Pasifika Trans-Tasman Migration

RESEARCH

In 2015 my family and I embarked on a learning journey from Auckland, New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia. We acknowledge that this is all in alliance with a Kingdom purpose for us in this season. I am blessed with the opportunity to carry out a study under the University of Queensland towards the completion of my PhD. This initial research will provide much needed information on our Pasifika peoples that are migrating in great numbers ‘across the ditch’. As a participant-observer I have focused the study on the specific Trans-Tasman migration of Pasifika from Auckland to Brisbane. Although initial proposals of the research sought to cover all groups of our Pasifika communities, at this time, I have only been given a time-frame that would allow me to work specifically with the Samoan and Tongan Pasifika groups in Auckland and Brisbane. However, I forsee that this study will open doors to extend research in the near future that will more accurately capture all Pasifika groups. It is my hope to pursue this research goal in post-doctoral work in the coming years. Eventually we will consider the wider migration patterns of Pasifika between other regions of Australia and New Zealand, including our traditional Oceanic homelands. There is much to do to ensure our talanoa, histories and knowledge are accurately recorded in literature and that our Pasifika voices are heard in the academic fields that influence dialogue about Pasifika in parliament and policy-making forums. I encourage those of you who can join me in this learning journey to do so. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed to the study so far by sharing your talanoa and ensuring your voice is heard. I will endeavour to accurately represent you all in the work that I have been given by God to do.

Malo and Blessings, Ruth (Lute) Faleolo

30/11/18