Editorial: NZ is Asian and increasingly looking the part

Former Jim Bolger, left, and Tommy Moana hongi before entering Tūrangawaewae Marae for the tangihanga for Te Arikinui Dame Te Ataairangikaahu in 2006. Photo / Peter Drury, Pool, File

EDITORIAL

In 1996, our then Prime Minister Jim Bolger suggested that New Zealand was an Asian country.

To put it in context, Bolger was simply and pragmatically pointing out New Zealand's proximity to, growing ties and identification with the neighbouring region. Taking this into account, Bolger reasoned, New Zealanders were in many ways more Asian than European.

This caused quite a stir - among older New Zealanders, particularly - who were comfortable still viewing our country essentially as an outreach of the United Kingdom.

But Bolger's concept took a hold on policymakers and officials who began to explore the importance of Asian cultures and economies for New Zealand.

The Ministry of External Relations and Trade initiated a series of studies of trade patterns with Asian economies, and policymakers compiled a comprehensive study of trends and prospects for New Zealand's relationship with the East Asia region. And we built on them, quite successfully.

Stats NZ's latest projections now show a quarter of New Zealand's population could be Asian in 20 years' time as the country becomes increasingly diverse.

All ethnic group populations are expected to grow in number, but the broad Asian ethnic group is expected to see the fastest growth to 26 per cent of the population by 2043, up from 16 per cent in 2018.

Meanwhile, the European ethnic group will see the slowest growth, dropping its population share from 70 to 64 per cent in 2043, according to Stats NZ's national ethnic population projections.

Massey University professor Paul Spoonley says this "complete reversal from our colonial history" is "one of those transformative moments in New Zealand's population".

It is important to remember Asia is a region surrounding the largest continent on earth. As Professor Francis Collins says, being Asian is not an ethnicity. It is a population living in a region with "hundreds of specific ethnicities".

Each of these ethnicities has unique characteristics in appearance, history, heritage and culture. In this respect, New Zealand is no different. Our unique nation, built on Te Tiriti o Waitangi sets us apart from the rest of Asia and the world. The blending of Māori, Pasifika and all the peoples who have migrated here will always stand us apart from the rest.

Spoonley points out the pace of our diversification has tested the country's tolerance. Major institutions need to ensure these new arrivals participate with and get the services they need.

Our colonial settlers often spoke of creating an egalitarian society, offering the chance for all people to be equal and deserving equal rights and opportunities. That dream is still alive, and is still what people who come here are chasing.

We can and should continue to identify ourselves individually and in communities as Māori, European, Pākehā, Pasifika, Indian, and so forth. Together, however, we are a people clinging to a few comparatively small islands on the edge of Asia.

It is 25 years since Jim Bolger made his observation on New Zealand's place in the world. We should be resiled to this fact, and that we will continue to increasingly look as such.