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After the Tampa
The heart-rending story of a child 'Tampa' refugee who grew up to become a Fulbright scholar, highlighting the plight and potential of refugees everywhere.When the Taliban were at the height of their power in 2001, Abbas Nazari's parents were faced with a stay and face persecution in their homeland, or seek security for their young children elsewhere.The family's desperate search for safety took them on a harrowing journey from the mountains of Afghanistan to a small fishing boat in the Indian Ocean, crammed with more than 400 other asylum seekers.When their boat started to sink, they were mercifully saved by a cargo ship, the Tampa. However, one of the largest maritime rescues in modern history quickly turned into an international stand-off, as Australia closed its doors to these asylum seekers. The Tampa had waded into the middle of Australia's national election, sparking their hardline policy of offshore detention. While many of those rescued by the Tampa were the first inmates sent to the island of Nauru, Abbas and his family were some of the lucky few to be resettled in New Zealand. Twenty years after the Tampa affair, Abbas tells his amazing story, from living under Taliban rule, to spending a terrifying month at sea, to building a new life at the bottom of the world. A powerful and inspiring story for our times, After the Tampa celebrates the importance of never letting go of what drives the human hope.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
88 people are currently reading
1266 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
September 20, 2021
This should be required reading for all members of the Australian Parliament.
January 4, 2022
This book should be compulsory reading for all New Zealanders. What an incredible story!
September 27, 2021
Former Afghanistan refugee, Abbas Nazari hoped that his memoir "manages to inspire". It certainly does with its incredible story of resilience and survival against all odds. Escaping the terror of the Taliban in 2001, Nazari's parents began a terrifying journey to eventual safety in New Zealand with their young children.
The reader is with this courageous family from Sungjoy to Jakarta to a small boat crossing the Indian Ocean with 400 other asylum seekers, risking their lives for the hope of a more secure life. The scenes that Nazari detailed will stick with me forever - not only the heart-breaking moments leaving their homeland, not only those aboard their sinking boat, not only the breath-taking rescue by the Norwegian cargo ship, Tampa - but especially the duplicitous, inhumane treatment by our Australian government to block the entry of desperate asylum seekers entitled by international law to be given refuge. Their lucky resettlement in New Zealand allowed them to escape the horror of offshore detention in Nauru and the shameful saga that is Australia's hard-line policy towards refugees even today. "We were not fellow human beings...we were pawn in a political game. We were an issue of national security."
What was most inspiring was the effort made by this loving family to honour the country and community that gave them the opportunity to live safely, with dignity, support and respect. Nazari humanises the asylum seeker, individualises his struggles, his vulnerabilities and strengths, and creates for the reader the human face of the refugee rather than the threatening statistic that Australia continues to portray even 20 years later. The author himself personifies the desire and devotion of the 1st generation to honour their parents' struggle by striving to be the best they can be and to contribute to the community and country that provided them a safe haven.
By presenting the human face of the asylum seeker and the despicable actions of the Australian government to block and detain refugees (then and NOW), Nazari not only has inspired a heartfelt empathy. Hopefully, he has inspired Australians to elect officials who accept our international responsibility to provide refuge to those who desperately seek our aid.
The reader is with this courageous family from Sungjoy to Jakarta to a small boat crossing the Indian Ocean with 400 other asylum seekers, risking their lives for the hope of a more secure life. The scenes that Nazari detailed will stick with me forever - not only the heart-breaking moments leaving their homeland, not only those aboard their sinking boat, not only the breath-taking rescue by the Norwegian cargo ship, Tampa - but especially the duplicitous, inhumane treatment by our Australian government to block the entry of desperate asylum seekers entitled by international law to be given refuge. Their lucky resettlement in New Zealand allowed them to escape the horror of offshore detention in Nauru and the shameful saga that is Australia's hard-line policy towards refugees even today. "We were not fellow human beings...we were pawn in a political game. We were an issue of national security."
