‘Forced’ family separation and inter-generational dynamics: multi-generational new Chinese immigrant families in New Zealand

Abstract

In New Zealand (NZ), due to the immigration policy change against family reunifications, many 'forced' transnational immigrant families emerged between NZ and other immigration sending countries. Closely tied family members across generations now have limited choice but to live across different national, cultural, and linguistic localities. By taking the new Chinese immigrant families from the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the case in point, and based on 45 in-depth interviews with their multi-generational family members, this paper examines how immigrant families adapt to the NZ immigration regime which does not easily accommodate their cultural preference to live as multi-generational families. It also demonstrates the importance of family reunification for immigrant families in NZ, and the changing inter-generational power relations caused by the evolving process of migration and settlement of these families.

A conceptual framework studying transnational immigrant family experiences: The phenomenon of Chinese seasonal parents/grandparents in New Zealand

“…In the NZ context, ‘new Chinese immigrants’ often refers to those Chinese who arrived in NZ from various regions (e.g., the PRC, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia) after the enforcement of the NZ's ‘open‐door’ immigration policy in 1987 (Liu, 2018; Ran & Liu, 2021). This research only focuses on new Chinese immigrants from the PRC.…”

Consumption choice-making among first-generation Chinese immigrants in New Zealand

“…New Zealand China Council [Spoonley and Meares 2009;NZCC] 2018). The motivation for such bias partly relates to the Immigration New Zealand's regime that allows immigration by investment funds (Ran and Liu 2020). Scholarly works to explore the socioeconomic implications of Chinese immigrants' consumption choices have been limited.…”

Untitled

“…Lack of language proficiency (Batalova & Fix, 2010), cultural adaptability (Campion, 2018), lack of local work experience and qualifications, non-recognition of foreign qualifications (Khan-Gökkaya & Moesko, 2021), lack of credential recognition and short-term visas (Alho, 2020) are some of the challenges migrants face in searching for employment in their host countries. A large amount of literature is available on employability challenges faced by Indians (Kaur, 2019;Montayre et al, 2019), Africans (Bartley, 2010;Rosewarne & Shuker, 2010;Tuwe, 2018), Chinese (Gong et al, 2020;Ran & Liu, 2021;Wang & East, 2020;), Asians as a whole (Ho, 2003;Wong, 2015), Fiji Indians (Aporosa, 2012Pio & Dana, 2014). However, only a minimal amount of literature on the challenges faced by SL migrants in NZ is available.…”