Arrivederci, Roma, say Italian settlers — buon giorno, N.Z., amore

Press, 10 February 1988, Page 21

Arrivederci, Roma, say Italian settlers — buon giorno, N.Z., amore

By

FRANCESCO BUCHIERI,

a

freelance journalist from Milan, who is visiting Christchurch.

Any day sent on Earth by God could be full of surprises in New Zealand for a European who has the patience to dig under that painted green expanse dotted with sheep, crazy races on the rafts, and romantic walking in the peace of the bush. “British people” come to the mind when landing at the end of boring trip across half the world’s skies. Once the peel is taken off, the Kiwi character emerges and causes one to smile. The quality of life comes first. Yes, job and money have the same meaning down here — but I guess just a few Kiwis could barter tranquility and love of nature for those tokens of postindustrial society. A special way of life leaves its mark on the social-relationships in New Zealand. Such was the surprise when travelling inside the Italian community to discover that love was the first reason why its members came to New Zealand. Something magic never happened before in the troubled history of Italian emigration.

A thousand Italians live in New Zealand, and about 40 families have chosen Christchurch as the place in which to dig in their roots.

Winston, a two-year-old Old English sheep dog, runs towards me barking anxiously when I push the wooden gate at 72 Tennyson Street. Behind him is a smiling Beniamino Petrosino.

“I came to Christchurch in 1982 after six years working as a chef in some of the well known restaurants of Italy, Switzerland and England,” Petrosino says. He met his colleague in the business, Maxine Feutz, in London seven years ago.

“Understanding wasn’t easy at the beginning because of the language and the different mentality. I want to be honest — on landing at Christchurch airport I first thought I was making the biggest mistake in my life.” says Petrosino, drinking the Italian coffee he cannot give up.

Chef at Tre Gatti’s restaurant for a couple of years, Petrosino now produces hand-made icecreams, cannelloni and lasagne.

Beniamino Petrosino loves fun and play chess. “My dreams? Six months in New Zealand, the rest of the year in Villa D’Acri — a

small town near Salerno — I miss that special atmosphere,” Petrosino says. A thousand kilometres from Salerno is Tor Viscosa — a village on the extreme eastern part of northern Italy, just a jump across the Iron curtain into the communist world. Tall, quiet people populate this sensitive area between the Eastern and Western blocs.

"My sister came over here first after she married a New Zealand soldier at the end of the Second World War,” says Zef Veronese with a wave of his enormous hands. The rest of the family — three brothers, two sisters and their parents — followed the bride after few months. They could not be separated.

“In Tor Viscosa we were well known blacksmiths, but here we started working in a Firestone factory, 31 years ago. Lacking English, it wasn’t easy to find friends at the beginning. We had been working hard for 10 years before deciding to form a company — Veronese Bros, Ltd —

“specialising in wrought iron work,” says Veronese looking at his brother, Ennio. The Veronese brothers have made thousands of wrought iron objects during the last 20 years — gates, lanterns, street lamps and work for the Wellington National Library. They were very good at drawing when at school in Italy. Today they are teaching their art to five New Zealand workers. Enthusiastic hunters and men in love with the New Zealand mountains and countryside the Veronese brothers produce four barrels of red wine each year for their families and friends.

Zef has never been back to Italy. “I feel in paradise in New Zealand. I must confess I’m thinking about going back to see my land.” He doesn’t say it but he is worried about the changes to the country, the people and the animals he left 31 years ago. “Do the Kiwi like the Italian pizza?” Costantino Boffa thought in coming to New Zealand from Australia in 1975. His factory last year produced two million fresh pizzas that were sold in both islands. Fresh ravioli, tortellini and pasta will be produced soon. “I came to New Zealand having 500 Australian dollars in my pockets. I’ll never forget the first hard days in Auckland, the nights looking at'the stars. I felt much better when I started working in the pizzeria where I met David Curtis — now my business partner. We decided to try our luck in Queenstown. We had no success before settling in Christchurch. We made a beginning in the motel kitchen where we lived,” says a smiling Boffa. Born in Benevento, near Naples, in 1948, he left Italy when he was 14. With his mother and sister he emigrated to Adelaide to meet up with his father who had been there for five years. He spent 12 years travelling in Australia searching for a good job. He had only a few dollars in his pocket but dreamt of creating something. “At that time pizzas were becoming popular in Australia. I guessed that should be my line so I came here looking for an unexploited market.” He was proved right. Boffa’s factory now employes 50 people — including two engineers who help make the specialised machinery needed to ru». the production line. The business is booming with a 50 per cent growth last year.

