Building my future is very easy in New Zealand. In my country it's very hard…We also have war. My [parent] was…killed by terrorists so we lived a very hard life. (Former refugee focus group) We get to go to the hospital for free, there are things from the government like a social worker, and I feel that we are very lucky in New Zealand because our lives are like a different life. (Former refugee focus group) Safety and protection for all citizens: Former refugee participants noted humanitarian reasons while others noted that fewer violent crimes and increased legal protection for citizens contributed to their reasons for migrating. Other tauiwi participants noted a sense of gratitude that they no longer lived in fear. I went to [country removed] in 2015. It was a different lifestyle. You could hear bombs far away. The way they treat people is rubbish, they treat them like dogs. But here everything is fair, there's justice. (Former refugee focus group) A sense of belonging, acceptance and inclusion: Some participants highlighted that elderly migrants may reconnect with their whānau/families who have settled in Aotearoa New Zealand. Others noted a perceived sense of community, acceptance and freedom. Some Pākehā and Māori participants noted migrants and former refugees may also have been influenced by the ‘clean’ image of Aotearoa New Zealand. Internationally recognised films were highlighted as illustrating Aotearoa New Zealand’s beauty and culture. It's pretty. Clean country not polluted like China and all that. (Pākehā focus group) When people showcase New Zealand and being Māori like Taika Waititi and Lord of the Rings people see the whenua, how beautiful our land is so for me I get it, why wouldn’t you want to live here. (Te Ika-a-Māui Māori focus group) Some participants noted a sense of gratitude for an increased tolerance and acceptance of migrant populations within Aotearoa New Zealand as well as opportunities to voice their concerns. I think at least in New Zealand there is the avenues to complain [report racism]. (African focus group) 4.3. Racism and lateral violence16 are prevalent in Aotearoa New Zealand Despite a general sense of positivity and shared values associated with living in Aotearoa New Zealand, the majority of Māori and tauiwi focus groups acknowledged 16 Lateral violence is described as racism and discrimination perpetuated between colonised ethnic minority groups, and it is an effect of ongoing oppression (Bailey, 2020; Pyke, 2010). www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 43