Transnationality of Chinese Migrants in New Zealand as Manifested Online

Abstract

The increasing importance of the Internet in migrants' lives has been noticed in some recent migration studies. Scholars have mostly investigated the role of the Internet by studying the consumption pattern of migrants and the content of the ethnic websites. However, the online behaviour of migrants in the display of their transnational identity has not been thoroughly studied. This study aims to investigate the transnational identity of Chinese migrants in New Zealand through their use of local Chinese-language digital media and the nature of their online discourse. A questionnaire survey of 50 Chinese migrants in New Zealand was undertaken to investigate their media consumption habits, especially their use of SkyKiwi - a popular local Chinese-language website. A discourse analysis of the online discussion on three specific forums was carried out to examine the transnationality of Chinese migrants. The survey found that participants rely heavily on the Internet to access New Zealand news as well as China-related news. The survey also shows that most participants agree that local Chinese-language websites works very well as a diasporic ethnic media which provides a roadmap for migrants' integration into the local society. The role of the local Chinese-language websites in keeping their connections with homeland is less significant. However, the discourse analysis of the online forums reveals the role of the Chinese-language websites serving as a transnational space nurturing multi-local attachment and hybrid identity.. It is found that Chinese migrants not only use the online forum to strengthen their connections with their homeland and to enhance their 'Chinese-ness', they also use the forums to facilitate their assimilation into the local New Zealand society. The positive role of the New Zealand based Chinese language website in the making of the transnational Chinese New Zealanders is recognized. However, the results did not show whether there is a difference between the users of the New Zealand Chinese-language websites and those use English-language websites and other types of Chinese-language websites. Further studies are needed to investigate the difference between these two groups.