What was most inspiring was the effort made by this loving family to honour the country and community that gave them the opportunity to live safely, with dignity, support and respect. Nazari humanises the asylum seeker, individualises his struggles, his vulnerabilities and strengths, and creates for the reader the human face of the refugee rather than the threatening statistic that Australia continues to portray even 20 years later. The author himself personifies the desire and devotion of the 1st generation to honour their parents' struggle by striving to be the best they can be and to contribute to the community and country that provided them a safe haven.
By presenting the human face of the asylum seeker and the despicable actions of the Australian government to block and detain refugees (then and NOW), Nazari not only has inspired a heartfelt empathy. Hopefully, he has inspired Australians to elect officials who accept our international responsibility to provide refuge to those who desperately seek our aid.
September 6, 2021
Every Australasian who has an opinion about refugees or immigrants needs to read this book, regardless of what side of the coin your opinion falls.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field, I'll meet you there." Rumi.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field, I'll meet you there." Rumi.
September 28, 2024
I cried quite a bit reading this book - the refugee story is one close to home. Like Abbas, my mum came to New Zealand via an overflowing boat and a stay in Indonesia (in mum’s case in a refugee camp). She too was lucky to be taken in, in Christchurch, and helped by sponsors to settle in. I’ll always be amazed by what her and her family did with the cards that they had been dealt, and I feel much the same about Abbas and his family.
I wouldn’t say this book is a tough read, but the subject matter is intense and emotional. I feel like it’s necessary reading, because the ‘issue’ of boat people and refugees is something that we are dealing with all around the world, right now. As Abbas acknowledges, it’s not something that is easy to solve and I feel a little helpless about it, but this book tells a story that will contribute to our understanding.
I wouldn’t say this book is a tough read, but the subject matter is intense and emotional. I feel like it’s necessary reading, because the ‘issue’ of boat people and refugees is something that we are dealing with all around the world, right now. As Abbas acknowledges, it’s not something that is easy to solve and I feel a little helpless about it, but this book tells a story that will contribute to our understanding.
October 21, 2021
A very readable, intriguing book which certainly puts all the international refugee crises into perspective. I have been fortunate enough to have travelled through Afghanistan in happier times -50 years ago when it was still a Kingdom, and was able to take tours into the Khyber area of Pakistan 10 years later when the first refugees, fleeing the Soviet invasion, were making their way to Peshawar. Abbas Nazari’s account, although of a later date, puts a far more human side to the story. I remember well the Tampa incident and how it was appallingly handled by the Howard Government of Australia. To read the real story written by one who was a ‘political pawn’ and the new life he and his family were offered in New Zealand - opportunities that certainly weren’t squandered - is invaluable in understanding the whole refugee situation throughout the world, & the challenges & prejudices they can face. Even the tragic Mosque shooting in Christchurch is treated with understanding. A well-written and enjoyable read.
January 7, 2022
In this hopeful memoir, Nazari tracks the course of his life from its beginnings in rural Afghanistan; through the perilous journey to seek asylum in Australia; to settling and taking up opportunities in Christchurch, New Zealand; and finally to travelling the world, including returning to Afghanistan as a young adult. Part of the beauty of this book is the straightforward way it's written. Nazari has done an excellent job of explaining complex political situations very simply: the history of invasion and conflict in Afghanistan, the persecution of the Hazara minority, the rise of the Taliban, and the political factors which prevent asylum seekers from entering Australia. He uses many colloquialisms and Kiwi-isms that will be familiar to New Zealand readers.
For me, a highlight of the read was learning about Afghanistan beyond the violence-filled desert scenes we see on the news. In the closing chapters, Nazari imagines an alternate reality for Afghanistan. He hopes for flourishing agricultural exports, the return of backpackers, ski fields and a booming tourism industry, significant tax revenue from the land's untapped precious metals, and a functioning democracy. It is clear that the trauma and violence visited on Afghanistan's citizens is not the only tragedy of the country's story; the untapped promise of Afghanistan as a nation is also a deep loss.
