title: Living in two worlds. Challenges facing Pacific communities: The case of Fijians in New Zealand

authors: Vunidilo, Kalisito

subjects: Fijians

abstract: Living in two worlds is an insider perspective of how indigenous Pacific Immigrant communities, in this specific case Fijian's living in New Zealand face the challenges of living two cultures in a developed country like New Zealand.  The quest to hold on to one's indigenous culture while adapting to another, in order to survive the realities of everyday circumstances can be a complicated struggle. 

The main objective of this research was to collate and analyze information from Fijian families who migrated to New Zealand from 1970's to the mid 1980's with reference to the challenges they faced.  In order to understand such constant struggles there are underlying questions and factors that should be considered.  For example - why do people continue to be conservative about their cultural identities or how do they react to unfamiliar challenges in a multicultural society.  Another could be - what influences have been seen in order for their children to recognize their indigenous identity.  Comparable factors that will bring to other aspects of living in two worlds which would be considered were socio-economic issues, higher education, technological advancement, immigration policies, development constraints and quality of living standards.

Fijians and other indigenous Pacific people have through the years gained the ultimate will to defend their cultural and traditional identity whilst living in a world of western values and culture.  Coupled with this have been the complexities of holding on to the values of both worlds.  As this project probed into these newly rediscovered stories about journeys to their new homeland filled with opportunities, capitalism or westernization had never withered their passion and dreams as Pacific people to better themselves.  They also enjoyed the luxury of both worlds as conservators of Pacific cultures and exploiters of technological advancement filled with huge dreams, opportunities and better standards of living. 

Fijians have the smallest population of Pacific people in New Zealand when compared to Samoa, Tonga, and Cook Islanders.  There were relatively small number of Fijians who arrived after the end of World War 2 and they were basically employed in farms, forestry work stations and industrial areas.  Others were in New Zealand on government scholarships, training or internship and work experience programs. Most of these people returned home while a very small proportion stayed behind.  

In the early 1970's and 1980's there was also an influx of seasonal workers in the Central North Island areas including Hawkes Bay, Tokoroa and the Waikato region.  Most people were recruited from the Pacific Islands including Fiji because of their hard working attitude and cheap labour margins.  When their term was completed some decided to stay and work, eventually residing legally and permanently with their families.  Another group of men came via Wellington by boat, destined to become maintenance and repair workers. (bound for maintenance and repair work and ) but were left stranded when the shipping company ownership changed.  The dock and maritime workers union fought for the case stating the government on humanitarian grounds should provide them with employment and residency status.  After an extensive legal struggle, which lasted almost seven years these early Fijian workers and their families were granted work and residency permits.  The (remaining) other families came as visitors or through marriage links and were granted work and residency permits.

The 1996 statistics (Statistics New Zealand, Census 1996) stated that Fijians were the most highly skilled and educated Pacific Island population in New Zealand.  These statistics had been directly influenced by the latest influx of well educated and highly qualified Fijians who arrived in the late 1990's.  The research will also highlight whether those who arrived before this latest influx faced the same challenges.  These challenges will be compared to those faced by the generation of Fijians and Pacific people who were born and bred in New Zealand.

text: Living in two worlds. Challenges facing Pacific communities: The case of Fijians in New Zealand Living in two worlds is an insider perspective of how indigenous Pacific Immigrant communities, in this specific case Fijian's living in New Zealand face the challenges of living two cultures in a developed country like New Zealand.  The quest to hold on to one's indigenous culture while adapting to another, in order to survive the realities of everyday circumstances can be a complicated struggle. 

The main objective of this research was to collate and analyze information from Fijian families who migrated to New Zealand from 1970's to the mid 1980's with reference to the challenges they faced.  In order to understand such constant struggles there are underlying questions and factors that should be considered.  For example - why do people continue to be conservative about their cultural identities or how do they react to unfamiliar challenges in a multicultural society.  Another could be - what influences have been seen in order for their children to recognize their indigenous identity.  Comparable factors that will bring to other aspects of living in two worlds which would be considered were socio-economic issues, higher education, technological advancement, immigration policies, development constraints and quality of living standards.

