Statement:
Contemporary New Zealand society benefits from multicultural immigration.
Aotearoa New Zealand had the unusual beginning as a geographically isolated land where flora and fauna could develop without interference from humans.
Essentially a blank slate for human society
Therefore by definition all humans currently here are immigrants.
Human society began with the first Polynesian migrants who developed a cultural context and heritage that is present in today’s society. From 1800 onwards British Irish and European people migrated to New Zealand giving the country a very “British and Empire” veneer. Minority settlements of French and German migrants existed as did Chinese miners, encouraged to come here for the gold mining. Following World War 2 more British and European migrants arrived, and in 1960, the increase in available work attracted people from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific countries. Auckland is currently the largest Polynesian city in the world.
Due to a change in immigration policy in 1975 and 1987, migrants were selected migrants based on qualifications rather than race. This has led to an increase of immigrants from Asia and Africa
Jock Phillips. ‘History of immigration”, Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 9-Nov-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration
Waves of migration from Asia from 1990 onwards has changed the “visible” face of urban New Zealand to a truly multicultural one.
My personal experience was of migrating to New Zealand in 1974 from a Canadian and European background. My impression was that New Zealand was “nice but boring” There were only 3 kinds of beer, 3 kinds of cheese, 2 Chinese restaurants in Auckland and the whole city seemed to close down on the weekend. Entertainment seemed to consist of movies, going to the beach, sailing, the occasional concert, and regularly getting drunk.
I contrast that with New Zealand today, when Maori and Polynesian culture are reflected strongly in the news and entertainment media, the Treaty of Waitangi underpins our legal and governmental structures, when Aucklanders regularly participate in cultural festivals such as the Lantern Festival (Chinese), Diwali (Indian) and Pasifika (Pacific countries), when there are multi ethnic markets all over Auckland open on weekends
That’s the preamble, the introduction.
It’s my view that contemporary New Zealand society benefits from multicultural immigration. It enlightens us, educates us, teaches us to appreciate a wider world view, exposes us to different philosophies and religion and thought. In the words of a traditional Maori proverb
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners/proverbs.html
accessed 12/05
I think it makes us better people, and correspondingly a better society.
I invite all debate and comment.
Contemporary New Zealand society benefits from multicultural immigration.
Aotearoa New Zealand had the unusual beginning as a geographically isolated land where flora and fauna could develop without interference from humans.
Essentially a blank slate for human society
Therefore by definition all humans currently here are immigrants.
Human society began with the first Polynesian migrants who developed a cultural context and heritage that is present in today’s society. From 1800 onwards British Irish and European people migrated to New Zealand giving the country a very “British and Empire” veneer. Minority settlements of French and German migrants existed as did Chinese miners, encouraged to come here for the gold mining. Following World War 2 more British and European migrants arrived, and in 1960, the increase in available work attracted people from Samoa, Tonga and other Pacific countries. Auckland is currently the largest Polynesian city in the world.
Due to a change in immigration policy in 1975 and 1987, migrants were selected migrants based on qualifications rather than race. This has led to an increase of immigrants from Asia and Africa
Jock Phillips. ‘History of immigration”, Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 9-Nov-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration
Waves of migration from Asia from 1990 onwards has changed the “visible” face of urban New Zealand to a truly multicultural one.
My personal experience was of migrating to New Zealand in 1974 from a Canadian and European background. My impression was that New Zealand was “nice but boring” There were only 3 kinds of beer, 3 kinds of cheese, 2 Chinese restaurants in Auckland and the whole city seemed to close down on the weekend. Entertainment seemed to consist of movies, going to the beach, sailing, the occasional concert, and regularly getting drunk.
I contrast that with New Zealand today, when Maori and Polynesian culture are reflected strongly in the news and entertainment media, the Treaty of Waitangi underpins our legal and governmental structures, when Aucklanders regularly participate in cultural festivals such as the Lantern Festival (Chinese), Diwali (Indian) and Pasifika (Pacific countries), when there are multi ethnic markets all over Auckland open on weekends
That’s the preamble, the introduction.