Almost every review I've read of this book calls for it to be required reading for all New Zealanders and Australians (and especially their politicians). Nazari's accessible, unadorned style means this is possible; readers both young and old, with varying abilities will be able to read, learn from and hopefully enjoy this book.
For me, a highlight of the read was learning about Afghanistan beyond the violence-filled desert scenes we see on the news. In the closing chapters, Nazari imagines an alternate reality for Afghanistan. He hopes for flourishing agricultural exports, the return of backpackers, ski fields and a booming tourism industry, significant tax revenue from the land's untapped precious metals, and a functioning democracy. It is clear that the trauma and violence visited on Afghanistan's citizens is not the only tragedy of the country's story; the untapped promise of Afghanistan as a nation is also a deep loss.
Almost every review I've read of this book calls for it to be required reading for all New Zealanders and Australians (and especially their politicians). Nazari's accessible, unadorned style means this is possible; readers both young and old, with varying abilities will be able to read, learn from and hopefully enjoy this book.
August 21, 2023
Such an important story and so well told. Recommended reading for everyone, hopefully this book will help shine some light on the struggles of refugees everywhere. Thanks for writing it Abbas!
December 14, 2025
Inspiring, educational and a whole lot of resilience. May be the first signed copy of a book I have read!
August 23, 2022
Absolute must read
September 23, 2021
This is such an interesting book. It tells the true story of an Afghani family forced to leave their village and flee abroad as life became more and more dangerous in their homeland. They ended up in New Zealand, my own country, after one of the most dramatic stand-offs in the history of Australia's abhorrent anti-immigration policy - the Tampa story.
Rescued from their sinking boat by the captain of the Tampa, a Norwegian cargo ship, the 400 plus refugees were cynically held as hostages by Australian PM John Howard's government as he sought to gain popularity before an election with a hard-line anti- 'boat people' stance. Luckily for some of the refugees Helen Clark's NZ government intervened and accepted about a third of them, including Abbas Nazari's family.
It was fascinating to learn the details of the Tampa story from a participant, but also to follow the family as they adapted to life in a new country and ultimately made the most of their opportunities. It wasn't easy, but through determination, community and hard work they have achieved more than many other people in much easier circumstances do. This is a truly readable and important contribution to recent New Zealand history.
Rescued from their sinking boat by the captain of the Tampa, a Norwegian cargo ship, the 400 plus refugees were cynically held as hostages by Australian PM John Howard's government as he sought to gain popularity before an election with a hard-line anti- 'boat people' stance. Luckily for some of the refugees Helen Clark's NZ government intervened and accepted about a third of them, including Abbas Nazari's family.
It was fascinating to learn the details of the Tampa story from a participant, but also to follow the family as they adapted to life in a new country and ultimately made the most of their opportunities. It wasn't easy, but through determination, community and hard work they have achieved more than many other people in much easier circumstances do. This is a truly readable and important contribution to recent New Zealand history.
July 12, 2022
I loved this book - it had me laughing, shocked, angry, proud, and then sobbing, more for the heart-warming events than the terrifying. It's full of emotions - the author's, his family's, and mine. But it is full of information too. And it is very inspiring.
I wrote this too, just before I finished it: https://aseparatelife.wordpress.com/2...
I wrote this too, just before I finished it: https://aseparatelife.wordpress.com/2...
October 12, 2021
Emotional, captivating, insightful.
Everyone should read this book! This was the first in depth refugee story I read in depth.
Everyone should read this book! This was the first in depth refugee story I read in depth.
April 7, 2022
Couldn't recommend this highly enough - such a great storyteller and an important story to listen to
September 30, 2023
Thank you so much Abbas’s for writing about your story as a refugee. It brought me to tears multiple times. It’s both heartbreaking and inspirational and something everyone should read
December 22, 2021
I am so glad I read this book, what an excellent memoir of Abbas’s story. I loved learning more about the people of Afghanistan, as well as more about the country.