Fijians and other indigenous Pacific people have through the years gained the ultimate will to defend their cultural and traditional identity whilst living in a world of western values and culture.  Coupled with this have been the complexities of holding on to the values of both worlds.  As this project probed into these newly rediscovered stories about journeys to their new homeland filled with opportunities, capitalism or westernization had never withered their passion and dreams as Pacific people to better themselves.  They also enjoyed the luxury of both worlds as conservators of Pacific cultures and exploiters of technological advancement filled with huge dreams, opportunities and better standards of living. 

Fijians have the smallest population of Pacific people in New Zealand when compared to Samoa, Tonga, and Cook Islanders.  There were relatively small number of Fijians who arrived after the end of World War 2 and they were basically employed in farms, forestry work stations and industrial areas.  Others were in New Zealand on government scholarships, training or internship and work experience programs. Most of these people returned home while a very small proportion stayed behind.  

In the early 1970's and 1980's there was also an influx of seasonal workers in the Central North Island areas including Hawkes Bay, Tokoroa and the Waikato region.  Most people were recruited from the Pacific Islands including Fiji because of their hard working attitude and cheap labour margins.  When their term was completed some decided to stay and work, eventually residing legally and permanently with their families.  Another group of men came via Wellington by boat, destined to become maintenance and repair workers. (bound for maintenance and repair work and ) but were left stranded when the shipping company ownership changed.  The dock and maritime workers union fought for the case stating the government on humanitarian grounds should provide them with employment and residency status.  After an extensive legal struggle, which lasted almost seven years these early Fijian workers and their families were granted work and residency permits.  The (remaining) other families came as visitors or through marriage links and were granted work and residency permits.

The 1996 statistics (Statistics New Zealand, Census 1996) stated that Fijians were the most highly skilled and educated Pacific Island population in New Zealand.  These statistics had been directly influenced by the latest influx of well educated and highly qualified Fijians who arrived in the late 1990's.  The research will also highlight whether those who arrived before this latest influx faced the same challenges.  These challenges will be compared to those faced by the generation of Fijians and Pacific people who were born and bred in New Zealand.

year: 2006

title: Impacts of hatchery-reared mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi stocking on wild fish community and water quality in a shallow Yangtze lake

authors: Li, Wei

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: Mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi, a valuable piscivorous fish, have been stocked into many lakes in China since the 1990s. This study did the first attempt to evaluate the ecological effects of hatchery-reared mandarin fish stocking in the Yangtze River basin lakes. Our study demonstrated a significant change in fish community composition after mandarin fish stocking, but no fish extinction was observed. No significant difference was observed in the total density of 13 forage fish before and after mandarin fish stocking, but the total biomass showed a significant decline after mandarin fish stocking. Significant differences in length-frequency distributions were observed for Carassius auratus, Pseudorasbora parva and Toxabramis swinhonis captured before and after stocking mandarin fish. No significant change in habitat distribution was detected before and after mandarin fish stocking. A marked decline in total nitrogen and a slight decline in total phosphorus were observed while a slight increasing trend for Secchi depth was found after stocking. Our findings suggested that mandarin fish stocking can increase predation pressure on forage fish and subsequently optimize the food web structure. Also, mandarin fish stocking has the potential to improve water quality and may be a feasible strategy to alleviate eutrophication of shallow Yangtze lakes.

