Problems of Polynesians

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 17

Problems of Polynesians

Language and housing are the biggest problems facing Pacific Island migrants in New Zealand, says a report 1 on Polynesians in industry prepared by the ' ocational Training Council. The report, titled “Nga Katmahi.” was prepared bv Margaret Lee. a Polynesian Advisory Officer, and collates research done into the employment of Maoris and Paci- , he Islanders in New Zealand } industry. Most Pacific Island i migrants arrived in New Zealand by chain migration,'| settling with no near rela- i fives, says the report. They * tend to live closely together.; in certain suburbs, particu-j larly in the inner-citv areas.'< and depend mainly on their j i km and the churches for t help. t "Although some prejudice against Pacific Islanders exists r

among the general public, as a rule employers have been eager to seek the services of Pacific Island workers.” savs the report. “Special efforts in helping them to adapt to a new work situation have proved to be worth while.’ ) According to a study of Samoan workers prepared by ;D. C. Pitt and C. Macpherson. the reasons for the big proportion in manufacturing are lack of education and fluenev in English, the need' to earn high wages quickly to) meet obligations to relatives,’ and a preference to work; with their own people, who I can help them adapt to new wavs, the report says. “Pitt and Macpherson < found that Samoan migrant? workers had difficulty under-i standing colloquial English) and in adjusting to a morel rigid work routine and new system of authority. Their induction into jobs was often! haphazard and careless om the part of employers.” With the exception of the) report by Pitt and Macpher-I

s'son. little research in depth) i has been published on howji lithe various Island groupsii yadapt.to living and working!' iiin New Zealand, the report! jjsays. I "Some knowledge in thisji ! area would be a useful basis’ j lion which to promote efforts); -jto help immigrants,” it says.’t •i Maoris worked well under, 1 I a personal and friendly style,; J of leadership and responded!; I well when good work was! L recognised. Highly i,Maoris seemed to have goals’f ’which differed from those of J ’Europeans — Maoris tended II to choose occupations ini s which they could serve the! ’community, such as medicine,! ieducation, and social welfare.!}) i Research showed that al-1’ I though Maori pupils were as f j intelligent as European pupils a land wanted as much to sue- P jceed they had difficulties with | the English language, and a icame from poorer homes)s iwhere it was often harder tola 'study and where school workjh iwas not considered very im-ll; ’ portant. I si

"It seemed that the' majority of schools did not! bring out the best in them,’’! says the report. Maoris had moved to the! cities in large numbers only’ in the last 15 years. “It is! possible that many of them! are still finding it hard to’ 1 adjust to a different way of I life and do not know about!’ all the job opportunities) l available. “They could do with more j help in the wav of housing ! for young people, more re-’; training schemes, and better ) vocational guidance for school leavers.” Europeans tended to havel< unfavourable opinions of Maoris, which could influence\ the kind of jobs Maoris got I* as well as their chances of; promotion. i t “Maoris, too, did not if always think kindly of them-ll selves; this could make them aim for the lower jobs or be-jf have in such a way as to Is lessen their job chances,”!i says the report. 1 s