We follow Abbas through his early childhood among the Hazara people in Sungjoy, Afghanistan. Unfortunately, as we all know, Afghanistan is unsafe with constant killings and his father starts looking into options of how to flee. “𝘐𝘯 𝘈𝘧𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 - 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥”
His parents were courageous in seeking a safer life for their children. As a family they had to cross dangerous borders, bribe officials to get to Indonesia and eventually boarded the Palapa, a small fishing boat heading to Australian territory - carrying too many people, 433 on board. Of course, this boat was not fit to hold such a large number of people, nor withstand the conditions of travel.
We learn of the remarkable rescue by Captain Rinnan and his crew of the Tampa (a Norwegian container ship) as well as the standoff, with Australia refusing to take any of these asylum seekers - despite being in their territory (which disregards Maritime laws). I was astounded to discover how the Australian politicians handled the emergency and how they treated these refugees. “𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
I was shocked to learn more about the conditions of the detention centres that Australia houses asylum seekers in, “𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺”.
This book puts a focus on what its like to be a refugee, the people in this book have so much hope and humanity despite the most desperate of circumstances. I admired the Nazari family, the strength and resilience they showed. His father remained optimistic, “𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺”. I am so glad that the Nazari family settled into New Zealand life and they certainly took up all opportunities offered.
I found this book hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly New Zealanders and Australians to read about what it is like to be a refugee and to understand the process of beginning life in a new country.
We follow Abbas through his early childhood among the Hazara people in Sungjoy, Afghanistan. Unfortunately, as we all know, Afghanistan is unsafe with constant killings and his father starts looking into options of how to flee. “𝘐𝘯 𝘈𝘧𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 - 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥”
His parents were courageous in seeking a safer life for their children. As a family they had to cross dangerous borders, bribe officials to get to Indonesia and eventually boarded the Palapa, a small fishing boat heading to Australian territory - carrying too many people, 433 on board. Of course, this boat was not fit to hold such a large number of people, nor withstand the conditions of travel.
We learn of the remarkable rescue by Captain Rinnan and his crew of the Tampa (a Norwegian container ship) as well as the standoff, with Australia refusing to take any of these asylum seekers - despite being in their territory (which disregards Maritime laws). I was astounded to discover how the Australian politicians handled the emergency and how they treated these refugees. “𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”
I was shocked to learn more about the conditions of the detention centres that Australia houses asylum seekers in, “𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺”.
This book puts a focus on what its like to be a refugee, the people in this book have so much hope and humanity despite the most desperate of circumstances. I admired the Nazari family, the strength and resilience they showed. His father remained optimistic, “𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺”. I am so glad that the Nazari family settled into New Zealand life and they certainly took up all opportunities offered.
I found this book hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly New Zealanders and Australians to read about what it is like to be a refugee and to understand the process of beginning life in a new country.
January 13, 2023
What an incredible and heartbreaking account . Nazari is an amazing storyteller - I wanted to lap this book up it was so well written .
March 15, 2023
A must read for all kiwis! This story is both heartbreaking and inspirational, sharing his story that many refugees share. I feel extremely lucky to be raised in a country where there is an opportunity to live my dreams and reach my potential, especially as a women but also a country that allows the opportunity for refugees to do the same. A lil quote that I quite liked from the book was from his primary school principle which was… “people avoid opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love this book will never stop recommending
January 29, 2025
Such an important read, cried so many times. Thanks for the rec Brendan xx
October 13, 2021
“Progress - however slow, however fragile - is progress”.
