Majlinda Rakovica was just 12 years old when her parents made the difficult decision to pack up their 6 children and flee for their future.

When Majlinda and her family were forced to leave their loved ones and their home in Kosovo bound for New Zealand — she says she couldn’t have pointed out this 'mysterious country' on a map.

“Life in Kosovo during the war was a daily struggle for survival,” says Majlinda.

“My parents, faced with the terrifying uncertainty of bombings around our city, took every measure to protect us.

“Every night, they made us 6 girls sleep under our dining table, packed tightly like sausages, hoping it would shield us from the chaos outside.

“We attempted to flee, but the journey was fraught with danger, and ultimately, we had to return to our home, living each day in fear of what tomorrow might bring.”

Hungry to know more about the place she would soon call home, she asked her geography teacher to show her New Zealand on a map.

“To my surprise, he pointed to an empty space, explaining that New Zealand was 'somewhere around here', as it wasn't even included on the map in our classroom,” says Majlinda.

A new beginning

In a special operation, the then New Zealand Government extended an offer to 600 family members of New Zealand-based Kosovo nationals to be resettled, on top of the annual quota of 750 people at the time.

Of the 600 places offered, over 400 were taken by refugees from Albania, Macedonia, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other neighbouring countries between March 1999 and June 2000.

“When we landed in New Zealand, we were overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness of the people,” says Majlinda.

“Despite not speaking English at the time, we felt welcomed and supported in every way.

“The millennium celebrations in 1999/2000 were an unforgettable experience for my family.

“We spent the night by the beach, watching the sunrise — a stark contrast to the snowy, freezing New Year’s Eves we were accustomed to in Kosovo.”

The family later welcomed the youngest and only 'Kiwi brother' to the brood and Majlinda says that they have thrived in New Zealand.

Celebrating 25 years in New Zealand

Majlinda along with members of the Kosovo Albanian community and Immigration New Zealand (INZ) jointly organised 2 events to mark the 25th anniversary of the arrival of Kosovo refugees to New Zealand.

The 24 May programme started with the Kosovo Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand joining community members to plant an olive tree at the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre (Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa) as a gesture of gratitude and friendship.

A community event followed which showcased the rich Kosovo culture with dance and musical performances, an art exhibition, guest speakers and a video message from former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jenny Shipley.

“Coming with nothing to New Zealand, my dream was always to get into banking and make money so I could help my parents who had lost everything… I am now a Project Manager and have been working for many years in the finance industry,” says Majlinda as she reflected on the past 25 years.

“New Zealand has given all of us so many opportunities to learn and become who we want to be.”

Read the media release for more on events marking the 25th anniversary of the arrival of Kosovo refugees to New Zealand.

Kosovo refugees mark 25 years since their arrival in New Zealand