Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. ASPECTS OF MAUKEAN POPULATION MIGRATION A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulf'ilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Mas ter of Arts in Geography at Massey University By GRAEME DAVID JAMES GORDON 1974 165°W 155°W I fig. l COOK ISLANDS .:;; PENRHYN 10°S oRAKAHANGA~---------....,....-~ 10°S MANIHIKI ~ PUKAPUKA .ci NASSAU • 1:·.· SUWARROW ;, PALMERSTON 165°W 160°W AITUTAKI fl:, ,. MANUAE I TAKUTEA • • MITIARO 10°s--+-\---+--~T 1o 0 s - 20° S --------+---A-T-IU • -,-M~A-U-K~E,...---+--- 20°s- COOK _ • ;~MOAS •·., I ISLANDS • RAROTONGA '!II' ·~ :' FIJI \ , .. ·: ···· - •• TONGA • MANGAIA 30° S- l- I NEW ZEALAr'!D 100 0 I 100 200 300 400 KILOMETRES I I I I I I I• 1 •,•I I I I I \ 300 MILES • <--50°S 100 0 100 200 0 180°W -- I 155 w ii PREFACE The increasing dissatisfaction and rising aspirations of many Pacific peoples has proopt ed an increased amount of out migration t o l ar ger metropolitan countries where it is perceived that these desires can be fulfilled. Mi gration of Cook Islanders t o New Zeal and is no new phenome non. In r ecent years, however, f or a great diversity of r easons, the flow has reached alarming proportions. The repercu­ ssions of such a displacement of population are significant both for donor and recipient areas. Although several studies have focussed attention on rnigrant gr oups in New Zealand, literature linking t he whole migratory process from the island of origin is not quite so readil y availabl e . I t is becoming appar ent that mo re attention r.ust be directed at the causal factors which induce would-be migrants t o f orf'eit a f amiliar way of life f or one which can be initially bewilder ing. The opp0rtunit y f or attenpting such a study ar ose in 1972 l ar gely as a result of the availability of financial assistance fron the Cook Island Research Fund established at ~!a ssey University. This enabled the YTriter t o travel t o the Cock Islands f or a period of six mo nths . Four of those oonths wer e spent on the outlying island of Mauke and the r enaining two in Rar ot onga (see Fi gure I). The visit t o Mauke had t wo ob j ectives; firstly t o complet e an agricultural l and use survey as part of a Mas soy University Geography Department pr0ject, and seconcUy to undertake a study on ii population movement and its repercussions from the island. This latter research fell into three distinct parts, all of which re­ volved around extensive questionnaire surveys as the primary data collecting medium . .All aspects of the Maukean life style ·were examined in an endeavour t o isolate migration inducing variables. Minor studies of Maukean migrant groups were also conducted in both ~arotonga and in Cannons Creek in New Zealand in an attempt t o establish patterns of movement and migrant char acteristics. The almost total l ack of available data necessitated a heavy weighting on questionnaire results. As a consequence, this thesis is not intended to be a definitive commentary on all f acets of Maukean population movement but rather a study of aspects of migration which are discernible and to some extent measurable. The scop e and nature of the study brought me into contact with many people without whose assistance and friend.ship this thesis would not have been possible. Firstly at Massey University I >7ould like t o express my gratitude to Professor K.W . Thomson for making funds available for the pr oject and to Mr.A.C .V,'alsh, currently at t he University of the South Pacific, for his assistance in the ini tial stages. Special thanks go t o Dr. P.H. Phillips who supervised the study through the final phases and >7ho so willingly offered his time and thoughts. Also in the Geography Department, Mr .R. G. Heerdegen f or his assistance with computations of data. At the Department of Maori and Island Affai rs in Wellington, Mr .J. Horn for assistance with transport arrangements and the pr ovision of census data. ii The Maukean peopl e of Cannons Creek f or their coop eration and over>7helming hospitality. In particul ar r:iy good friend Ratia Ratia f er his help as an interpreter throughout the course of the questionnaire survey. In Rar ct onga I would also express gr atitude t c Premier of the Cock Islands, Sir Albert Henry, and his s on the Minister f or Mauke, Mr. Tupui Henry f or their valuable ~ ssistance and the provision of transport and accoDI!iodation. To Rangi Mo ekaa, the Director of Education, Bill Hosking, Direct or of Agriculture, Tony Utanga and t he s t aff of the Survey Department, and Don Hunter, f ornerly of the Statistics Department gr atitude is alsc extended. To ~ob and Barb ~'hyt e ~ho so gener ousl y pr ovided accommo ­ dation f or the duration of my st ay. Finally i n Rar otonga r.3 