‘E malu le ‘anofale I le fale’ Samoan migrants' experiences with homeownership in Aotearoa

Abstract

Research in New Zealand indicates significant disparities in homeownership between the various ethnic communities. This is of concern as it confirms that some ethnic groups face more challenges than others regarding housing tenure and security. One such disadvantaged group discussed in the New Zealand studies is Pasifika people, where, according to Tanielu (2019), “Pasifika are over-represented in homelessness, emergency housing and renting, and massively under-represented in home ownership”. Data from (Stats NZ, 2020) reveals that “Pacific peoples and Māori were less likely to own their home or hold it in a family trust than other ethnic groups, and that these groups, “in particular, experience poorer housing outcomes”. The result of previous research raises concerns for the Pasifika community in terms of their future security and welfare in New Zealand. In previous studies by Grimes and Young (2009), data showed that in 2006, there was a 56.8 per cent overall homeownership rate, with only 28.8 per cent of these properties owned by the Pasifika ethnicity group. Looking forward from this point, the data from (Stats NZ, 2016) showed that although there was an increase in New Zealand home ownership, the percentage had declined in previous years for Pasifika people in New Zealand (and Māori). The net result was that “the proportion of their populations living in an owner-occupied dwelling fell faster than for the total population”, with Pasifika home ownership dropping to a mere 20 per cent (Stats NZ, 2020). According to the Pacific Aotearoa Status Report (Ministry of Pacific Peoples, 2021b) 8 per cent of New Zealand comprises the Pasifika community. Within this group, almost half is comprised of people of Samoan descent. This means that the percentage of Samoan homeowners, relative to overall ownership, is extremely low in New Zealand, and raises the question of why this is the case. My research stems from the distinct lack of available scholarship into Samoan homeownership and a desire to ascertain the enablers, challenges, and factors that a group of Samoan migrants have needed to adopt to achieve this. The findings are of significant benefit as they may assist with future development into solutions to help Samoan people in New Zealand own homes.