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The ‘Brown Epidemic’, also referred to as the Pacific migration to New Zealand during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, was known for the surge in migration reaching a peak during the 1960s and early 1970s. Many Pacific Islanders came to New Zealand with the aspiration to work and dreams of a better life for themselves and their children. Due to New Zealand’s high demand for labour during the 1960s, the Labour government encouraged the migration along side the employers for as long as the excess labour demand continued. Also, a post-colonial sense of responsibility underlay the government’s willingness to support its neighbours in the Pacific. However, with the economy declining, the excess in demand for employment turned to unemployment. The low-paying jobs, which the Pacific Islanders filled in during the excess demand, the New Zealanders were now demanding them back off the Pacific Islanders. The racism that the Pacific Islanders soon faced, was fueled by the New Zealand government using them as scapegoats for the unemployment from locals, the economy declining, adding strain to public resources such as housing, welfare and education, and the increased crime rate, all impacted the lives of the Pacific Island migrants and the future generations. The stereotypes were reinforced in the media and exploited cynically by politicians. Despite this, such pacific migration was of a temporary and shifting nature, as many of the migrants entered New Zealand as visitors, seeking work on arrival and returning home with money. However, instead of returning, many overstayed their working visas and there were others who worked illegally on their non-working visas. The public was getting agitated as the migrants retained the jobs, which they now needed. As “contributors” to the economic downturn also identified the typical Pacific Islander as an ‘overstayer’, which is an individual who has remained in New Zealand past the limit of his or her visa.
The law to which controlled the entry into New Zealand during the 1970s, was the Immigration Act of 1964. It was an update of the 120 Act, which gave the immigration minister:
· The absolute power to refuse or permit entry to any person who is not a New Zealand citizen
· The power to extend the permits applied
· Pardon or exempt people from application of the Act
This was extremely discriminatory towards the Polynesian migrants who were accompanying the positions of the jobs that many New Zealanders needed. The criteria under which the ministry could grant or reject immigration applications was derived from a policy, that for many decades had favoured those races deemed most able to assimilate – in effect, to ‘fit n’ with New Zealand society. Much of society associated the term ‘overstayer’ with the Polynesian migrants, even though majority of the overstayers were in fact the migrants from Britain. From 1964, a quota of visitors from Western Samoa received a short-term work permits, of three month duration. Also from 1976, a quota of Fijians received work permits valid up to six months came to New Zealand. However, in 1968, an amendment to the Immigration Act was passed. This allowed the deportations of those overstaying their work permits; under section 33a this empowered the police to ask people to produce not only a valid passport, but also a permit to enter and remain temporarily in New Zealand, as well as documentary or other evidence of identity. When police enforced the amendment, those who did not comply on the spot, would be arrested and kept in a holding cell without a warrant and in some cases deported back to Tonga or Samoa. However an important function of the visiting labourers was to provide financial support for their families back home and also the Pacific economies came to depend heavily on the remittances of the labourers.
It seemed that given the authority under the Amendment Act of 1968, the police task forces had a hidden agenda of racism, when conducting many of the random checks and dawn raids they conducted. To some extent, racism combined with the perception that immigrants as a threat to the national economic interests and shared national values were some reasoning behind the hostile treatment towards the Pacific Islanders. In places where there is increasing social and economic problems that coincide with rising rates of immigration, like they did during the 1970s in New Zealand, the minority group is consequently used as a scapegoat for the problems that are hindering in society during this time.
The law to which controlled the entry into New Zealand during the 1970s, was the Immigration Act of 1964. It was an update of the 120 Act, which gave the immigration minister:
· The absolute power to refuse or permit entry to any person who is not a New Zealand citizen
· The power to extend the permits applied
· Pardon or exempt people from application of the Act
This was extremely discriminatory towards the Polynesian migrants who were accompanying the positions of the jobs that many New Zealanders needed. The criteria under which the ministry could grant or reject immigration applications was derived from a policy, that for many decades had favoured those races deemed most able to assimilate – in effect, to ‘fit n’ with New Zealand society. Much of society associated the term ‘overstayer’ with the Polynesian migrants, even though majority of the overstayers were in fact the migrants from Britain. From 1964, a quota of visitors from Western Samoa received a short-term work permits, of three month duration. Also from 1976, a quota of Fijians received work permits valid up to six months came to New Zealand. However, in 1968, an amendment to the Immigration Act was passed. This allowed the deportations of those overstaying their work permits; under section 33a this empowered the police to ask people to produce not only a valid passport, but also a permit to enter and remain temporarily in New Zealand, as well as documentary or other evidence of identity. When police enforced the amendment, those who did not comply on the spot, would be arrested and kept in a holding cell without a warrant and in some cases deported back to Tonga or Samoa. However an important function of the visiting labourers was to provide financial support for their families back home and also the Pacific economies came to depend heavily on the remittances of the labourers.
It seemed that given the authority under the Amendment Act of 1968, the police task forces had a hidden agenda of racism, when conducting many of the random checks and dawn raids they conducted. To some extent, racism combined with the perception that immigrants as a threat to the national economic interests and shared national values were some reasoning behind the hostile treatment towards the Pacific Islanders. In places where there is increasing social and economic problems that coincide with rising rates of immigration, like they did during the 1970s in New Zealand, the minority group is consequently used as a scapegoat for the problems that are hindering in society during this time.