Abbas gives the refugee story a face, shining a light on the plight of those who flea their homeland out of fear for their safety. As he acknowledges, his family were fortunate to resettle in Aotearoa, making the most of the opportunities they were presented and flourishing in their new country. It is not always the case for refugees and the path is certainly not a smooth one. This account is open and honest, it reserves judgement whilst challenging the reader to see things in a different way. Abbas offers thoughtful insight into the deeper issues of racism, migration and fear that drives horrific atrocities. Throughout the book, he weaves through a message of hope. Hope that things can change, no matter how incremental, change is possible. This book is highly readable, very moving and immensely inspiring. I challenge you to read it and not feel changed yourself.
Abbas gives the refugee story a face, shining a light on the plight of those who flea their homeland out of fear for their safety. As he acknowledges, his family were fortunate to resettle in Aotearoa, making the most of the opportunities they were presented and flourishing in their new country. It is not always the case for refugees and the path is certainly not a smooth one. This account is open and honest, it reserves judgement whilst challenging the reader to see things in a different way. Abbas offers thoughtful insight into the deeper issues of racism, migration and fear that drives horrific atrocities. Throughout the book, he weaves through a message of hope. Hope that things can change, no matter how incremental, change is possible. This book is highly readable, very moving and immensely inspiring. I challenge you to read it and not feel changed yourself.
December 27, 2021
This book is chosen as a read for my book group. My friend prefaced it as a book every New Zealander should read. And, we all should.
It's excellent on so many fronts. Learning about the history of Afghanistan, how people lived, what they experienced, the horror inflicted the refugee experience, and the refugee trauma and journey.
Told simply the impact of this story opens your heart. I often wonder about the untapped potential in our world. Abbas's story is one of persistence, tenacity and never giving. We take for granted all the opportunity we have, Abbas uses it all.
It's excellent on so many fronts. Learning about the history of Afghanistan, how people lived, what they experienced, the horror inflicted the refugee experience, and the refugee trauma and journey.
Told simply the impact of this story opens your heart. I often wonder about the untapped potential in our world. Abbas's story is one of persistence, tenacity and never giving. We take for granted all the opportunity we have, Abbas uses it all.
February 10, 2022
Thank you to my friend Yonit for drawing my attention to this amazing book. Written so beautifully by Abbas Nazari, one of the Afghani’s who fled Afghanistan as a child and was rescued by the Tampa. Abbas Nazari successfully puts a human face on the refugees fleeing persecution and violence. As one who remembers the Tampa incident, it was so important to read what it was like from the refugees perspective. It should be compulsory reading for all Australians of the shame our cruel refugee policies have inflicted on thousands of asylum seekers.
December 31, 2021
Little did I know back in Year 12 maths, that one day I’d be reading your book, Abbas.
Everyone and I literally mean E V E R Y O N E needs to read this truly important and brilliant story.
This is an intelligent, reflective, authentic, and emotional examination into a complex global issue.
Congratulations, Abbas. Thank you for sharing the story of you and your family. It is filled with hope, humility, love, and gratitude.
I’m looking forward to your sequel.
Everyone and I literally mean E V E R Y O N E needs to read this truly important and brilliant story.
This is an intelligent, reflective, authentic, and emotional examination into a complex global issue.
Congratulations, Abbas. Thank you for sharing the story of you and your family. It is filled with hope, humility, love, and gratitude.
I’m looking forward to your sequel.
April 11, 2022
This book is a timely reminder of the heartbreaking decisions that are made by millions of people desperate to flee their homeland for the hope of safety. I think everyone would benefit from reading After The Tampa, I really do. This is such an important and powerful read demonstrating courage, resilience and hope, it will stick with you. Abbas, thank you for sharing your story with us.
July 10, 2022
Brilliant, emotional, shocking and ultimately inspiring. Read this book.