It’s my view that contemporary New Zealand society benefits from multicultural immigration. It enlightens us, educates us, teaches us to appreciate a wider world view, exposes us to different philosophies and religion and thought. In the words of a traditional Maori proverb
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people! It is people! It is people!
http://www.korero.maori.nz/forlearners/proverbs.html
accessed 12/05
I think it makes us better people, and correspondingly a better society.
I invite all debate and comment.
Resistance to Migration
This
has always been present since Europeans first landed in Aotearoa, at that time
a country populated solely by Maori. Some people are wary of and distrust
people from other races with different customs and values, despite the fact
that we are all essentially human. When I arrived in the 1970’s the prejudice
was against British immigrants known as “Poms”. This didn’t affect me
personally because Kiwis thought I was Canadian. Presumably Canadians were
“OK”.
 |
| This cartoon illustrates blind prejudice and xenophobia. |
 |
| This cartoon illustrates “Pakeha/European” New Zealanders commenting on Asian immigrants perceived inability to speak English while ignoring the fact that they have no proficiency in Maori culture and language. |
 |
| Winston Peters, Leader of NZ First trying to terrify us with tales of immigration |
Finally
although all political parties periodically take a view that aspects of
immigration and foreign investment are “bad for New Zealand” New Zealand First,
led by Winston Peters has made an anti-immigration platform one of their main
policies.
This
resistance remains present today as evidenced by a recent article in the New
Zealand Herald illustrating the views of Grey Power members:
“Grey Power's Auckland zone director Bill Rayner said the community and
lifestyle of the region's older residents was "under serious threat from
the rapid and huge changes in size and ethnic mix projections included in the
Auckland Plan".He said he feared the scale and speed of immigration was
threatening to turn Auckland into an Asian city.
accessed 09/04/201
I believe the benefits of multicultural immigration are
significant. It increases the talent pool of the country, cultural diversity
expands our personal horizons, and cultural diversity increases our tolerance.
Mervyn
Singham the current Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs, writing in
Aotearoa Ethnic Journal in 2006 describes the need for a new paradigm in
managing the integration of culturally diverse peoples to our society. He
states that New Zealand is one of the “highest
migrant receiving countries in the world.”， and is
projected to have 18% of the population of ethnicity other than Pakeha
European/Maori/Pasifika. He proposes a new paradigm called “Strength in
Diversity” in which we recognise the benefits for our society of multicultural
immigration.
These are
stated as:
the need for
continued immigration of skilled people to balance the demands of our aging
population.
multicultural
dynamic societies are attractive to the kind of skilled immigrants we need.
our future
major trading partners will be Asian countries, so we will need Asian New
Zealanders who have the cultural and linguistic ability to forge trade links
with these countries.
accessed
16/05/2013
Currently
the Office of Ethnic Affairs runs a dynamic department which demonstrates that
our Government is actively engaged with the concept of a multicultural future
for New Zealand.
accessed
16/05/2013
Follow this link to watch a video to get an idea of leadership in the future multicultural and dynamic New Zealand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6UJuAgi2h0&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6UJuAgi2h0&feature=youtu.be
test comment
ReplyDeleteYay it's all there!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThis is my second attempt to comment on your blog(I got your email!). Like I mentioned first time, I agree with your statement.
I can only speak from my experience of migrating to this lovely country from Japan 12 years ago but I fell in love with how diverse and multicultural(and somewhat welcoming) this place was, that I decided to stay.
Unfortunately, there are still some, that cannot see the bright side of having multicultural society. However, I feel that things are changing for better and people are more accepting.
Some that are against migration may think, immigrants bring troubles. In that case, they already did a big damage when the first immigrants decided to take over the land.
My country, Japan, had a long period of isolation from other countries in the past, where we weren't allowed to leave or people could not come in from overseas. That still has an effect in the culture, although it is rapidly changing.
All in all, I loved all bits and pieces of your blog and I hope as one of the immigrants, I will do more good than bad.