Many people from Central, Gulf, and Western have used past trading, marriage, or church ties to find places in Motu-Koitabu villages. Many other migrants live in 18 widely scattered settlements. These settlements are usually shared by people from several different provinces, who live in separate areas. They usually pay rent to the customary Motu or Koitabu landowners. The NCD government has built access roads, installed communal water taps and drainage, and picks up rubbish.
Unemployment is high.
Housing standards vary widely within and between the settlements. Koki is the biggest and highest standard settlement. It has about 230 houses, most of them built along walkways over the water. The people are almost all from Marshall Lagoon, Central, and work as skilled tradesmen. Some settlement people and Motu-Koitabu people fish or grow vegetables for sale in the NCD's markets.