Abstract
This research examines the persistence of poverty among Sāmoan migrants in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on the lived experiences of those who settled in Christchurch during the 1960s–1970s under the Dawn Raids era. Despite decades of policy interventions, Pacific communities, particularly Sāmoan, continue to face systemic inequities in employment, housing, and education, with household incomes 30% below the national median (Statistics New Zealand, 2023). Existing poverty discourse often frames economic hardship as a failure of individual adaptation, overlooking the structural racism and colonial legacies that sustain inequality.
Drawing from Indigenous epistemologies, this study employs the Talanoa methodology to document the oral histories of 14 Sāmoan migrants, revealing how they navigated poverty through the fa’aSāmoa (Sāmoan cultural systems). The Key findings highlight the role of āiga (extended family) networks, church-based support, and transnational remittances as adaptive strategies that challenge Western welfare models. Participants redefined mativa (poverty) not as material lack but as relational deprivation, where isolation from kinship ties, rather than low income, constituted true hardship.
This research critiques deficit-based policy approaches, arguing that sustainable solutions must align with Indigenous worldviews. By amplifying Sāmoan resilience, this study offers alternative frameworks for poverty alleviation, grounded in collective reciprocity (tautua) and cultural continuity. The findings underscore the need for systemic reform that addresses structural inequities while valuing Pacific models of communal well-being.