Story: Ethnic inequalities

Pacific Islanders arrive in New Zealand

In 1973, when this television clip was shot, the New Zealand economy was still booming and migrants from the Pacific Islands were coming to New Zealand in large numbers to fill the available jobs. But within a year the oil shock had led to a serious economic downturn, and there was growing resentment of the recent arrivals from the Pacific. Dawn raids began on Pacific Islanders who had allegedly overstayed their three-month work visas. 

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How to cite this page:

David Pearson, 'Ethnic inequalities - Ethnic diversity since 1945', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/29540/pacific-islanders-arrive-in-new-zealand (accessed 7 May 2024)

Story by David Pearson, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 21 May 2018