Frog Man: Delivering goods by day and dancing by night, I became an influencer in NZ
Staff Writer: Yima
Image Source: Supplied
In the streets of Auckland, you will often see a man dressed in a frog costume, dancing the Chinese ‘Subject Three Dance’, lots of people call him ‘Frog Man’ .
Who is the man behind frog costume ? Here is his story.
"I spent 93,000 RMB and was scammed into coming to New Zealand"
The man behind ‘Frog Man’, whose online name is ‘God is not in New Zealand（神不在新西兰）’, is Zheng Jiaxing（郑家兴）, born in Bijie of Guizhou Province.
In 2022, he was a failed businessman, frustrated in his relationship, and hit rock bottom in his life.
In order to help himself, he started to look for a way out. At that time, he saw someone sharing information about working in New Zealand on the internet, and the words ‘good environment and high salary’ were very attractive.
He spent 93,000 RMB (about 21600NZD) through an intermediary, applied for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), and came to New Zealand.
On 28 February 2023, he landed in Auckland alone.
Before coming to New Zealand, he was full of longing for a life in a foreign country, looking forward to making a fresh start here and wanting to rise again, but the reality gave him a smothering blow.
On his third day in New Zealand, he was taken to Taupo by his first employer to work in a Chinese hotel.
At the time, he was on the Shakeology platform and sent out his first video, writing:
‘When I see this, my nose is sore, my head is tilted up, my eyes are tearing up, I miss my sister's cooking.
‘Miss the family's incessant nagging, miss and their own stinky fox friends, and those older brothers and sisters and sisters, are you all right?’
He was the third kid in his family with an older brother and sister above him.
Like many new immigrants, it is hard to avoid loneliness when you come to a foreign country where you don't know anyone and have to start all over again.
The first thing that destroyed him, before loneliness, was financial problems.
He lost his job in a hotel soon after, and was left without a source of income.
He couldn't complain, all he could do was to look for a new job, so that he could survive with an income.
He found a job as a courier in Auckland through a Chinese job search website, and travelled back to Auckland from Taupo with only 50NZD left on him after buying the ticket.
"Spent $600 on a Frog Costume"
Under his first Douyin video(Chiese Tiktok), there was a highly liked comment posted in October 2023:
"I predict that in half year, you will fall in love with dancing subject 3 (a kind ot dance)."
This playful comment foreshadowed his upcoming life in New Zealand.
After arriving in Auckland, he started working as a courier, solving his livelihood issues. But loneliness crept in again, and he began to miss the lively atmosphere with his friends back in Guizhou.
Now, home was on the other side of the ocean, a distant place he couldn't return to. He needed to put down roots and grow in this new land.
“When I first arrived, nobody was willing to help me, and I didn't have enough influence. It was hard to achieve anything on my own. But through social media, I could get more people to notice me, and that would lead to more resources."
How could he make friends? Without speaking English, he racked his brains for ideas.
At the time, he often scrolled through short videos after work. One day, he had an epiphany: "Why not take the initiative and go out to make friends?"
Back in China, many people wore frog costumes, acting as giant frogs to sell inflatable mini frogs.
"Life is hard, shedding tears while selling baby frogs. Private sea turtles for 8 yuan each, swimming frogs for 12 yuan, and squatting frogs for 15 yuan."
It was common to see people dressed in frog costumes selling inflatable frogs at night markets and parks in China.
The inspiration for this "frog seller" costume design came from two toad spirits in the animated series Calabash Brothers（葫芦娃）, who guarded the gates for Scorpion Spirit.
He thought it was amusing, and since nobody in Auckland was doing it, maybe he could give it a try.
Being a man of action, he immediately went on Taobao and ordered a frog costume for 600 yuan. He had it shipped to New Zealand and shot his first video wearing the frog head, dancing to lion dance music.
As one commenter predicted, "The wheels of fate began to turn."
Wearing a frog suit while performing a lion dance was admittedly a bit odd. So, he searched for popular dances online and chose ones that suited street performances.
At that time, the Subject Three（科目三） dance was going viral on Chinese social media.
Originally choreographed by the internet celebrity Xiao Ming, the dance was widely imitated and eventually spread worldwide.
Some say it originated from a wedding in Guangxi China, where someone performed the dance, posted it on social media, and it quickly gained popularity.
It was nicknamed Subject Three （科目三）as a joke among people who admired Guangxi’s multi-talented individuals.
They joked that if daily life were like taking a driving test, Subject One would be singing folk songs, Subject Two would be eating rice noodles, and Subject Three would be dancing.
Zheng Jiaxing found the dance moves fun and the music catchy, so he decided to dance Subject Three（科目三）.
Having never danced before, he practiced for three days at home, and by September 2023, he began performing on the streets.
“At first, I felt quite shy and worried about messing up the moves,” he admitted, lacking confidence initially.
After work, he would change into the frog costume, carry his speaker, and head to Auckland's CBD to dance. He also enlisted the help of fellow townspeople to film his performances.
