Abstract:
The relationship between Maori and Chinese migrants has attracted increasing interest in
recent years. Most studies have investigated the attitude of Maori towards new Chinese
migrants. New Chinese migrants' perceptions of Maori and the likelihood of media
influence on those perceptions have rarely been looked at. This study aims to elucidate the
perceptions of new Chinese migrants towards Maori and discover the possible influence of
the local Chinese media on the formation of those views.
A quantitative questionnaire survey of 50 new Chinese migrants was undertaken to quantify
the perceptions of new Chinese migrants towards Maori and Maori-related issues. It also
investigated participants' media consumption patterns and their personal interactions with
Maori. A content analysis of Maori-related reports in the local Chinese media was carried
out simultaneously to investigate how Maori were portrayed.
The survey found that most Chinese participants had negative perceptions of Maori and
were wary about the indigenous rights of Maori. Most participants had no or only limited
personal contact with Maori. Interestingly, those who had some personal contact with Maori
regarded the contact as positive experience. The survey also revealed that participants relied
heavily on local Chinese media to get information about New Zealand. Many realised that
they had been influenced by the Chinese media in the development of their views towards
Maori. The content analysis revealed that Maori were often negatively portrayed by the local
Chinese media and that the source of most Chinese media stories was the mainstream media.
Commercial pressure encourages the local Chinese media to produce their papers by "cutand-
paste" direct translation from the mainstream media, but omitting detailed background.
In this way the local Chinese media were biased in their representation of Maori and Maorirelated
issues.
The problematic portrayal of Maori may contribute significantly to the formation of new
Chinese migrants' negative perceptions towards Maori. However, the survey did show that
new Chinese migrants who had personal contact with Maori developed a more positive
perception of Maori. Further studies are needed to find out whether more inter-group contact
between Maori and Chinese can improve the relationship between them.