School of People Environment and Planning

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    The role of energy supply in the shaping of development prospects in small and isolated Pacific Island communities -- past, present and future : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, Manawatu Campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Cole, Peter Sherwin
    The thesis examines the way that energy supply has influenced directly or indirectly the transformation of society in Niue and Tuvalu from the time before the arrival of palagi (Europeans) to the present day. Of particular interest is the vulnerability that this reliance creates in terms of the risk to people’s wellbeing. Most of New Zealand’s South Pacific neighbours have to import energy in the form of oil products. In the case of Niue and Tuvalu, over 90% of their energy is imported, largely paid for through aid from overseas donors. Like New Zealand, people in both countries rely on energy to maintain their livelihoods and lifestyles. There is near 100% electrification and vehicle ownership is high and government and commercial enterprises that provide services and employment rely on continuous and affordable energy, the supply of which is highly vulnerable to economic and political pressures beyond their control, a situation not expected to improve. The thesis addresses four questions: how and why this situation has come about, would these two communities be able to adapt to a much reduced or changed energy supply, what steps are being taken to reduce this dependency before a crisis occurs and whether these steps are likely to be effective. The research used the sustainable livelihoods approach to develop an integrated research methodology including field methods and a novel, systematic form of analysis. Field research methods involved interviews, conversations and observation. The results of the research are set out in narrative form that reviews changes to livelihoods in Niue and Tuvalu over time from the arrival of palagi to the present day. The narrative is followed by an original sustainable livelihoods analysis, the output of which is a series of livelihood profiles including livelihoods asset pentagons that illustrate changes in livelihood assets. A parallel series of “livelihood energy pentagons” were developed to demonstrate the influence of energy on livelihoods. The same method of analysis is used to analyse an “energy-deprived” future scenario, postulated in order to illustrate the impact on livelihoods in Niue and Tuvalu should the supply of oil-based fuels become severely constrained. The narrative and the analyses show that the role of energy has changed from having an essential role although limited in form, in supporting people’s traditional livelihoods to one that enables the full spectrum of services on which contemporary livelihoods rely in Niue and Tuvalu. The analysis of the energy-deprived scenarios underlines this reliance by demonstrating the serious and negative impact on contemporary society should imported fuel supplies be seriously disrupted. Current plans by the two governments to reduce reliance and imported fuel supplies are reviewed and this thesis concludes that while proposed measures go some way to mitigating the impact of a fuel supply disruption, the consequences of such a disruption will still be severe. A recommendation is made that both governments prepare strategic action plans that specifically address fuel supply disruption by emphasising a focus on endogenous rather than exogenous energy sources.
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    The effect of migration on development in Tuvalu : a case study of PAC migrants and their families : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2009) Simati, Sunema Pie
    International migration and development have been traditionally treated as separate policy portfolios; however, today the two are increasingly viewed as interlinked. While the development status of a country could determine migration flows, migration can, in turn, contribute positively to national development, including economic, social and cultural progress. Consequently, if migration is not well managed, it can pose development challenges to a country’s development and progress. Therefore, partnership through greater networking between countries of origin and destination is needed to fully utilise the development potential of migration. For Tuvalu, migration has remained a vital ingredient for economic development and more importantly, the welfare of its people. The implementation of New Zealand’s Pacific Access Category (PAC) scheme in 2002 offered for the first time a formal migration opportunity for permanent or long-term migration of Tuvaluans. The PAC scheme allows 75 Tuvaluans per year to apply for permanent residence to work and live in New Zealand, provided they meet the scheme’s conditions. The goal of this research is to investigate, more than five years after PAC’s implementation, the ways in which long-term migration of Tuvaluans, through the PAC scheme, has benefited Tuvalu. To give a broader perspective on the issues explored in this study, the views of Tuvaluan leaders, as significant players in traditional Tuvaluan society, are included, in addition to the perspective of migrants’ families in Tuvalu and the migrants themselves in New Zealand. Combining transnationalist and developmental approaches as a theoretical framework, this thesis explores how Tuvalu’s mobile and immobile populations, through articulation of transnationalism, enhance family welfare, and grassroots and national development. The eight weeks’ fieldwork in Tuvalu and Auckland demonstrated that the physical separation of Tuvaluans from one another through migration does not limit the richness of the interactions and connections between them. In fact, the existence of active networking between island community groups and other Tuvaluan associations in Auckland and in Tuvalu strengthens the Tuvaluan culture both abroad and at home, thus ensuring strong family and community coherence. Maintaining transnational networks and practices is identified as of great significance to grassroots and community-based development in Tuvalu. However, the benefits of long-term migration can only be sustained as long as island loyalty, or loto fenua, and family kinship stays intact across borders, and networking amongst families, communities and church remains active.