text: Impacts of hatchery-reared mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi stocking on wild fish community and water quality in a shallow Yangtze lake Mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi, a valuable piscivorous fish, have been stocked into many lakes in China since the 1990s. This study did the first attempt to evaluate the ecological effects of hatchery-reared mandarin fish stocking in the Yangtze River basin lakes. Our study demonstrated a significant change in fish community composition after mandarin fish stocking, but no fish extinction was observed. No significant difference was observed in the total density of 13 forage fish before and after mandarin fish stocking, but the total biomass showed a significant decline after mandarin fish stocking. Significant differences in length-frequency distributions were observed for Carassius auratus, Pseudorasbora parva and Toxabramis swinhonis captured before and after stocking mandarin fish. No significant change in habitat distribution was detected before and after mandarin fish stocking. A marked decline in total nitrogen and a slight decline in total phosphorus were observed while a slight increasing trend for Secchi depth was found after stocking. Our findings suggested that mandarin fish stocking can increase predation pressure on forage fish and subsequently optimize the food web structure. Also, mandarin fish stocking has the potential to improve water quality and may be a feasible strategy to alleviate eutrophication of shallow Yangtze lakes.

year: 2018

title: Ki te kapu o takau ringa - In the Hollow of my Hand: Wānanga based Photographic Approaches to Place Representation

authors: Hill, Rodrigo

abstract: Ka matakitaki iho au ki te riu o Waikato
 Ano nei hei kapo kau ake maaku; 
Ki te kapu o taku ringa, 
“I look down on the valley of Waikato, 
As though to hold it  
In the hollow of my hand.
 The words above are from Māori King Tawhiao’s maioha (song poem), a representation of his love for his homelands of the Waikato and the region known today as the King Country. Now imagine a large-scale photograph: a close-up of cupped hands, holding an object carefully. The phrase above informs Professor Tom Roa and Dr. Rodrigo Hill’s current research project titled ‘Te Nehenehenui - The Ancient Enduring Beauty in the Great Forest of the King Country’. With this project still in its early stages the research team will present early and ongoing creative practice developments, discussions and ideas about photography practice, wānanga, and place representation. The project promotes the use of wānanga (forums and meetings of focus groups through which knowledge - mātauranga - is discussed and passed on) and other reflective practices, engaging with and led by mana whenua (guardians of the land) providing a thread which will guide the construction of the photographic images. The research fuses wānanga, that is Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge), and photography practice in novel ways, aiming to move away and challenge core photographic conventions and Eurocentric modes of place representation. Roa and Hill understand wānanga as a fluid practice of engagement which can be with mana whenua or with the taiao - the environment - either by itself or with the mana whenua. This is the essence of Kaupapa Māori Research.

text: Ki te kapu o takau ringa - In the Hollow of my Hand: Wānanga based Photographic Approaches to Place Representation Ka matakitaki iho au ki te riu o Waikato
 Ano nei hei kapo kau ake maaku; 
Ki te kapu o taku ringa, 
“I look down on the valley of Waikato, 
As though to hold it  
In the hollow of my hand.
 The words above are from Māori King Tawhiao’s maioha (song poem), a representation of his love for his homelands of the Waikato and the region known today as the King Country. Now imagine a large-scale photograph: a close-up of cupped hands, holding an object carefully. The phrase above informs Professor Tom Roa and Dr. Rodrigo Hill’s current research project titled ‘Te Nehenehenui - The Ancient Enduring Beauty in the Great Forest of the King Country’. With this project still in its early stages the research team will present early and ongoing creative practice developments, discussions and ideas about photography practice, wānanga, and place representation. The project promotes the use of wānanga (forums and meetings of focus groups through which knowledge - mātauranga - is discussed and passed on) and other reflective practices, engaging with and led by mana whenua (guardians of the land) providing a thread which will guide the construction of the photographic images. The research fuses wānanga, that is Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge), and photography practice in novel ways, aiming to move away and challenge core photographic conventions and Eurocentric modes of place representation. Roa and Hill understand wānanga as a fluid practice of engagement which can be with mana whenua or with the taiao - the environment - either by itself or with the mana whenua. This is the essence of Kaupapa Māori Research.

year: 2023-10-25