Ruth DeSouza » Migration & Culture »New Zealand

New Zealand and ethno-religious diasporic communities

This page provides an overview about issues facing ethno-religious diasporic communities in New Zealand. You might be interested in an e-list, that I founded with the help of my former partner Andy and co-ordinate called the Aotearoa/New Zealand ethnic community issues, activities and announcements mailing list or AEN for short. This list has been set up to provide a way for members of ethnic communities around the country to talk to each other and for those involved in delivering Government or NGO services to get in touch with our communities for consultation and to provide information. It is one of the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme projects. Read more about other projects and partners.

Context and History

Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand History Resources

New Zealand was originally settled by different Polynesian groups up to 2,000 years ago. Initial contact with European's came when Tasman arrived in 1642 and was followed by Cook in 1769, 1773 and 1777. Organised European settlement began in 1840, the same year that New Zealand was declared a British colony and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) was signed by Tangata Whenua and the Crown becoming the founding document of the nation state of New Zealand and recognised under international law. The Treaty recognised Maori as Tangata Whenua (people of the land) and defined "principles of partnership, participation, protection and equity." The 19th Century arrival of British colonialists resulted in Maori becoming outnumbered. I think it is important for new migrants (and established ones) understand the history of the place they come to. My friend Brij Lal says this much more eloquently than I!

Indigenous Resources

Pasifika links

In the first half of the twentieth century, migration was dominated by people from Britain, this changed in the 1950's with migration from the Pacific Islands, who were the first of threemain waves of migration from non-traditional source countries. Äsians followed in the 1990's and the third migration from Africa and the Middle East, predominantly from South Africa.

New Zealand today

Biculturalism and migrants

I am very interested in the relationship between migrants and indigenous people, in particular the relationship betweeen Maori as Tangata whenua and visibly different migrants. Increasingly academics are writing about this very issue. Many migrants are concerned that the discourses of biculturalism excludes migrant cultures who are non-white and non-indigenous, while (Jaber, 1998) by only recognising the legitimacy of Maori and Pakeha. The migrant is then is marginalised on two levels, one as outsider to the indigenous and an outsider who is cultural other to Pakeha. Thakur (1995) adds that groups that are neither Maori or Pakeha are left out of the debate on the identity and future of the country. Concurring, Mohanram (1998 p21) asks "What place does the visibly different coloured immigrant occupy within the discourse of biculturalism?" Wittman (1998) states that biculturalism has become confused with bicultural and led to the denial of other cultures, she also suggests that New Zealand is either bicultural nor multicultural . However, the ideology of multiculturalism is problematic as it negates the primacy of Maori and biculturalism and by calling Maori the first immigrants, the rights of Maori as first nation people is negated (Walker, 1995). It appears then that the victims of these policies are immigrants and Maori. Questions remain about how, visibly different immigrants fit into New Zealand within its framework of biculturalism. There have been gaps in consultation with Maori as treaty partners in terms of immigration. This comes at a time when there is growing awareness and commitment in New Zealand to recognising the status of Maori as Tangata Whenua and the principles of partnership, participation, protection and equity.There is need for ongoing discussion about the place of migrants within the discourse of biculturalism.More attention needs to be paid to the Maori/immigrant interface.

Contemporary views of Race relations and the Treaty of Waitangi

Immigration policy

After the second world war, an assimilation model dominated in New Zealand and in the seventies remained despite the increased emphasis on multi-culturalism in many other countries such as Canada. This all changed in March 1991when the Government working party on immigration recommended that the points system be adopted to regulate immigration into New Zealand. The idea was to help select immigrants for business investment in New Zealand who had skills and money. The cynics among us could argues that this was seen as a quick fix for rising unemployment and a stagnant economy and was driven by the partnership between corporate business interests and the government. Maori academic Walker adds that this policy was not just a way of creating jobs and reviving growth in the economy, but to counter the Maori claim for special status as Tangata Whenua (by calling Maori the first immigrants). In addition Walker states that this process was flawed despite the government calling for meetings around the country with Maori leaders, because they were not representative of Iwi. Furthermore the voices of the speakers who opposed the immigration proposals were ignored. Walker refers to the preamble of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which allows immigration to New Zealand from Europe, Australia and the United Kingdom, but requires consultation of Maori as descendants of the Crown's treaty partner for any variation. Walker argues that the Government has ignored the notion of partnership and unilaterally decided who can enter New Zealand without consultation with Maori. The shifts in immigration policy have led to an increasing emphasis on the development of settlement services and policies.

