Living in Two Worlds: Challenges Facing Pacific People in New Zealand: The Case of Fijians Living in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Living in two worlds is an insider perspective of how indigenous Pacific immigrant communities, in this specific case Fijians in New Zealand, face the challenges of living with two cultures in a developed cosmopolitan society. The quest to hold on to ones indigenous cultural identity while adapting to another in order to survive the realities of everyday circumstances can be an overwhelming struggle. Throughout some decades, Fijians and other indigenous people of the Pacific have withstood the ultimate will to defend their cultural identity whilst living in a world saturated by western values and technological innovations. Coupled with this have been the paradox of holding on to the values of both worlds. As this project probe into these newly rediscovered stories and journeys to their new homeland filled with capitalistic opportunities and dreams, it never withered their passion and aspirations as indigenous people to better themselves and their childrens future welbeing. Surprisingly the research highlghts that Pacific people and Fijians enjoyed the luxury of both worlds as conservators of their cultural values and taking in the positives and benefits of westernisation.

Kalisito Vunidilo taught Economics in New Zealand and internationally over 10 years. He was a finance and mortagage consultant for 7 years, a regular columnist and advisor for community organisations in Fiji. He holds a degree in Economics from USP, Fiji, Master from Waikato University, and completing another Master at Auckland University, NZ.