Four - Trans-Tasman Mobilities in and Through Aotearoa New Zealand: Extending Family, Home and Work Across the Tasman

Summary

This chapter is dedicated to Nehemiah Thomas Faleolo

Introduction

Pacific peoples, or Pasifika, in the Aotearoa New Zealand (hereafter Aotearoa) context, have remained transient and mobile since their arrival and settlement over the last 60 years. Although at times constrained by migration policies, their collectives have continued to expand further abroad through Aotearoa to Australia. This chapter will focus on the trans-Tasman mobilities of Pasifika, providing a broad understanding of the politics of mobility and migration that influence their movements in and through Aotearoa. The discussion will consider the pre–Covid-19 trans-Tasman mobilities that have maintained important sociocultural interconnections across multi-sited familial collectives. These connections have been reimagined and transformed by Pasifika groups in response to Covid-19-related regulations. The challenges of social distancing and travel restrictions can be contrasted against an increased sociocultural connection occurring online between multi-sited and intergenerational groups.

Positioning this research

This chapter presents a de-colonised standpoint on Pasifika mobilities informed by trans-Tasman Pasifika narratives and observations that started with a well-being focused study of Samoan and Tongan migrant groups (2015–2019), and continued with observations of Pasifika moving to and through Australia (2020–2021), which is part of another larger study.

My research acknowledges the realities of Pasifika migration, as shared with me by Pasifika and re-presented by me as a Pasifika; they are important constructs of our perspectives and lived experiences. These realities and related notions can be better understood within Pasifika frames of thought and belief systems that are fundamental to specific Pacific groups. As my research focus was with Samoan and Tongan peoples,this discussion draws upon their cultural frameworks of anga faka-Tonga (the Tongan way of being) and faa Samoa (the Samoan way of being). Both these Pacific understandings provide sets of values, beliefs and codes of practice that are lived out in the Pacific homelands as well as in diaspora contexts. Both frameworks are based on a shared perception that relationships, particularly that of familial connections, are at the core of their way of life (Faleolo 2012, 8; Lilomaiava-Doktor 2009, 7–8; Taumoefolau 2013, 140–14).

In my communications with the Pasifika communities, families and individuals as part of my research, I have embraced a culturally responsive approach. The method/methodology of talanoa and vā has been used both offline (face to face) and online to respond to the current Covid-19 restrictions on social interaction and travel.