Felice Mannucci has not got much time. He’s leaving for an Australian holiday with his wife, Paulette. They are the owners of Felice, the Italian restaurant in Armagh Street. He came to Christchurch from Forte dei Marmi, one of the most fashionable Italian holiday places, one hour by car from Florence. “It was in ‘Forte’ where I learned to love the sea, the sun and the good cooking. Paulette came from New Zealand on holiday. Paulette wanted me to come to New Zealand. I didn’t want to leave Italy at first but Paulette won ... a decision I never regretted. Sometimes I

miss my friends and the typical Italian bar — a small world where you can talk about soccer, and love while having a glass of good red.wine,” Felice says.

On the other side of Christchurch Carmelo Comi and Alfio Baroni are talking to some of their customers while tasting olives and wine. Both men married New Zealanders. They now import Italian, Greek and Spanish food, sold with the Continental distributor label. “I came to New Zealand 15 years ago after I left Australia. I went there from Bagnara Calabra, in southern Italy, in 1962, aged 16. Our company started importing pelati (canned tomato). Today we are glad to offer our customers Italian specialities like Parmigiano cheese and panettone (a sort of cake).” Bdth partners used to spend their holidays in Italy where they met relatives and bought clothes. “New Zealand is now my country. I love its landscape and quiet life,” says Comi getting into his Jaguar. “La Dolce Vita” is a famous movie of the Italian director Federico Fellini. Enrico Losco though it was the right name for the Italian restaurant he opened in Christchurch 15 years ago. “I came here to live with Barbara. We met in London in ’f>7. I have been travelling all my life. I started when 18 leaving Prada (Avellino). I stopped first in Germany before going to Switzerland, Belgium and France. I climbed all the steps of my career working as dish washer, chief assistant and finally chef. I always worked hard with the idea of becoming a good hotel director,” says Losco as he drinks a draught of beer.

Today Losco worries about his business because of the New Zealand . economic situation. “People don’t go out to restaurants as often as they did a couple of years ago. Also they suppose La Dolce Vita to be expensive because of the building and furnishings. That’s not true,” Losco says. He confesses to missing Europe at times. He loves sports cars, especially Porsche. “Now I have to think first of my wife and my little kid.” Rich people were the customers of Claudio Roncelli’s shop when he worked as an upholsterer in the famous Piazza di Spagna in Rome. “I went there from Bergamo in the early 19505. My father had a furniture shop. I didn’t like that sort of job, so he sent me to a friend who was a well-known upholsterer. He payed me 5000 lire a week and I was very happy about that. Ten years later I discovered it was my father who gave him that money. A great man!” Roncelli worked in Milan, Naples, and Ischia to learn as much as possible about his job. In 1969 he met Gillian in Rome. It was love at first sight. The couple lived in Italy for three years before coming to New Zealand. A typical Italian artisan, Roncelli loves to restore old furniture. He also imports from Italy, tables, chairs and trimmings. He is happy to live in New Zealand but he worries about his pension. “If I decide to go back to Italy when I retire I would lose all my money. It doesn’t happen to workers of other nationalitiies. Can anyone explain why? ” says Roncelli looking into the eyes of his daughter, Hannah. Dante Alighieri is the most famous Italian poet. Looking for his name in the Christchurch phone book, I found a cultural

association under the same name.

“We meet once a month to talk and learn about Italian culture. Everybody is welcome. I’m glad a good number of students come and join our meetings,” says Daniela Bagozzi while sitting in her office at the Worcester Street youth hostel. Daniela landed in Auckland after 12 months travel. She had intended to stay for three months and is still here. Since her arrival in Christchurch she has

“Most of the Italians living in Christchurch are friends. They meet at restaurants and talk about work, family and memories. And I know they are happy to help those who need it, but a strong Italian community, like those you can see in Australia or the United States, hasn’t grown up in New Zealand.” The Italian Kiwis are so much in love with New Zealand and its people they haven’t enough time to understand each other.

. .maybe that’s why we couldn’t keep our soccer team going...” says Costantino Boffa.

A feeling of paradise

Decision

never regretted

Worries about

situation

Not like

Australia, U.S.

been teaching Italian, and Italian vegetarian cooking while running a busy youth hostel for nearly three years.

“I never thought Italian would be so useful in dealing with international travellers. I’m still amazed at the number of people from different countries who speak Italian as a foreign language.” Alan Robinson, her Kiwi husband, smiles.