Welcome home? : New Zealanders experiences of return migration : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
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Date
2012
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Massey University
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Abstract
There has been considerable public concern over the exodus of New Zealand citizens,
with estimates of as many as one million New Zealanders living offshore.
Consideration has been given to intentions of expatriates’ to return to New Zealand
and to what might draw them ‘home’. There has been relatively little consideration,
however, given to the approximately 24,000 New Zealanders who do return each year
as Permanent and Long Term (PLT) arrivals, after 12 months or more overseas.
Research that is available on the topic tends to focus on their recent return and, in
particular, the experiences of PLT Overseas Experience (OE): sojourners coming
home from typically fewer than three years of residence outside New Zealand. What is
absent is a longer-term perspective that examines what becomes of the return migrant
beyond the initial arrival period. What are the experiences of the extended PLT return
migrants who I describe and define as New Zealanders returning from an ‘extended
Overseas Residence’ (OR) of five or more years? This study seeks to redress these
gaps and provide insights into the experiences of one of New Zealand’s least
considered migrant groups and specifically those returning from five or more years
extended OR. Using a multi-phased, multiple methodology research design, including
pre-interview questionnaires and exercises, in-depth semi-structured interviews and
post-interview video exercises, this study explores their decision to return, the
integration challenges upon re-entry, return migration outcomes and what can be learnt
from these experiences. The results of the research reveal that those migrants who
return to New Zealand from extended OR do so under different circumstances and at a
different life-stage to OE sojourners and, as a consequence, have distinctive re-entry
and reintegration experiences and outcomes that are often quite different to other
migrants who arrive in New Zealand. These findings provide the basis for the
development of the argument that these returnees are a distinct migrant group who
have specific integration challenges and settlement needs. This thesis concludes that
there are opportunities for the government, Auckland Council and other local
authorities, corporate New Zealand and the country in general to facilitate and
encourage positive return migration experiences and outcomes, and suggests future
research to duly consider this migrant group.
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Keywords
Reverse culture shock, Return migration, New Zealand