interpr et er Dyer Toriaka and the peopl e frora 1".auke f or their cooper ation. On Mauke i ts elf' I an indebted t o a gr eat nany people all of whoo i t i s not possible t o per sonall y i dentif'y. Sp eci al men­ t ion mus t h o~rever be nade of t he f ollowing. The f o!'Iile r Resident Agent Mr. Tupuna. Ngao ire and his wi fe Ngaire f or their trenendous friendship and hospitality during ~y entire stay on the i sl and . Mr . Taut ara Pur ea, for uer headt:'.last er cf Mauke School, Mr . Tangi Purea, Chai roan of t he Island Counci l, Dr. Rang i Fariu and Mr . Julian Dashwcod, Agricultural Extensi on Of f i cer. Fo r their inval uable assi st ance as interpreters Mr. Joe Saouel la J n. and Mi ss Vaine Teao. ii Finally t o all the peopl e of Mauke wh o gav e s o willingly of their time, knowl edge a nd unfor getta ble hospitality. For naps a nd di agr ams, Mr.R.C. ,.. ishnowski and f or the final thesis copy, Mrs. ~,;, . L. Lynch. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iii LIST OF TABLES iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF PLATES vi LIST OF APPENDICES vii GLOSS.ARY OF :MAUKEAN TERMS viii Chapter One MIGRATION THEORY, LITERATURE MTD RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Introduction 1 Ramifications of Mi gr ation 6 Social and Kin Factors 8 Cook Islands Migration in Terms 11 of Theoretical Models Cook Islands Migration Literature 19 Research Methodology Chapter Two THE HIGRATION PROCESS 23 Patterns of Movement 24- Characteristics of Early Migrants 27 The Pattern of Migration 28 The Magnitude of Migration 29 in the 1960's The Role of Rarotonga in 32 Mi gration Processes Motivating Factors 32 Communications as a Factor 34- in Migration Internal Shipping 34- External Shipping 37 Air Transport 37 iii Page Characteristics of 39 Mi gr ant CoIDI!lunities Rarot onga 39 Cannons Creek 41 Case Study A 41+ Case Study B 45 Case Study C 49 Chapter Three THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON MAUKE 52 Maukean Population Growth 52 Age - Sex Structures 53 Economic Effects of 61 Migration Labour Shortages in Relation 62 t o Citrus Production The Loss of Skills and 65 Expertise Leadership 67 The Youth 68 Social I mpli cati ons 69 Land Tenure 71 Kin Contacts and Reflittances 72 CONCLUSION 78 APPEI\'DIC IES 81 BIBLIOGRAPHY 99 iv LIST OF TABLES i Cook Island: Area and Population, 1972 ix ii Net Co ok Island Maori Departures, 1965 1973 5 iii Cook Islanders at Makatea Island, 1947 - 1956 25 iv Relationship Ben;een Year of Arrival and Contract Labour at Makatea Island 26 v Relationship Benveen Year of Departure froo Mauke and Arrival in NeH Zealand 30 vi Relationship Between Year of Departure from Mauko and Duration in Rarotonga 31 vii Remittances from Rarotonga 33 viii Relationship Between Year of Departure from Hauke and Reasons f or Mi gr ating 35 ix Locat ion of Maukean Migrants in Rarotonga, 1966 39 x Sex Ratios for Maukeans in Rarot onga and Cannons Creek 42 xi Mauke , Total Popul ation, 1&.i-5 - 1972 54 xii Village Populations, 1961 1972 55 xiii Popul a tion Structure, 1966 , 1971 , 1972 56 xiv Mauke , Sex Ratios, 1966, 1971, 1972 58 Ki mi angat au Sex Ratios, 1966 , 1971, 1972 59 xvi Oiretwau Sex Rat ios, 1966 , 1971 , 1972 60 xvii Level of Education of Migr ants in Cannons Cr eek 66 xviii Pr evious Occupati ons in ?,~auke 66 xix Money Order Transactions, January 1971 - August 1972 73 xx Remittances Received on Mauke 75 xxi ~enittance s fr o ~ Cannons Creek 76 v LIS'l' OF FIGURES Figu~ ~lowing Page 1 The Cook Islands i 2 Mauke : Locations viii 3 Kimiangatau and Oireturnu Villages ix !+ Net Cook Island Maori Departures, 1965, 1970 - 1973 4 5 Application of J_Jee ' s :Model to Ivlaukean Migration 11 6 Changine; Patterns of Maukean Migrati on 33 7 Distribution of Mau."kean Migrants in R~rotonga, 1966 39 8 Age - Sex Structures of Migrants in Rarotonga, 1966 41 9 Age - Sex Structur8s of Mig:cants in Cannons Creek, 42 1974- 10 Mauke: Population Estimates and Enumerations, 52 i 84-5 - 1972 11 rfa.u."ke: Population Distribution, -1972 54 12 Ii!a~ce: Age - Cex Structures: 1966, 1971 , 197 2 58 13 Age - Sex S,cructu.res : Kimiangatau Village, 59 1 966, 197'1 , 1 S72 14 Age - Sex Strictures: Oiretumu Village, 1966, 60 1971 ~ 1972 15 Effects of Migratioa on One Maukean Family 69 vi LIST OF PLATES Following Page 1 Aerial Vie~ of Mauke viii 2 Aerial Vie>< of Oiretumu Village viii 3 Main Street: Kimiangatau Village ix l+ Housing Loan Scheme Dwellings: Kiniangatau ix 5 House styles: Oiretumu ix 6 Traditional and Modern Housing, Oiretumu ix 7 Migrant House, Atupa, Rarotonga 31+ 8 Migrant Houses, Avarua 31+ 9 Tauanganui Landing 36 10 Communal Labour on Harbour Develop~ent 36 11 Polynesian Centre, Cannons Creek l+O 12 Migrant Housing, Cannons Creek l+O 13 New Citrus DevelopI:1ent, Mauke 62 14.