CAPÍTULO V. POTENCIAL DE CONVERSIÓN DE EXPLOTACIONES
5.3 Materiales y Métodos
Seventeen females and seven males ranging from 18 to 56 years of age participated in this portion of research. All but one of the respondents was born in Kiribati. Most participants were from Tarawa in the Gilbert chain. Three participants were from the lesser populated Line and Phoenix Island chains.
The earliest participant arrived in 1987. A spike in
migration was seen in 2005, three years after the PAC scheme was implemented. Most came to New Zealand for economic opportunities and to start a new life in New Zealand. Other reasons dealt with concerns over climate change, visiting relatives and educational opportunities at New Zealand Universities.
As for the United States population, most belonged to a Kiribati community. At the time of study, there were nine Kiribati communities in New Zealand. These groups were seen as valuable and supportive of community members.
New Zealand I-Kiribati identified themselves as I-Kiribati, I-Kiwibas or a Pacific
islander. No one identified as New Zealander. Younger survey respondents tended to label themselves as I-Kiwibas or a Pacific Islander. Respondents felt that New Zealanders and other Pacific Islanders had a positive view of the I-Kiribati in New Zealand. They felt they portrayed attributes such as being hard working and being a good citizen.
Table 26: NZ Survey - Age
Table 27: NZ Survey - Group affiliation
0 5 10
18-29 30-39 40-45 45+
Age
Yes I don’t know any
Omitted
I am part of an I-
Kiribati group
The radio was cited as the most frequent method respondents kept up-to-date with news from Kiribati. An Auckland based radio station sponsored a weekly Kiribati radio program, which broadcasted news from Kiribati in the Kiribati language. Other ways participants kept in touch with Kiribati happenings included social
networking websites and web based phone conversations through Skype and/or Google chat. Half of the survey respondents were New Zealand citizens. Those who were not, the most frequently stated reason as to why they had not become citizens were because of in-country time requirements which are necessary to change permanent residency status. Most who were not citizens at the time, felt positively about becoming New Zealand citizens in the future.
Like the US population, survey respondents overwhelmingly disagreed with the statement, to get
ahead in New Zealand, you must
forget the Kiribati culture. It should
be noted though, that respondents who either ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ were younger participants
who identified themselves as I-Kiwibas or Pacific Islanders, an indication of possible acculturation towards the New Zealand lifestyle.
Table 28: NZ Survey - Migrant identities
Table 29: NZ Survey - Getting ahead in NZ
An I-Kiribati A Pacific Islander
An I-Kiwibas
Identity:
To get ahead in NZ; you
must forget Kiribati culture.
Strongly agree Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree Neither
Ninety two percent of the survey population indicated that they did have family in New Zealand. However, unlike the U.S. fictive kin, it was very likely due to the large number of I-Kiribati in New Zealand that biological family was present.
Like the U.S. population, family was defined by the widest group of relations followed by the second widest definition of family. It is possible that because of this wide definition of family that nearly all had family in New Zealand. Although the New Zealand government has specific resources for migrants, most relied on family to help with the migration process and adjustment to New Zealand life.
Leaving home did not mean that one was free to forget family and leave social issues behind. In many ways migrating brought individuals closer to family back home as they prepared to bring other family member to New Zealand in the future.
Respondents were asked if leaving Kiribati afforded them a stronger personal sense of freedom. This question was intentionally left open ended for interpretation among survey participants. Some stated that leaving strict gender roles and obligations did make them feel freer. A 31 year old female stated we are no longer scared to get drunk because there are no
Table 30: NZ Survey - Changing definitions of family
nuclear family nuclear family & extended relatives
family, relatives, co-workers &
friends
other
kids/responsibilities with us. Having more
freedom was not something all felt in their new country. A 32 year old male stated, I feel tighter
in my time. I have to work hard to get money to
support my family. While both represented perspectives from their then perspective, and 18 year old female looked to the future as she states,
not exactly freer, but I am more focused on the future. It helped me learn how to be independent.
Many felt that the Kiribati population in New Zealand was more motivated to succeed in life than those remaining in Kiribati. Overwhelmingly, there was a feeling that New Zealand I-
Kiribati contributed more to the Kiribati economy than those back home. Unlike the U.S. Table 31: NZ Survey - Personal freedom
Table 32: NZ Survey - Kiribati motivations and intermarriage
More Free?
Yes No How motivated are Kiribati in NZ to get ahead? How much to I- Kiribati in NZ feel the need to connect with theirculture & language?
How do you feel NZ I-Kiribati contribute to the Kiribati economy?
How likely are NZ I-Kiribati to get
romantically involved with individuals wo aren't I-Kiribati?
Much > those in Kiribati 16 7 3 7
> those in Kiribati 4 1 8 4
About the same 1 9 1 2
< those in Kiribati 1 6 4 4
Much < those in Kiribati 2 0 3 0
No opinion 0 0 2 4 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
population, few New Zealand migrants were married to New Zealand citizens. All respondents agreed that their life was different in New Zealand, and held a deep longing for home. This desire for home served to create and maintain relations with other I-Kiribati in the local community.
Maintaining social relations was most frequently accomplished through visits and interactions with other migrants. The close geographical proximity between migrants aided in the formation of community groups and daily reliance on other migrants.
Migrants felt that success in New Zealand was financially defined. This was followed by having a strong social life and maintaining a strong cultural connection through cultivating and maintaining social relationships with other migrants.
Table 33: NZ Survey - Social gatherings
Table 34: NZ Survey - Success defined
other family in NZ other I-Kiribati in NZ
I visit ...
Once a week Once a month
NZ Success?
Financial Social Cultural Other
All respondents experienced significant changes when they arrived in New Zealand. By far, almost everyone’s housing, employment, finances and social life became better since moving to New Zealand. However, by comparison, their cultural life and possibly identification with Kiribati did not improve as much. Those categories in which individuals selected “become worse or much worse” were minimal. Selections, “staying the same, becoming better and becoming much better” far outweighed the “becoming worse or much worse selections,” indicating migrants felt an overall improvement in these categories of their lives as a result of migration.
Respondents were asked to rank the difficulties they faced when moving to New Zealand. The number one represented the most difficult and the number five represented the least
Table 35: NZ Survey - Social adjustments migrants experienced in NZ
Table 36: NZ Survey - Difficulties faced in NZ
0 5 Winter weather English Language Health Social adjustment Food
Difficulties faced in NZ.
Housing Employment Finances Social Life Cultural life
Become much better 15 11 11 12 9
Become a bit better 5 8 7 6 8
Stayed the same 2 3 4 4 5
Become a bit worse 2 1 1 2 2
Become much worse 0 0 1 0 0
No opinion 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
difficult adjustment. Results showed that the greatest difficulties individuals faced were winter weather and constant use of the English language. Other difficulties included a lack of formal work experience and problems with public transportation. Roughly half of the respondents said that they would return to Kiribati, but for visits only. As indicated by the survey, most all felt that they had a better life in New Zealand.