This qualitative exploratory study seeks to present a deeper understanding of entrepreneurs of Indian ethnicity operating firms in the formal sector in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our over-arching guiding question was: Why do first generation ethnic minority immigrants become entrepreneurs? Sub questions included the exploration of the why and what of entrepreneurship for these first generation immigrants, in particular why these immigrants choose to be exporters. In-depth interviews were conducted with a dataset of 58 entrepreneurs of Indian origin of whom 11 were involved in exporting from New Zealand. With increasing geographical mobility of the Asian population, our study contributes to the growing need for host societies to comprehend in a more sophisticated manner the reasons for entrepreneurship by immigrants, and the importance of putting in place appropriate policies and learning programmes to reap the benefits of immigrant entrepreneurship in a globalised world.