Abstract
As global migration increases, New Zealand has become a significant destination for immigrants seeking new opportunities and lifestyles. This thesis examines how outdoor leisure activities contribute to the development of a sense of belonging among Iranian immigrants in New Zealand. Guided by Constructivist Grounded Theory, the study draws on semi-structured interviews conducted in Farsi with 20 Iranian immigrants across four New Zealand cities, alongside participant-generated photographs.
The findings conceptualise belonging as a dynamic and evolving process unfolding across three interconnected phases: Initial Encounters, Transitional Pathways, and Established Belonging. Outdoor leisure activities function as multidimensional pathways that foster social, cultural, and environmental connections simultaneously. Through shared outdoor experiences, participants build both bonding ties within the Iranian community and bridging connections across cultural boundaries. Outdoor spaces also serve as sites of cultural continuity and cultural learning, where immigrants maintain traditions while engaging with New Zealand’s environmental values and practices. Over time, sustained engagement with natural environments fosters deep place attachment, identity negotiation, emotional resilience, and, for many participants, a transition toward environmental stewardship.
This research advances theoretical understandings of immigrant belonging by demonstrating its temporal, embodied, and place-based dimensions. It positions outdoor leisure not as peripheral recreation, but as a significant pathway through which immigrants construct belonging and wellbeing in settlement contexts.