that made the British Crown, rather than paramount chiefs, the supreme head over all African affairs;

It is advisable to avoid all interaction and discussion relating to Apartheid and racism overseas. The more you try to justify, educate or offer logical explanations, the more you will be ridiculed. You have to adopt a strict, unapologetic attitude, ready to defend yourself based on hard facts, rather than logic, a survival tactic that served me well.