Abstract:
While Korean people have been one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in New Zealand and are now the third largest Asian ethnic group in New Zealand, to date, studies which examine home ownership and housing experiences of Korean migrants have been very limited. This thesis examined settlement patterns and housing issues among Korean households in Auckland by observing the unique housing behaviours of Korean immigrants. This study reports on the findings of a questionnaire survey from 94 Korean immigrant households currently living in Auckland. The settlement pattern of respondents could be characterised as a strong preference for Auckland as the first place to settle in on their initial arrival in New Zealand. A majority of them were encouraged to come to Auckland through the existence of previous social networks with their family, relatives of friends. Korean immigrants were more likely to directly settle in suburban areas where they formed Korean enclaves, and Albany region emerged as a new Korean ethnoburb in North Shore with the fastest growth of the area's overseas born population. A good educational environment for children was the first locational factor considered when Korean households made housing decisions. Accessibility to work and public transportation were also considered important. Quality of a house was the most important aspect when they came to considering moving houses while expenditure of maintenance on houses was one of the common complaints on housing. In particular, many participants wanted improvements in the heating system of New Zealand houses. The survey indicated that home ownership among Korean households in Auckland was closely related with a variety of variables. In particular, the home ownership rate of citizens doubled that of residents and a majority of Korean respondents who resided in New Zealand for over 15 years owned their home. The two main triggers of ownership for Korean households were settlement money for immigration from Korea and contribution from family members while the main reason for renting was mostly related to the unaffordability of home ownership. The majority of Korean people in Auckland considered home ownership as a secure base for their family and a solid investment for their future.