March 13, 2022
A heart-breaking and equally heart-warming recount of Abbas Nazari and his family’s journey from war torn Afghanistan to Aotearoa. Authentic, articulate, cohesive, balanced, emotional, real. These are a few words which spring to mind while writing this review. A book that I would recommend to every New Zealander, especially those that (out of ignorance) may have little understanding or empathy towards refugees. I knew a bit about The Tampa story, but obviously just what media had chosen to report. Reading a firsthand account of the despicable treatment by the Australian Government (then lead by John Howard) is sickening, and their continued treatment of refugees is amongst the most appalling in the world – something Australia should be completely shamed by. I have had first hand experience with refugees as a volunteer ESOL tutor and I have heard some horrific stories of individuals and families that have been forced to flee their own countries and make a new home in a foreign land, far away from everything that was familiar. What Abbas and his family have achieved since arriving and settling into their NZ life, is inspirational. From arriving with literally nothing but borrowed clothes they were wearing to setting up their own business, buying their homes, academic achievements, financial security, community input and development…. they are deservedly as equal a NZ citizen as those of us born here. This is a story that celebrates the unbelievable resilience of the human spirit and HOPE. There are lessons to be learned from migrants and refugees who have made NZ their home. Read this book and pass it on.
May 7, 2024
Absolutely incredible and important read.
A story that needed to be told + certainly opened up my own eyes/heart/mind to the reality and challenges that refugees go through, but also what can happen when people are given the opportunity and tools to thrive in a safe environment, where your daily thoughts don’t include how to survive being shot or bombed, along with your family.
Agree with other reviews that this should be mandatory reading for all Kiwis.
Such a balanced, well articulated view on refugees coming from one himself who has lived both sides.
The lengths to which asylum seekers go to simply in search of a peaceful, dignifying existence is heartbreaking and beyond comprehension. It is a privilege to not know that type of desperation for education, healthcare, respect, security, and most importantly, safety.
Particularly liked one of the closing paragraphs which likens the situation of Afghans to water slowly eroding rock over time:
“When I went back to Afghanistan for the first time, I retold this story to a class at Lomas High School.
“I said the rock may seem solid and immovable at first, but gradually, with dogged determination, the water will find a way.
“I told them about the impossible odds we had faced in leaving our home in search of a better tomorrow. I spoke of boarding up our house and leaving with no idea where we would end up, of risking life and limb on a perilous journey, of travelling halfway across the planet in search of a foreign land that did not want us, of starting from scratch with nothing but the clothes on our backs, and of navigating the space between two worlds. The rock we faced had seemed insurmountable as a mountain. And yet here I stood.”
New Zealand is better off with Abbas Nazari and his family in it!
A story that needed to be told + certainly opened up my own eyes/heart/mind to the reality and challenges that refugees go through, but also what can happen when people are given the opportunity and tools to thrive in a safe environment, where your daily thoughts don’t include how to survive being shot or bombed, along with your family.
Agree with other reviews that this should be mandatory reading for all Kiwis.
Such a balanced, well articulated view on refugees coming from one himself who has lived both sides.
The lengths to which asylum seekers go to simply in search of a peaceful, dignifying existence is heartbreaking and beyond comprehension. It is a privilege to not know that type of desperation for education, healthcare, respect, security, and most importantly, safety.
Particularly liked one of the closing paragraphs which likens the situation of Afghans to water slowly eroding rock over time:
“When I went back to Afghanistan for the first time, I retold this story to a class at Lomas High School.
“I said the rock may seem solid and immovable at first, but gradually, with dogged determination, the water will find a way.
“I told them about the impossible odds we had faced in leaving our home in search of a better tomorrow. I spoke of boarding up our house and leaving with no idea where we would end up, of risking life and limb on a perilous journey, of travelling halfway across the planet in search of a foreign land that did not want us, of starting from scratch with nothing but the clothes on our backs, and of navigating the space between two worlds. The rock we faced had seemed insurmountable as a mountain. And yet here I stood.”
New Zealand is better off with Abbas Nazari and his family in it!
May 1, 2023
I've lost count of the people who recommended this book to me. Obviously it struck a chord among Kiwis and it's easy to see why.
The remarkable story of a boy whose family fled their native idyll in rural Afghanistan seeking refuge from the Taliban. A perilous journey is narrated in lucid, no-nonsense prose, yet with sensitivity to the great suffering he witnessed.
