Korean Migrant Families in Christchurch

The Families Commission Statement of Intent states that the “adjustment and settlement of refugee and migrant families” is one of the key issues facing New Zealand in the next five years (Families Commission 2005:15). The aim of this report is to document the experiences of new migrant families from South Korea to Christchurch, New Zealand. It explores factors such as the reasons why these families decided to leave Korea in the first place, their knowledge of New Zealand prior to arrival in the country and their experience of the migration process. However, its primary objective is to document the variety of ways in which Korean migrant families have tried to forge a new sense of home upon arrival in the host country. The report outlines a range of strategies employed by the families in pursuit of this feeling of ‘being at home’ in New Zealand (however ‘home’ might be defined). It also looks at the successes and failures of each of these strategies.

The report’s key finding is that a majority of Korean migrant families leave Korea with a great sense of hope about their new life in New Zealand. In particular, at this stage most families harbour strong expectations as to the positive contributions they will be able to make to the host society. However, in a large number of cases, this initial optimism is soon tempered by the actual experience of living in New Zealand. In particular, many people describe a general sense of frustration experienced by new migrant families in relation to the difficulties of ‘fitting into’ the new society. In more than a few cases, interviewees related this general sense of frustration to their experiences of individual instances of harassment, discrimination and social exclusion. In this regard, it is not an exaggeration to say that a majority of those we spoke to in preparing this report had experienced some form of harassment, discrimination or social exclusion since their arrival in New Zealand. For some individuals, such
occurrences were a regular part of daily life.

Despite this frustration, new migrant families continue to pursue a range of strategies aimed at forging a sense of ‘feeling at home’ in New Zealand. The second key finding of this report is that membership of Korean (and other) churches, and the practices of Christian life, are central to practically all of these strategies. Churches – and church-related groups – play a major role in advising and assisting new migrant families at all stages of the settlement process, from arrival at the airport in Christchurch, to finding accommodation, to making friends and business contacts, and so on. In addition, participation in Christian rituals, or engagement with one of the plethora of church-based social groups which exist in Christchurch, constitutes a primary mode of social activity for many Koreans living in the city. All this, despite the fact that the church played a far lesser role in many migrants’ lives prior to their arrival in New Zealand. Based on the personal testimonies of Korean migrants living in Christchurch,
the report documents how and why the church becomes so important in this way. It documents the very positive benefits this sort of church membership has for new Korean migrants, but also points out the (at times) heavy demands it makes on people. Not least here is the issue of time, given that a Korean individual who aims to fully participate in church life is likely to spend a very large part of his/her non-working life engaged in church and church-related activities. The report describes, in other words, how and why the church becomes so central in the lives of such a large proportion of Korean migrant families as part of the migration – and settlement – process, and documents the benefits and demands which result from this.

The “adjustment and settlement of refugee and migrant families” is indeed one of the key issues facing New Zealand in the next five years. The arrival, settlement and integration of refugee and new migrant families raise many issues and present a number of challenges. This report, based on new research among Korean migrants living in Christchurch, documents the particular range of issues and challenges which pertain to new migrant families from South Korea. However, its findings are of broader significance, in that it highlights experiences which may resonate with those of other refugee and new migrant families from other parts of the world who have also settled in New Zealand. Thus, the findings of this report will be of interest not only to Korean migrants, but to all new migrant families in New Zealand, as well as to the plethora of agencies and organisations that are involved in the migration and settlement process and to the wider public. After all, it is only through a partnership between new migrants, governmental and NGO agencies and the general public, that any of these issues can be addressed, or any of the challenges overcome. Specific recommendations for future action are included at the end of the report.