This website is created for Kiwis by Kiwis in Spain! Please note this Website is a community project and is not a business for profit. All the website content is prepared by our team of volunteers. If you have questions about the content you can contact us by email. If you would like to join our small team or contribute your own content, please contact Kent Routen or Zoe Romero Ransley.
Kiwis in Spain started on Facebook back in 2014!
Join Muir, Brad, Zoe and Kent with our 1,000+ strong group of Kiwis in Spain here https://www.facebook.com/groups/kiwisinspain
Our biggest Kiwi event was in May of 2022 for The Rugby Match of the decade with Spain playing the Classic All Blacks in Madrid. Kent Routen and his wife Laura mobilised over 50 Kiwis in Spain and we had a fantastic weekend soaking up the rugby atmosphere!
We are very fortunate to have the amazing Paul and Mirella co-founders of Kiwihouse to make so many sporting events a reality and huge success! The Kiwis in Spain Team will continue to help promote and support Kiwihouse and rugby in Spain. If you would like to find out more don’t hesitate to ask Kent for an introduction.
On 21 May 2022, THE MATCH was held in Madrid, a unique event, defined by the press as the great festival of support for Spanish rugby and which marked the beginning of a new era for the sport. Due to the health crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, THE MATCH had to change its date on two occasions, but Kiwihouse continued working to organise and produce a sporting event at the highest level with the aim of promoting Spanish rugby and showing unconditional support for the players of the Spanish national team. 40,000 fans turned out at the Wanda Metropolitano to support the Leones and enjoy the Classic All Blacks game.
The rain and lightning made their appearance with the first sounds of the haka and added a touch of magic to the match that will mark a before and after in the history of oval sport in our country. The match was designed in exhibition mode, with long rosters and free changes, which allowed to see a quality rugby and different rhythms that ended with the victory of the New Zealanders. The Leones displayed their best rugby, once again vindicating on the pitch the place they deserve. During the previous week, different events, and acts to promote rugby took place in which the city of Madrid as World Capital of Sport 2022 played a leading role. Read more at https://kiwihouse.es/en/2022-cab-vs-spain/
Kent Routen – Chief Organiser and Connecting Kiwis Go-to-guy!
Kent and his wife, Laura, moved to Spain from Mexico in November 2017. They lived in Madrid for three years and Alicante for two before moving to La Alcaidesa (near Sotogrande) in October 2022.
They both decided to help connect Kiwis living in Spain after an ANZAC event in 2018. They love travelling around Spain. They initially started organising social events and groups in Madrid and later in other cities such as Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao, Sevilla, their current home town, and for Kiwis in Gibraltar.
Kent left NZ for England in 1995, then France in 1998. He worked for marketing software companies in Paris (2001-2008) and founded his own agency in 2010. He now works as a business consultant.
Zoe Romero Ransley – Chief Social Media Marketing Manager
Zoe and her husband, Carlos, moved to Spain from Hamilton in July 2020 originally basing themselves in Córdoba then finally settling in Madrid.
Zoe has spent the last three years travelling around Spain, visiting many regions and spending six months in Asturias. Zoe loves living in Spain and embracing Spanish life and culture.
The ‘End of Summer’ BBQ in 2021, was Zoe’s first taste of the Kiwis in Spain social life. Since then she has organised different events for Kiwis around Madrid.
Zoe is our Social Media Manager and expert on dog-friendly travel in Spain.
Don’t hesitate to contact us about our upcoming events…
We have helped set up many Facebook and WhatsApp groups for all over Spain. So be sure to join so not to miss out and to get a warm dose of New Zealand in Spain and a genuine feeling of community spirit and connection amongst friends. Message Kent or Zoe to be added to our WhatsApp groups for Kiwis in Spain, Kiwis in Madrid, Kiwis in Barcelona, Kiwis in Alicante, Kiwis in Euskadi, Kiwis in Andalusia, Kiwis in Valencia, Kiwis in Sevilla, Kiwis in Zaragoza, Kiwis in Mallorca and Autonomo Kiwis in Spain
Please read the below information from the New Zealand Embassy
If you are in Spain and you need to contact the New Zealand Embassy in Madrid, please refer to the links below:
Official New Zealand in Spain government website:
Official New Zealand in Spain social media pages:
https://www.facebook.com/nzembassyspain/
https://www.instagram.com/nzinspain/
https://twitter.com/NZinSpain/
Visas for Spain (Information provided by New Zealand Embassy in Madrid)
The New Zealand Embassy is not responsible for providing information on entry requirements or issuing visas to New Zealanders wishing to visit, work or reside in Spain. As the Embassy cannot comment on the immigration laws of another country, it is suggested to consult with the Spanish Embassy in New Zealand. If you are currently in Spain and require information on applying for a visa or the right to remain in the country, the competent authority to give advice will be the Oficina de Extranjería.
https://mpt.gob.es/portal/delegaciones_gobierno/extranjeria/extranjeria_ddgg.htm
If you are in New Zealand and you have any visa related questions please contact the Spanish Embassy in Wellington below:
https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/wellington/es/Paginas/index.aspx