I'd never heard of the Tampa affair and it really did shock me. That the Australian government could go to such lengths to stop asylum seekers from landing on Australian soil is almost unbelievable. But thanks to good old Helen Clark, Abbas and dozens of others found refuge in New Zealand and flourished. And we do love having our superiority to Aussies confirmed.
Abbas doesn't sugar coat his time in New Zealand - there were challenges, not least the mosque shooting in 2019 - but his account is extremely favourable to Aotearoa as a place of deep humanity and compassion.
Abbas has since enjoyed fabulous success in all walks of life. But he's self-effacing about it, and we do love a bit of humility. He also sprinkles in some suggestions about how nations can be more inclusive and welcoming to foreigners, and help countries like Afghanistan. This book must have gone to print mere weeks before the US withdrawal.
My only critique would be about the editing. This could have dropped 25% with a good hard edit and been the stronger for it. Quite a few sections closed with us hearing about everyone going to sleep, for example. This isn't noteworthy and generally not worth sharing!
But to my recommenders - thank you. I'm better off for having read this book and think most Kiwis would be too.
The remarkable story of a boy whose family fled their native idyll in rural Afghanistan seeking refuge from the Taliban. A perilous journey is narrated in lucid, no-nonsense prose, yet with sensitivity to the great suffering he witnessed.
I'd never heard of the Tampa affair and it really did shock me. That the Australian government could go to such lengths to stop asylum seekers from landing on Australian soil is almost unbelievable. But thanks to good old Helen Clark, Abbas and dozens of others found refuge in New Zealand and flourished. And we do love having our superiority to Aussies confirmed.
Abbas doesn't sugar coat his time in New Zealand - there were challenges, not least the mosque shooting in 2019 - but his account is extremely favourable to Aotearoa as a place of deep humanity and compassion.
Abbas has since enjoyed fabulous success in all walks of life. But he's self-effacing about it, and we do love a bit of humility. He also sprinkles in some suggestions about how nations can be more inclusive and welcoming to foreigners, and help countries like Afghanistan. This book must have gone to print mere weeks before the US withdrawal.
My only critique would be about the editing. This could have dropped 25% with a good hard edit and been the stronger for it. Quite a few sections closed with us hearing about everyone going to sleep, for example. This isn't noteworthy and generally not worth sharing!
But to my recommenders - thank you. I'm better off for having read this book and think most Kiwis would be too.
July 24, 2022
It's pretty upsetting to read about the author's hope for Afghanistan's future, knowing that not long after the Taliban took over the country.
This book was well-written and the author beautifully interweaved their story with key historical moments that were relevant. Learning about the Tampa affair was illuminating as I knew little of that part of Australia's history. I was happily taken aback by the author's nuanced mindset, coming from an international relations tertiary education background, he is able to see the nuances in people's everyday lives and motivations where other people may only choose to see black or white.
His story gave me a lot to ponder and I love books that leave me thinking about various different threads of history.
This book was well-written and the author beautifully interweaved their story with key historical moments that were relevant. Learning about the Tampa affair was illuminating as I knew little of that part of Australia's history. I was happily taken aback by the author's nuanced mindset, coming from an international relations tertiary education background, he is able to see the nuances in people's everyday lives and motivations where other people may only choose to see black or white.
His story gave me a lot to ponder and I love books that leave me thinking about various different threads of history.
November 8, 2021
(I read the trade paperback edition, sent from NZ, but that edition doesn't have a cover here so reviewing the kindle edition instead.)
My family sent me this book which I believe had just been released in NZ. I had no familiarity with the Tampa incident, which took place around the same time as 9/11, but I am familiar with the policies of the Australian government to keep "boat people" off their shores and detain them in inhumane conditions while reviewing their refugee claims. The author was a boy on a foundering boat rescued by the Norwegian ship Tampa and caught in the standoff with the Australian government. It's an infuriating story, and I understand why my aunt wanted to call up the former Australian PM and give him a piece of her mind. I was horrified to read about the callous and illegal treatment of these people by the Australian authorities.
