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- Title
Pasifika Trans-Tasman Migrant Perspectives of Well-Being in Australia and New Zealand.
- Authors
Faleolo, Ruth (Lute)
- Abstract
The migration of Pasifika across the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia has noticeably increased since the 1990s. Current Trans-Tasman migration literature outlines economic and political perspectives of this migration trend, however, fails to capture the social perspectives and migrant experiences that further explain the drift. This paper highlights the importance of understanding the Pasifika Trans-Tasman migration process from the perspective of the Pasifika migrants and asks whether or not Pasifika well-being aims are fulfilled in the process of Trans-Tasman migration. It is only by understanding what is of core value to Pasifika people living in Australia and New Zealand that we can appreciate the inter-play of the factors involved in the Pasifika Trans-Tasman migration. Preliminary findings from research that was undertaken in 2015 is presented; the discussion focuses on the Pasifika migrant groups, of Tongan and Samoan descent, that have migrated between the cities of Auckland, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia since the 1990s. Initial interviews with 40 Pasifika informants in Auckland and Brisbane during June to August 2015 have provided a Pasifika definition of ‘well-being’. Pasifika wellbeing is better understood by the Tongan informants as moui oku lelei and by the Samoan informants as ola magaia; the literal translation of these words into the English language simply mean ‘a good and happy life’, however, they are more holistic in their actual meaning to the Pasifika informants of this study. These authentic Pasifika concepts have come to the fore through the use of e-Talanoa, my newfound method of interviewing that has taken, Talanoa, a Pasifika research methodology online. Despite the increasing presence of Pasifika in both New Zealand and Australia, very little is written or recorded about the Pasifika Trans-Tasman migrants’ movements and how this impacts on their well-being. The significance of this paper is that it will help to end the evident silence of Pasifika voices in Trans-Tasman migration literature.
- Subjects
TASMAN Sea; EMIGRATION &; immigration; WELL-being
- Publication
Pacific Asia Inquiry, 2016, Vol 7, Issue 1, p63
- ISSN
2377-0929
- Publication type
Article