Asiatisch-stämmige Einwanderer in Neuseelands Gesellschaft und Politik

Abstract

New Zealand is one of the few Western countries that is experiencing constant population growth due to steady migration. Its breakaway from Great Britain and its subsequent focus on the Asian region has had an impact on the country's immigration. While there were only 53,500 ethnic Asians living in New Zealand in 1986, the number increased to about 540,000 by 2013 - a ninth of New Zealand's total population of about 4.5 million. The effects are not only visible in the country's conurbations but they also affect New Zealand's politics. In addition to the Maori, a new Asian minority is on the rise. Despite the great ethnic heterogeneity in this group, it mainly consists of highly qualified and skilled workers. They are politically interested and participate in shaping their adopted home. Further, New Zealand's political system has a lack of institutional hurdles to restrict their growing political influence. This growing influence in return encourages all political parties to take the interests of the Asian community seriously. New Zealand's self-perception as a bicultural society is at crossroads as the country becomes multicultural.