A family who fled war-torn Kosovo decades ago have joined their fellow refugees to reflect on their harrowing past and safer present.
Kosovo Albanian refugee Burim Rakovica, his pregnant wife and their six daughters left the country for Auckland 25 years ago.
Burim was emotional as he recalled the constant fear of daily life in their homeland.
“We need to hide. Every day, we didn’t use lights,” he told 1News.
“They ripped the car just to see if we hid things in different areas,” his daughter Marigona Rakovica said, wiping away tears.
“We’d look outside and there was gunshots all over our property.”
Today, the Rakovicas joined the Kosovo Albanian community for a tree planting at the Refugee Resettlement Centre.
“Twenty-five years and still gone so quickly because life is very nice, very good,” Burim said.
“Thank you to government. They give us opportunities to grow our children.
“We’re proud to be here and thank you to New Zealand people.”