Settlement resources

Community and NGO resources
Community Net Aotearoa is an internet resource supporting communities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF ETHNIC COUNCILS (INC)
New Out West
Southland Multi-Nations Council
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand
Auckland Fiji Association
Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Inc.
Auckland Migrant Centre Inc
The Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust
Refugees as Survivors Wellington (RAS provides mental health services for refugees and migrants)

Miscellaneous resources
Multicultural Aotearoa
Migrant News
Pipers pages of links to ethnic and national groups in New Zealand
Kiwi Ora (educational programme aimed at assisting you begin your new life in New Zealand)
Migration Information Source(New Zealand: The Politicization of Immigration )
Policy.net (you can view immigration policies of all the main New Zealand political parties)

Overseas settlement resources
Intercultural Institute of Montreal
Immigrant/Refugee Women's Health
The Social Planning Council of Ottawa
Mental health of immigrants
Settlement
Transnational communities programme
Passages to Canada the Citizenship and Immigration feature of The Memory Project, has a neat site for exploring first-hand stories of immigration in Canada..
Settlement.org

New Zealand Ethnic Networks

Refugee resources

Refugees that have resettled in New Zealand mostly originate from Africa, the Middle East, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Most refugees arriving in New Zealand will spend six weeks at the Mangere Refugee Reception Centre (MRRC) in South Auckland. Refugees arrive in New Zealand in one of three ways.

Mandated refugees come on the quota programme by arrangement with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This group has been granted refugee status in their country of first asylum and are granted permanent residence on arrival in New Zealand. Convention refugees/asylum seekers arrive in New Zealand and then claim refugee status. The third group are resettled under the family reunification policy.

New Zealand accepts a United Nations-mandated quota of 750 refugees per year, plus approximately the same number again of asylum seekers. In 2004, the first ever National Refugee Research Symposium was held in Auckland at Unitec New Zealand. You can download the Conference Programme (pdf 684KB), Reference Materials (pdf 684KB) and Strangers in Town Handout (downloadable pdf 98KB). There is a refugee conference being organised by AUT University and the Refugee Council of New Zealand) from November 18th -21st The Conference theme “Looking Back and Moving Forward" reflects the 21 years since the first national refugee resettlement and wellbeing conference held in Wellington in 1988. Have we come of age? We believe there are achievements to be celebrated in refugee resettlement. Unmet needs and new developments also require examination. The conference provides an opportunity to discuss critical issues, identify research and policy gaps, compare international experiences and strengthen networks by sharing knowledge, skills and experience. More details are available at the Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research website where details will be updated regularly.

A new initiative taken by former refugees living in New Zealand has resulted in the setting up of a national network of organisations representing former refugees. The network was formed at a meeting held in Wellington on 20th January 2009. Its formation was preceded by more than a year of consultation and meetings between representatives of various groups and organisations that represent the views of former refugees. We have called this alliance the National Refugee Network. The initial purpose of the Network is to share information. For more details contact Kafeba (Chair) or Glenda (Admin support).

International Students

The number of international students and recent migrants enrolled in New Zealand tertiary institutions has increased markedly in recent years. International research on the experiences of recent migrant and overseas (sojourner) students indicates that while most make positive adaptations, many experience difficulties that have adverse impacts on their health, social relationships and academic performance.

Employment

In the nineties there was widespread coverage in the media about the many unemployed professional migrants. These people had entered New Zealand in 1995-1996 hopeful of a new life, but have ended up being unable to work in their chosen professions. Most had assumed that by entering under the points system which recognised personal merit (Ip, 1998) they would be able to begin work. Unfortunately, a lack of agreement between registration boards and the Department of Immigration department regarding their qualifications meant qualifications and experience gained overseas went unrecognised by occupational bodies (Stone, 1998; Ip, 1998). In October 1995 policy changed with registration becoming a pre-requisite of residence. What had started as a Government plan to infuse funds and new skills into the workplace as well as broaden cultural foundations turned into allegations of the abuse of human rights and cost the New Zealand taxpayer $10 million a year to support out of work migrants. My interest in this issue is twofold; I am a migrant myself and I have had a professional involvement with migrant professional men and women who have developed depression and anxiety related mental health problems leading to their referral to mental health services. A clear causative factor has been the inability for them or their spouses to find appropriate work in New Zealand because of professional registration difficulties. This has impacted on their ability to support themselves financially, decreased their quality of life and sense of self-esteem and made the transition to a life in New Zealand even more difficult.Have a look at the assistance that the Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust can offer.To read more about migrant workers in health have a look at my Nursing page.

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Copyright © 2003-2007 Ruth DeSouza. All rights reserved. Contact: ruth[at]ruthdesouza.com.