Name:	Stephane
	Nationality:	French
	Profession:	Restaurant Manager
	Migrated to NZ:	2005

Well-travelled Frenchman Stephane says Wellington is one of the world’s top five cities.

The manager of Cuba Street restaurant/café Simply Paris was enticed over to Wellington in January 2005 by his Kiwi flatmate’s pictures and stories.

The plan was: “one year, then go to Australia, then go to Japan. I’m still here.” Stephane is now applying to be a permanent resident.

Wellington Lifestyle

A 17-year veteran of the hospitality trade, Stephane is enthusiastic about Wellington’s hospitality scene. “Wellington’s hospitality scene is awesome. Great cafés and restaurants. You’ve got everything you could wish for, from cheap options like Satay Kingdom to expensive places like The White House. There’s always new places opening.”

Stephane approves of the gourmand Wellington lifestyle. “Go out for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner. People love food, wine, coffee.”

He likes the cooperation between those in the hospitality community. “Business is business”, but people are friendly and help each other out.

Stephane also works at the Matterhorn bar for Wellington band, the Eggs’, monthly concert and he is amazed by the Wellington music scene. He especially likes how friendly and down-to-earth bands like Twinset and Fat Freddy’s Drop are.

It’s not just artists who are affable. Wellington Lions rugby players, who’d just been to his café once, returned to drop off free tickets to rugby legend Tana Umaga’s last game.

Stephane says “things are still possible here that are not possible in other countries.” He encourages immigrants to come to Wellington. “There’s a lot of opportunities. Enjoy yourself, get a good job, grow with your job, be somebody, work for the public.”

Always Something to Do

After 90-minute commutes each way in big cities like London, Stephane appreciates the five-minute walk to work from his Taranaki Street flat. “I live by the water. It’s impossible elsewhere.”

From ballet to movies, “every day of the week there’s something to do.” Stephane rates Wellington’s beautiful houses and facilities like Capital E and the public library highly. There is always the option of spending weekends in the nearby Wairarapa or the South Island, too. Stephane also rock-climbs and plays basketball at Waitangi Park.

Most of all, the warmth of New Zealanders has made him feel at home. He loves how everyone knows your name and says hi when you walk down the street. “You can’t get that anywhere else. I feel like I grew up here.”

Related Links

• Fat Freddy's Drop website
• Twinset website
• Wairarapa Region