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    Lupe fa'alele : releasing the doves : factors affecting the successful operation of Samoan businesses in New Zealand : a thesis presented in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Vao'iva Tofilau, Ma'atusi S.
    This thesis explores levels of Samoan entrepreneurship in New Zealand. It identifies unique challenges and opportunities Samoan entrepreneurs face when establishing businesses in a migrant setting. There is a growing body of knowledge in New Zealand on ethnic businesses, in particular, what constitutes an ethnic business, what facilitates and impedes their success, and the contribution they make to the New Zealand economy. Samoan entrepreneurship, however, remains an academic terra nova. Little is understood about what Samoan entrepreneurship looks like; is there a typical Samoan business, for example; what sorts of challenges do they face when negotiating and navigating cultural and business challenges in the New Zealand business environment; and what does this all mean in terms of success in both the business and community contexts? This thesis considers a qualitative research approach to investigate the lived experiences of Samoan entrepreneurs in New Zealand. The research draws on the experiences of fifteen male and six female Samoan entrepreneurs. The participants interviewed for this study included entrepreneurs who were born and educated in Samoa, those born in Samoa and partly educated in both Samoa and New Zealand, and entrepreneurs born and educated in New Zealand. The research examines how entrepreneurs differ from one another in the way they operate their businesses and the manner in which they negotiate their obligations towards family, religion, community and business responsibilities. Earlier literature on ethnic entrepreneurship has emphasized the importance of ‘social embeddedness’ of entrepreneurs in their social and community networks as key factors in operating a successful business. This study however looks to build on and extend this concept to a mixed embeddedness focus that highlights the combination of cultural, institutional, structural elements of the business environment and relevant strategies that entrepreneurs use to create a successful business. The findings in the study emphasize that the mixed embedded approach produces more successes and a variety amongst Samoan entrepreneurs especially when they negotiate the requirements of both fa’a-sāmoa in conjunction with the institutional and the regulatory responsibilities of the New Zealand business environment. The implications of these findings would be valuable for other migrant operated businesses in New Zealand.
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    The role of publicly funded enterprise assistance in Māori entrepreneurship in Aotearoa New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business
    (Massey University, 2015) Mika, Jason Paul
    Maori entrepreneurship in relation to enterprise assistance is rarely subject to academic enquiry, inhibiting theoretical development. This thesis examines the role of publicly funded enterprise assistance in Maori entrepreneurship in Aotearoa New Zealand. Publicly funded enterprise assistance includes formalised business support—financial and nonfinancial— offered by government. Kaupapa Maori research is the overriding research epistemology, with Western pragmatism integrated within this. The thesis is critical, inductive and exploratory, using interviews for data collection. The thesis finds that Maori entrepreneurship is an expression of Maori selfdetermination, Maori potentiality, and substantive freedom. Maori entrepreneurship contributes to Maori development in terms of social, cultural, economic, environmental and spiritual outcomes. Maori entrepreneurs proudly identify with being Maori and doing business in a Maori way, predicated upon principles of duality, collectivism, permanence and intergenerationality. Maori enterprises are mainly defined by Maori ownership, values, assets and institutions, and represent the organisational context of Maori entrepreneurship. The thesis suggests that publicly funded enterprise assistance serves three roles in Maori entrepreneurship: (i) satisfying firm-level business needs; (ii) building Maori entrepreneurial capabilities; and, (iii) enabling Maori enterprises to develop. A conceptual model of Maori enterprise assistance is developed that illustrates the relationship between Maori entrepreneurship and enterprise assistance. The thesis suggests principles for enterprise assistance design based on an ideal delivery model. Strong support for the role of government in public enterprise assistance for Maori entrepreneurship is evident. Tribes also have a role in this, but are not to be viewed as a substitute for the government’s role.
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    Establishing a business in Aotearoa New Zealand : cultural, human and social capital resources of intentional immigrant entrepreneurs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2013) Cruickshank, Prudence Anne
    There is a well-established literature on immigrant entrepreneurs and this thesis seeks to add to this understanding by focussing on the strategies and pathways of a particular group of business immigrants. This thesis contends that intentional well-resourced (IWR) immigrants be understood as a distinct category within immigrant scholarship. Their distinctiveness is directly linked to their intentions to start a business immediately on arrival, and the adequacy and utilisation of their human, cultural and social capital which is critical to their success. This thesis contributes to, and extends, the knowledge of the particular dimensions of human, cultural and social capital significant to IWR immigrant entrepreneurs? success. IWR immigrant entrepreneurs are associated here with New Zealand?s conditional Long Term Business Visa (LTBV) which leads to residence as an entrepreneur. Semi-structured interviews captured the business establishment experiences and trajectories of a regionally scattered sample of LTBV holders. Notwithstanding the participants? diverse cultural backgrounds, geographical locations or types of business, the iterative analytical process revealed distinct patterns of human, cultural and social capital usage at each stage of the LTBV. The time constrained requirements of the LTBV intensified the focused application of IWR immigrants? resources, which in turn provided an opportunity to examine the functions and dimensions of human, cultural and social capital which proved essential for entrepreneurial success. The development and effects of migration policies are complex and enduring. This thesis informs immigration policy makers of the effectiveness of the LTBV in achieving the government?s business recruitment and policy aspirations. The focus here is on a relatively small but distinctive group of skilled immigrants who provide a case study of immigrant entrepreneurship. .