Mervin Singham: Multiculturalism a strategic imperative

The New Zealand Chinese Association will hold its annual conference entitled Going Bananas: Multiple Identities in Auckland this Saturday. The conference has become a recognised annual fixture when the Chinese community congregates to discuss various issues relevant to their interests.

This year's focus recognises a contemporary issue that emerges from our increasing ethnic diversity: our identity. The conference and attendant activities reflect the heightened mobilisation of ethnic minority people in New Zealand and the strategic approach that the NZCA, in particular, is taking in keeping up with the play. It is also an opportune time to reflect on New Zealand's position on multiculturalism.

Ethnic minority communities have been here for a long time. Chinese immigrants arrived here during the Otago gold rush. They were later joined by others, including people from Europe, the Pacific Islands and India. Their numbers were sufficiently small to keep them under the radar.

From the 1980s New Zealand experienced some tremendous changes in its population demographics. A strategic response was required to the looming problems presented by our nation's ageing population and lowered fertility rates. This, coupled with shortages in skills in the labour market, meant that we had to ensure our own sustainability by using immigration to provide our human capital.

For this reason, we began seeking migrants from beyond traditional sources such as the United Kingdom, to new areas like China, India and the Middle East. A significant number of people from around the world, but particularly Asia, responded to this immigration drive. Today, New Zealand is one of the highest migrant receiving countries (in terms of ratio to existing population) in the OECD.

This is not particularly surprising. New Zealand has had a very positive image on the global platform for some years. More recently, the world has been beleaguered by security concerns post 9/11 and New Zealand's remoteness and image has undoubtedly been a big draw card for many migrants. To them, the North and South Islands of New Zealand are like gems gleaming in the Pacific Ocean offering safety, good infrastructure and connections with fair-minded people.

Our staunch nuclear-free policy only adds to this image of a small forward thinking, confident and creative nation. This image remains a strong "pull factor" for many migrants in search of greener pastures, including better lifestyle and education system for their children. New Zealand has also received refugees under the various international conventions that we are a signatory to.

The result has been the emergence of a dynamic and rich human tapestry that represents the face of contemporary New Zealand. We now have a multicultural community like never seen before in our history. Recently, we took stock of the situation as a nation. The 2001 census indicated that 10 per cent of our population is ethnic minority communities (other than Maori or Pacific peoples). According to Statistics New Zealand, this figure will leap to 18 per cent in a mere 15 years. The 2006 census will no doubt provide a more up-to-date picture of our current demographics. It is clear that New Zealand's future will be dramatically altered by this significant change in the composition of our population.

No change of this magnitude is without its challenge. How do we ensure that we can remain a cohesive society with a multitude of values, beliefs and cultural norms? What must we do to ensure that everyone is able to participate equally and that marginalisation does not arise? What is the status and relationship of these emerging communities in relation to Maori and the Treaty of Waitangi? These are only some of the complex questions that will require careful consideration. Many other countries that compete for skilled migrants, including our sister country Australia and Canada, face similar issues. In nations that have a much longer history of immigration than New Zealand, multicultural policies had been put in place to promote respect and to ensure that ethnic minorities are able to preserve their unique cultural heritage in their new homeland. Despite these entrenched policies, problems have emerged in a number of countries.

Recent events around the world such as the riots in Paris (caused by second and third generation migrants) and the abhorrent events that took place in Cronulla have served to heighten our awareness about the need to deal with the issues that can arise when communities with different values and ways of life co-exist. Socio-economic disadvantage and cultural disaffection are a potent recipe for social disorder, with potentially disastrous impacts on the economy and race relations. These wounds can take a long time to heal, and dealing with the consequences can absorb significant state resources.

In some countries multiculturalism has been blamed for causing problems such as these. Multiculturalism, it is said, has contributed to the development of social enclaves that are resistant to integration. It is argued that new policies are required to ensure that newcomers integrate better into the wider community. The core purpose is to ensure that they accept the cultural norms and values of the host communities within which they live. It is argued that this will ensure that a more cohesive society emerges from the fraying threads of multiculturalism. No one yet knows if these new ideas will work but it is clear that they do not sit well with many ethnic minority communities around the world. Many argue that problems would have been far worse but for multicultural policies. Needless to say, the debate on the causal connection between multiculturalism and social disorder has been fraught.

Integration and core values need to be considered in grappling with multiculturalism. Minority communities must participate in the civic affairs of their new country and it is important for diverse communities to be bound together by shared values.

However, the very nature of pluralism in our society requires respect for a diversity of views and values. Furthermore, any intervention in the realm of cultural values may be arduous or even futile. Culture is an elusive concept that escapes precise definition. It goes to the heart of our deeply held beliefs, values and world-views formed over many generations. Any response by way of cultural-modification requires rigorous analysis. Values and beliefs are not easily shed as a result of change of environment or circumstances and may prove to be highly resistant to being 'engineered'. Policy makers must be mindful of this. Success will depend on our ability to strike a delicate balance between finding elements that bind us together and allowing people to be as they are.

We may need to take a step back in considering how best to position New Zealand in this regard. We have not suffered from similar ordeals experienced elsewhere and are in an ideal position to view things objectively. In doing this, we can build on the ground we have already acquired over many generations and take into account the forces of change that are or will be present as we chart our way forward. These include technological advancements (particularly in relation to communications), globalisation and increasing competition for migrants on the global market. New Zealand is a unique country with a human rights and race relations history that we can be proud of. We are the first country of the world to give women the vote and our Treaty settlement process has set a positive example for many nations that have minority indigenous populations. We have a prevailing ethos of fairmindedness here that is noted by newcomers. We should use these valuable building blocks as the foundations for dealing with our increasingly diverse population in order to reap the abundant fruit that diversity offers.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle is overcoming the perception that multiculturalism is a problem or challenge that needs to be tackled. We may have overlooked the most prominent feature of multiculturalism - the immense economic, social and cultural opportunities it offers New Zealand. Multiculturalism is an asset rather than a side effect of immigration. When we see the advantages that multicultural societies have, it is easier to be accepting of the cultural diversity from which these benefits spring.

Multiculturalism leads to innovation and increased productivity. It can help us build global networks and lead to fusion industries. It enriches our human exchanges and broadens our minds. It is a fertile ground for expression in the visual and performing arts, an area in which New Zealand is noted for its excellence. If we wish to stimulate our economy, we will need to draw the right people here. Research indicates that talented and creative people are drawn to vibrant and stimulating multicultural environments. If this is the case, we have a good incentive to create an inclusive environment here.

Managing diversity positively in New Zealand also creates future benefits. In our strategic response to our increasing diversity, we must cast our eyes into the distant future. The world will be a very different place. The axis of economic power is projected to shift from the West to the East (as China and India position themselves as super powers). New Zealand will be well positioned if it is considered a partner of the Asia Pacific economic and cultural realm. In the future, our communications technology will enable us to interact with people from around the world much more fluidly. If we are to be successful in this globalised environment, we will need networks, and linguistic and intercultural skills, in order to navigate our way through interactions with people from other nations. The diaspora communities that live here could facilitate the development of these links. New Zealand will undoubtedly have a significant advantage if it is seen as a country that celebrates its multicultural heritage and respects cultural diversity. These are but some of the potential benefits of a multicultural society for all New Zealanders.

In the new world ahead of us, our prosperity and well-being will be dependent on our ability to connect and co-exist with people from diverse backgrounds. In this world, dealing positively with multiculturalism will no longer be a moral responsibility. It will be a strategic imperative.

* Mervin Singham is the Director of the Office of Ethnic Affairs. The Office exists to provide policy advice to Government and raise understanding of ethnic issues.