Migrating Close to Home

New Zealander migration to Australia - a much bigger, more populous and multicultural country with some shared traditions and some similar cultural antecedents - requires adjustments to migrants' sense of national, cultural and personal identity. This book presents the findings of a study into New Zealand migrants' motives for moving to Australia, the migrant experience and adjustments to their identity. Using illustrative quotes it demonstrates that New Zealand migrants are influenced by a range of economic, lifestyle and personal factors. Their experiences in Australia are largely positive. They value what Australia has to offer and view their country of birth in a new light. Migrants feel at home in both countries but over time most adopt a predominantly Australian identity. However, migrants maintain a boundary between New Zealand and Australian characteristics and, while preferring to live in Australia, retain a strong positive regard for New Zealand. "Migrating Close to Home" is a valuable guide for social planners and commentators, demographers, journalists and academics as well as New Zealanders contemplating a move and those who, having moved, reflect on their actions.

Autorentext

Alison E. Green PhD, Educational Partnerships Project Officer, Griffith University Australien, fördert die soziale Inklusion in der Hochschulbildung. Mary R. Power PhD, Professorin für Kommunikation und Medien, Bond University Australien, forscht und lehrt in den Bereichen zwischenmenschliche Kommunikation, Überzeugung, Technologie und Kommunikation sowie Konfliktlösung.