This book is not going to win any literary awards. It was written by a young kiwi guy starting postgrad studies in the US during the coronavirus pandemic, someone who may not have written his story had it not been for the lockdown. He had shared his story of resettlement in NZ as a child in a TEDx talk after the Christchurch earthquakes and again after the horrific mass shooting at two Islamic sites there several years later. His story is worth hearing, but the writing does reflect his youth and his need to cobble together the story from other people's memories. It's not elegant or literary, and it's very, very kiwi. I have no idea how it would read to an American.
But I do recommend it, especially to Australian friends. It reads quickly, and it helps put the reader in the shoes of a father trying to make the right choice for his family, knowing that sooner or later they would face terrible dangers if they stayed where they were, but also taking a terrifying leap into an unknown world. This family had never even heard of the country where they would eventually live, and couldn't even imagine the challenges they would face, and how different their children's lives would be once they found safety.
Being a refugee is extremely hard and something no one would wish upon another person. This family would much rather have stayed where they had always lived and continued their way of life as their country developed, if only it had been safe to do so. I don't believe I've ever heard of the difficulties the Hazara people face in Afghanistan, which is shocking to me after so many years of western military interference and presence in that country. Maybe I haven't paid enough attention, but they are in danger from the Taliban, ISIS/IS-K, and al-Qaeda, and a great many Afghan refugees are Hazara, like Abbas and his family.
The book is a pretty good balance of uplifting success story (though not over the top, rags to riches) and starting place for some hard thoughts about the refugee crises we are facing around the world. I learned a lot about Afghan life and a little of how it could be to be a refugee.
My family sent me this book which I believe had just been released in NZ. I had no familiarity with the Tampa incident, which took place around the same time as 9/11, but I am familiar with the policies of the Australian government to keep "boat people" off their shores and detain them in inhumane conditions while reviewing their refugee claims. The author was a boy on a foundering boat rescued by the Norwegian ship Tampa and caught in the standoff with the Australian government. It's an infuriating story, and I understand why my aunt wanted to call up the former Australian PM and give him a piece of her mind. I was horrified to read about the callous and illegal treatment of these people by the Australian authorities.
This book is not going to win any literary awards. It was written by a young kiwi guy starting postgrad studies in the US during the coronavirus pandemic, someone who may not have written his story had it not been for the lockdown. He had shared his story of resettlement in NZ as a child in a TEDx talk after the Christchurch earthquakes and again after the horrific mass shooting at two Islamic sites there several years later. His story is worth hearing, but the writing does reflect his youth and his need to cobble together the story from other people's memories. It's not elegant or literary, and it's very, very kiwi. I have no idea how it would read to an American.
But I do recommend it, especially to Australian friends. It reads quickly, and it helps put the reader in the shoes of a father trying to make the right choice for his family, knowing that sooner or later they would face terrible dangers if they stayed where they were, but also taking a terrifying leap into an unknown world. This family had never even heard of the country where they would eventually live, and couldn't even imagine the challenges they would face, and how different their children's lives would be once they found safety.
Being a refugee is extremely hard and something no one would wish upon another person. This family would much rather have stayed where they had always lived and continued their way of life as their country developed, if only it had been safe to do so. I don't believe I've ever heard of the difficulties the Hazara people face in Afghanistan, which is shocking to me after so many years of western military interference and presence in that country. Maybe I haven't paid enough attention, but they are in danger from the Taliban, ISIS/IS-K, and al-Qaeda, and a great many Afghan refugees are Hazara, like Abbas and his family.
The book is a pretty good balance of uplifting success story (though not over the top, rags to riches) and starting place for some hard thoughts about the refugee crises we are facing around the world. I learned a lot about Afghan life and a little of how it could be to be a refugee.
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