Immigration, Multiculturalism and Geography: Inter-Group Contact and Attitudes to Immigrants and Cultural Diversity in New Zealand

Abstract

Changes in the sources of immigrants have generated a major alteration to the ethnic composition of New Zealand society and encouraged policy shifts towards a multicultural society. These changes have stimulated considerable resistance, however, with many New Zealanders believing there are too many immigrants in the country, especially from Asia and the Pacific Islands–although such anti-immigrant attitudes were believed to be stronger among those with less contact with the evolving multicultural society. A survey of attitudes to immigration and multiculturalism was used to test this argument. It found variations in line with contact theory: Auckland residents in particular were more likely to have extensive contacts with immigrants and less opposed to immigration and multiculturalism. Given New Zealand's continued need for skilled immigrants, this raises important policy issues regarding the promotion of a multicultural society.

‘The cultural stuff around how to talk to people’: immigrants' intercultural communication during a pre-employment work-placement

“…However, as the Co-ordinator concluded earlier, immigrants are not always aware of the importance of small talk which provide opportunities for l intercultural encounters, language learning, and integration into the community and larger society (Henderson et al, 2006;Johnston et al, 2010).…”

“…In facilitating immigrants' access to the workplace, the programme helps to address discrimination displayed towards immigrants in the job market (Butcher et al, 2006;Connecting Diverse Communities Project, 2006;Fugazza, 2003;Henderson et al, 2006;Johnston et al, 2010). The participants in this study were skilled, educated, and held professional qualifications from their own countries.…”

“…Further, the report found that New Zealand citizens expected that people from other cultures should be the same as everyone else, or at least, not be too different. And Johnston, Gendall, Trlin and Spoonley's (2010) research noted that despite policy shifts towards a multicultural society, New Zealanders still demonstrated a resistance towards immigrant arrivals, especially from Asia and the Pacific Islands. In fact, in terms of barriers to workplace employment, cultural fit versus cultural differences, English language skills, communication, and interpersonal skills, and accent were rated as the leading barriers to workplace employment (Podsiadlowski, 2007).…”

“It's All So Different Here…”: Initial Employment and Social Engagement Experiences of South Africans in New Zealand

“…Listening to participants talk about their encounters with workmates and neighbors, one is left with an impression that these characteristics -while reflecting cultural and social differences between two societies -could also be the social equivalent of "acceptable reasons" for failure in the labor market, disguising otherwise unpalatable evidence of prejudice. Fortunately, recent research on New Zealanders' attitudes toward immigrants suggests that prejudice is reduced by increasing intergroup contact in the workplace, neighborhoods and elsewhere (Ward and Masgoret, 2008;Johnston et al, 2010).…”

Risk society, anxiety and exit: A case study of South Korean migration decision-making

“…With the passage of the 1987 Immigration Act, national origin was no longer considered as a criterion for immigrant selection. The law played an important role in changing the image of New Zealand and shifting policies from a ‘mono’ or ‘bi’-cultural country to a more ‘multi-cultural’ society (Johnston et al., 2010).…”