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Intersections of Inequality, Migration and Diversification pp 43–64Cite as

Justifying Inequalities: Multiculturalism and Stratified Migration in Aotearoa/New Zealand

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Part of the book series: Mobility & Politics ((MPP))

Abstract

This chapter questions the future of inclusive diversity and multiculturalism in contexts where migrant statuses are increasingly stratified and unequal. It analyses transitions in the policy discourses of multiculturalism and diversity in Aotearoa/New Zealand over a period of two decades, highlighting the growing stratification of migrants into distinct intersectional ‘categories’ within current policy and public discourse: precarious migrants, permanent residents and the super-diverse. Pointing to a shift from ‘inclusive’ to ‘targeted’ multiculturalism after 2008, the chapter identifies the needs and entitlements of each group and the potential conflicts in their claims for rights. The conclusion offers some critical reflections for reconsidering contemporary multicultural policy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term ‘multicultural policies’ here is a shorthand way of referring to a smorgasbord of immigration, settlement, social services, educational, employment support, citizenship and civic participation programmes aimed at the successful integration of ethnically diverse communities once they have entered the country.

  2. 2.

    New Zealand Government. 1999. Full text: Speech from the throne. Scoop. December 21. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL9912/S00100.htm

  3. 3.

    Bayer, Kurt. 2015. New Zealand ranked third most creative country in the world. New Zealand Herald, October 20. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11532111

  4. 4.

    Young, Audrey. 2015. Why Key has been woeful on Paul Henry. New Zealand Herald, October 6. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10678452. See also Fisher, Amanda and Danya Levy. 2011. All in on burqa debate as woman kicked off bus. Stuff, July 5. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5231950

  5. 5.

    https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/immigration-new-zealands-contribution-growing-economy

  6. 6.

    https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-2012-new-zealand-association-migration-and-investment

  7. 7.

    According to the Migration Trends and Outlook Report: 2013/2014, between 2012 and 2013, the highest increases in international students were from India, and permanent residents from China (followed by India and then the UK). Indians also formed the largest source of skilled migrants between 2013 and 2014, while the Philippines became the largest source country for Essential Skills Workers (MBIE 2014).

  8. 8.

    These thresholds eventually settled at three levels: low-skilled earned under $41,000, mid-skilled earned between $41,000 and $73,000 and over $73,000 were highly skilled.

  9. 9.

    Kirk, Stacey. 2017. Government pumps brake on planned immigration changes, but restrictions still apply. Stuff, July 27. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95170872

  10. 10.

    Pegg, David. 2017. The ‘golden visa’ deal: ‘We have in effect been selling off British citizenship to the rich.’ The Guardian, July 5. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/04/golden-visa-immigration-deal-british-citizenship-home-office; Frank, Robert. 2017. For millionaire immigrants, a global welcome mat. The New York Times, 25 February. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/25/your-money/wealth-immigration-millionaires-australia-canada.html

  11. 11.

    The new regulations allow international students to work for up to three years and without a requirement to be attached to any single employer or location. Additionally, their partners are eligible for work visas and dependent children to free domestic schooling. See https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/options/study/working-during-after-your-study/staying-to-work-after-study

  12. 12.

    This typology has been developed from a critical reading of the representations of migrants in media reports (~50 in number collected between 2011 and 2017), political cartoons from 2002 onwards (~30 in number), government statements on issues such as exploitation of migrants and international students and statements of ethnic and diversity organisations such as the Superdiversity Centre (www.superdiversity.org).

  13. 13.

    See, for example, Collins, Simon. 2016. Migrants ‘crowding out’ young Kiwis from jobs—Salvation Army. New Zealand Herald, October 19. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11730577; Jones, Nicholas. 2016. Treasury warns of risk to jobs from immigration. New Zealand Herald, June 1. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11648304; and Carville, Olivia. 2016. Sex-for-rent deals on rise for desperate tenants. New Zealand Herald, January 30. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11581857

  14. 14.

    The 1.5 generation refers to the children of migrants who arrive with their parents, while 2.0 generation are the children born to migrants in New Zealand.

  15. 15.

    For example, the New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils seeks to legislate ‘equality’ among all cultural groups in New Zealand. See: New Zealand Federation of Multicultural Councils. 2012. Federation supports a multicultural legislation for NZ. Scoop, February 14. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1202/S00137

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Rachel Simon-Kumar

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  1. Rachel Simon-Kumar
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Correspondence to Rachel Simon-Kumar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Rachel Simon-Kumar

  2. National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

    Francis L. Collins

  3. School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Wardlow Friesen

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Simon-Kumar, R. (2020). Justifying Inequalities: Multiculturalism and Stratified Migration in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In: Simon-Kumar, R., Collins, F., Friesen, W. (eds) Intersections of Inequality, Migration and Diversification. Mobility & Politics. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19099-6_3

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