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Key Findings from the Migrant Survey -
2009 Migrants Survey (Pilot)

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Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme

High level of satisfaction with life in New Zealand

Migrants to New Zealand typically report high levels of satisfaction with life here. Eighty-nine percent of respondents in this survey were satisfied or very satisfied with life in New Zealand, a rate consistent with previous migrant surveys.[7] In addition, most respondents felt safe from crime in New Zealand (78percent).

Figure 1 shows that North Asian respondents were less likely to report feeling safe from crime (57percent) and South African respondents were more likely to feel safe from crime (93percent) compared with respondents from other regions. These findings may reflect the comparative perceptions of safety between New Zealand and the respondents' countries of origin.

Figure 1: Respondents’ satisfaction and safety in New Zealand by region of origin

Figure 1: Respondents' satisfaction and safety in New Zealand by region of origin

Source: Immigration Survey Monitoring Programme 2009 Migrants Survey (Pilot).

Data table for Figure 1

Despite migrants' perceptions of satisfaction and safety in New Zealand, the level of respect and acceptance towards new migrants varies within the host community. Migrants' experience of discrimination has been borne out in other surveys of migrants and the New Zealand public. Research has shown that New Zealanders feel some migrant groups, particularly Asian peoples, experience more discrimination than others.[8] Immigration surveys have also shown that Asian migrants report more discrimination than other ethnic groups report.[9]

This survey found that 43percent of respondents had felt discriminated against, with significant differences across regions of origin. North Asian respondents were more likely to have felt discriminated against (67percent), in particular North Asian students (73percent compared with 48percent of all other students).

[7] See Department of Labour (2009) Life in New Zealand: Settlement experiences of skilled migrants. Wellington: Department of Labour. See also the findings from the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand, available at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/lisnz.

[8] Human Rights Commission (2009) Race Relations in 2009. Wellington: Human Rights Commission. Available at http://www.hrc.co.nz (accessed 11 March 2010).

[9] Department of Labour (2009) New Faces, New Futures: New Zealand. Findings from the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand – Wave One. Wellington: Department of Labour. Available at http://www.immigration.govt.nz

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