The Pacific region is a dynamic migratory space, with Connell (2003, p. 55) stating that
“the life courses of island people … are increasingly embedded in international ties”. The Pacific’s island states are marked by relatively low population levels and population
densities, reflecting the small land area, scarcity of water resources and unproductive soils
that characterise the region’s individual islands, which number over 10,000 (IOM, 2005, p. 129). The total population of the Pacific region is around 34 million, of which 5 million are international migrants; the highest proportion of migrants to non-migrants globally (IOM, 2008b, p. 481; Martin & Zurcher, 2008). The Pacific is divided into three island sub-regions: Melanesia, with a population of 8 million people; Micronesia, home to just half a million people; and Polynesia, with a population of around 650,000 (Bedford, 2008, p. 3). Australia and New Zealand have populations of 21 million and 4 million
respectively, and are considered the only ‘developed’ countries in the region. According to
Connell (2006, p. 61), until relatively recently there was a belief that poverty did not exist within the Pacific, due to the nature of Pacific island societies which involved extended
families acting as ‘safety nets’ for people in economic difficulty.These ‘safety nets’ are
starting to break down however, and while there is not really any absolute poverty in the Pacific there are households that do not have adequate access to water, sanitation, health services or basic education (Connell, 2006).
The limited access to education and health services have been cited as drivers of migration in the region (Connell, 2003, 2006), and it is likely that predicted climate change impacts and demographic changes will affect migration patterns and the scale of movement in the
future (IOM, 2005). Furthermore, Connell points to the wide disparities in economic development between vulnerable Pacific Island states and wealthy countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand as a further factor leading to migration in the region (Connell, 2003, 2006). While some may see the migration of Pacific people as largely being a modern phenomenon, this is not the case, with Pacific peoples having a long migratory history.
Bedford et al. (2009, p. 18) state that the movement of Pacific people within and between islands was part of the rhythm of indigenous societies, which involved historically circular patterns of migration. Alefaio (2008) in the Polynesian context, states that the journeys of modern Pacific people reflect an historical migratory past. Lilomaiava-Doktor (2009, p. 2) reports that, while the conventional academic view of migration may imply a severance of ties with the home community, in the Samoan context such movement is quite different,
with the Samoan concept malaga or ‘movement’ implying circulation back and forth.
Narokobi (1983, p. 6) points to the intricate trade links that connected the islands of Melanesia long before the arrival of Westerners, demonstrating that Melanesian people have always been mobile. In this sense, the Pacific Ocean provided not a barrier to mobility, but a means in which to move between islands in the region for trade, and marriage, which expanded the social networks of Pacific people (Hau'ofa, 1993), in effect
creating a ‘sea of islands’, a “world in which peoples and cultures moved and mingled unhindered by boundaries” (Hau'ofa, 1993, p. 8).
In describing the Pacific region as a ‘sea of islands’, Hau’ofa challenges the Western-held view of the Pacific region as being tiny areas of land separated by large expanses of ocean.
Indeed, Hau’ofa uses the term ‘Oceania’ to describe the Pacific region, symbolising the
importance of the Pacific Ocean for people of the Pacific (Hau'ofa, 1993).
As outlined above, mobility has historically been part of the Pacific way of life, although contemporary migration in the Pacific region increasingly includes internal movement from rural areas to coastal regions and urban centres (Connell, 2003; Maclellan & Mares, 2006). The resulting reduction in service delivery to rural areas encourages further migration to central urban zones, perpetuating the concentration of populations in urban
areas (Connell, 2003). Connell labels these internal migratory movements as “the
destinations for contemporary Pacific migrants include the United States of America, Australia, and New Zealand. New Zealand in particular has a large Pacific population and has close links with the Pacific region, as will be discussed later in this chapter. New Zealand and Australia are considered to be the primary migration centres of the Pacific region, for visitors, international students, and temporary and permanent labour migrants (Bedford, 2008; IOM, 2005).
This international migration from Pacific states has affected population levels for some countries. Although all three sub-regions have high birth rates, Polynesia is actually experiencing negligible population growth, partly due to a high level of out-migration to countries such as New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America. Melanesia and Micronesia on the other hand, apart from some exceptions (Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands) are not experiencing the same levels of out- migration (Bedford, 2008). This out-migration is seen as lessening the negative impacts of high population growth, including limited domestic employment opportunities, and consequent security issues, particularly in Melanesia.
Although opportunities exist for Pacific migrants to enter New Zealand and Australia, (as will be discussed in further detail within this chapter), there are still calls for New Zealand and Australia to further open up opportunities for Pacific Island people to access the labour markets of both countries. At a gathering of Pacific leaders, at the 2004 Auckland- hosted Pacific Islands Forum meeting, the following Vision was adopted to assist the Forum in guiding regional actions and policies:
Leaders believe the Pacific region can, should and will be a region of peace, harmony, security and economic prosperity, so that all its people can lead free and worthwhile lives. We treasure the diversity of the Pacific and seek a future in which its cultures, traditions and religious beliefs are valued, honoured and developed. We seek a Pacific region that is respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, and the full observance of democratic values, and for its defence and promotion of human rights. We seek partnerships with our neighbours and beyond to develop our knowledge, to improve our communications and to ensure a sustainable
economic existence for all (Chan et al., 2004, p. 8, as cited in Bedford, 2008, p. 6).
This Vision statement demonstrates, particularly in the last sentence, that Pacific Island
governments are determined to move forward into the 21st century in partnership with
other nations in the Pacific region to build knowledge and skills, increase social and communication linkages, and ultimately promote economic and social development. The Pacific region has been a source of immigration to New Zealand for many years, and
provides an important market for New Zealand’s goods and services (Ramasamy et al., 2008) This relationship reflects the importance of the Pacific region as a whole to New Zealand socially and economically, particularly since the end of the Second World War (Bedford, Ho, & Lidgard, 2000; Stahl & Appleyard, 2007). Part of the emphasis on economic development involves the easing of access restrictions to the New Zealand and
Australian labour markets, which many Pacific leaders believe will assist their countries’
paths to social and economic growth (Bedford, 2008; Chand, 2004; Maclellan & Mares, 2006). This belief has provided some of the impetus behind calls for New Zealand and Australia to introduce temporary labour migration schemes. Perhaps as a result of these increased calls to open up their labour markets, New Zealand established the RSE scheme in 2007, and Australia implemented the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme (PSWPS) in August 2008.
The following section will provide a more detailed examination of migration in New Zealand, with some mention of Australian migration policies relevant to this study also included.