Migration experience (internal and external)
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Experience of immigrating to Aotearoa New Zealand
For many non-citizens, the ability to belong hinges on the right visa. Participants spoke of how discrimination and lack of support for migrants increased their feelings of vulnerability. Others shared how people from similar backgrounds may choose to stick together to cope with the stresses of migrating, but how this can also lead to feelings of disconnection from the wider community.
The connections I’ve built is with other migrants, but migrants tend to move. So there’s constant movement and constant rebuilding again [of the social network].
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The connections I’ve built is with other migrants, but migrants tend to move. So there’s constant movement and constant rebuilding again [of the social network].
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I’m from another country, partly. Don’t truly feel like I belong in NZ, but also don’t feel like I belong in the UK either.
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There are also past situations when I felt threatened by younger people who could actually hurt me, and I felt intimidated. [immigration experience]
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There are some Fijian and Indian Hindus, priest does programmes for them. They aren’t well settled. They aren’t citizens, so can’t do anything much. [ It’s likely that the Fijian and Indians are migrants, rather than refugees].
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When mines were closing down, a lot of Filipino working there. If they lose their jobs, real issue for immigration status. Local community is really good, a local Filipino will bring them in for help. Need to find another job that is suitable for their skills and visa. Plus English is a second language.
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Must be hard for disabled people, or new immigrants, because they’re always asking. They’re likely to see a negative response to their asking.
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New to the area
Residents and citizens who move from one town or city to another can experience exclusion and a lack of belonging. Participants spoke of how, as newcomers, they found it challenging to access established networks. Others shared tight-knit communities’ reluctance to connect with new people with different values for fear of change.
The problem is… rather than we, how do you connect with others. You don’t have schoolmates here, you don’t have friends, or you don’t have family. You don’t know anybody, the start is a big problem.
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The problem is… rather than we, how do you connect with others. You don’t have schoolmates here, you don’t have friends, or you don’t have family. You don’t know anybody, the start is a big problem.
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New people are coming in to [xx] — I feel like they don’t share values and I find it hard to connect. We’re a tight sharing community and to be honest, I’m not interested in making friends because I have a limit to how much I can reach out.
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Very insular here and very closed. Even when I came here from Auckland, I remade friends with my cousins. I had neighbours and friends around me, but I couldn’t get into that group. They just wouldn’t let me into the group. I invited different ones to the house, I tried, I could do something on a one-to-one basis, but as a group they just closed it off.
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No family, friends, no kinship here. Not knowing how things rolled, where the markets were, the food.
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People who move here as adults who are Māori find it difficult to belong, not so hard if born here.
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Transient populations
Areas with high numbers of transient populations - like temporary workers and tourists, can struggle to establish a foundation of stability and community identity. Participants who lived in communities with short-term residents spoke of becoming more reluctant to develop meaningful relationships with newcomers. Participants who lived transient lifestyles spoke of increased hostilities and a lack of acceptance from long-term residents.
Belonging is from the workplace. But the population is so transient.
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Belonging is from the workplace. But the population is so transient.
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35 of the Year 13 students got scholarships last year. Now all 35 are gone. They won’t be coming back here.
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We have a lot of temp staff who come in for 2-3 months. When the weather’s fine, they’re happy. If wet, then they’re grumpy. Can’t work.
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Getting very difficult to find common places where people can come together in the way I spoke of [travellers]. When everyone I know is getting kicked out from the places where we gather, and I get left alone with a bunch on strangers and I feel unsafe.
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There’s holiday home enclaves, you can end up living in place surrounded by empty homes that only have residents there in holidays.
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It’s about protecting their own emotions. You build networks here, people come and go. You make friends and then they leave. The emotions when they leave.
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