He started by walking down Queen Street, and more recently, he has been performing in the square near Britomart.
In the beginning, he was a lonely "sad frog" dancing solo on the street.
But soon, passersby began joining his "contagious" dance. Though they didn’t understand the lyrics, they danced along to the tune of A Smile in Jianghu（一笑江湖）:
“With a smile, the waves of Jianghu surge, and all troubles are forgotten in the red dust. What’s past is no longer worth speaking of...
The heavens laugh, never growing old, but only meet with boldness. Drink a cup of loneliness under the moon...
“江湖一笑浪滔滔，红尘尽忘了，俱往矣何足言道，
“苍天一笑笑不老，豪情却会了，对月饮一杯寂寥......”
People from all over the world danced joyfully with Zheng Jiaxing to this ancient-style melody.
Even though Zheng Jiaxing didn’t speak English, he learned some words through interactions with passersby.
"Amazing! So Funny! So Cool!"
He learned these phrases from the positive feedback he received and gradually improved his English through these encounters.
By late September 2023, his videos started going viral.
By the end of October 2023, after dancing for less than two months, he began receiving invitations to participate in events.
From Auckland's Christmas parade to Chinese New Year events, he became a regular and active figure.
"Gaining Over 250K Followers"
Now Zheng Jiaxing has more than 250K followers across all platforms. He’s also started taking off his frog head and try talk with people.
He teaches people how to dance and invites them to participate in challenge games. The "lonely frog" has now transformed into a "social butterfly frog", and he jokes that "once you become a frog, there’s no turning back."
As an ordinary single man, he also flirts with girls he’s attracted to and exchanges contact information with women he meets on the street, sometimes even engaging in physical interaction.
"People in New Zealand are very direct. If they like you, they’ll express it openly." During his dancing sessions, Zheng Jiaxing has received many hugs and even kisses from men.
Although some of the games he plays may seem a bit over-the-top, Zheng Jiaxing has his principles.
Once, a girl introduced him to her younger sister, suggesting that "Frog Man" should take her on a date, but Zheng Jiaxing awkwardly replied in broken English, "Let’s start as friends and take it slow."
Playing "Frog Man" has led to many unexpected encounters.
Once, while dancing outside a nightclub with a long line of people waiting to enter, he was quickly recognized by fans who invited him to join their party.
Many people also send him private messages, hoping to run into him on the street and dance together.
In Auckland, where nightlife is often dull, Zheng Jiaxing’s "Frog Man" has become a bright spot in many people’s lives.
Local netizens have praised him highly.
"The whole city is being healed."
"This city needs more people like Frog Man."
Local media outlets have also covered his viral success.
Netizens from other cities in New Zealand have left comments under his videos, inviting him to perform in their cities or communities.
"Come to Christchurch needs some good vibes."
Compared to the enthusiastic praise he receives from international fans on TikTok, the comments on Chinese social media take on a different tone.
Many express "envy and jealousy," especially of his interactions with so many pretty foreign girls, jokingly saying, "I regret not learning English well."
Chinese netizens also tend to comment on the girls in his videos.
Just like Zheng Jiaxing before he came to New Zealand, many viewers glimpse a faraway life through his videos.
"Some Chinese netizens also send me private messages, suggesting video ideas or reminding me to take care of myself in a foreign country."
"Now I Have 2 Goals"
Zheng Jiaxing still goes out to dance and film videos every week.
Since he doesn’t have a regular partner to help him film, he has to go out "when it’s convenient for his friends." Currently, his friends are available on Mondays and Fridays, so those are the only days he can shoot.
"I actually want to go out every day, but I don't have enough help, so I have to make do for now."
After a year and a half in New Zealand, he has gradually moved past the trauma of being scammed.
During the day, he works diligently as a delivery driver, blending in with other Chinese immigrants. He moves through the streets in his regular clothes, rarely drawing any attention.
But at night, once he puts on his costume, he transforms into the beloved "Frog Bro," bringing joy and strength to the city.
Zheng Jiaxing’s TikTok account originally had the username "jiaxing9527." The number 9527 frequently appears in Stephen Chow movies, symbolizing the self-deprecation of the underdog.
For Zheng Jiaxing, there’s no lofty idea of becoming a highbrow street artist.
This is the story of a new immigrant who stepped out into the world, hoping to use his actions and the power of social media to seek support and build connections in an unfamiliar land.
Even the underdog can have dreams. A lonely frog can awaken Auckland’s quiet winter nights and bring a breath of joy during this period of economic stagnation.
With August nearing, Auckland’s spring is just around the corner, and Zheng Jiaxing is brewing his own dreams.
"I have two goals right now: one is to learn English well, and the other is to find a girlfriend. I’m not getting any younger."
Born in 1990, Zheng Jiaxing never imagined that he would become famous in a foreign country as "Frog Man." Anything is possible, and perhaps new opportunities await him in the future. He’s excited for what’s to come.
