This publication comprises two reports - Changing Pacific household composition and wellbeing 1981–2006 and A qualitative snapshot of household composition, wellbeing, parenting and economic decision-making among Pacific families in Auckland, 2008.
Report One;
Pacific people make up a significant and growing proportion of New Zealand’s population. This study aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge regarding the changing composition of Pacific households and wellbeing among the overall Pacific population as well as specific Pacific ethnic groups. The study first examines changes in household composition and the number of children living in Pacific households over the period from 1981 to 2006. The report then examines changes in wellbeing for the overall Pacific population using a series of wellbeing indicators derived from New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings (census) data.
A subset of wellbeing indicators is then used to examine changes and differences in wellbeing for Samoan, Cook Island, Tongan and Niuean households; for New Zealand and Pacific-born households; and for Pacific households living in Auckland, Wellington, the rest of the North Island and the South Island.
Report Two;
This qualitative study is a companion report to Pacific Families Now and in the Future: Changing Pacific household composition and wellbeing, 1981–2006 quantitative analysis (Cotterell et al, forthcoming). The study was funded by the Families Commission to provide a snapshot of how three different Pacific ethnic family groups experienced and perceived changes in their household composition and wellbeing around May and June 2008.
The three different groups were Cook Islands Māori, Samoan and mixed Pacific ethnicities. The qualitative findings detailed in Section 3 of this report are organised by these ethnic categories. All families were based in the Auckland region. The themes explored with the family participants were family composition and changes, household economics, parenting and family wellbeing.