‘Ethnic’ media and election campaigns: Chinese and Indian media in New Zealand’s 2017 election

Chinese New Zealanders in Aotearoa: Media consumption and political engagement

“…Ethnic media are defined as media created by and for ethnic and linguistic minority communities (McMillan & Barker, 2021). The earliest ethnic Chinese newspapers focused on domestic Chinese news from mainland China.…”

“…However, as New Zealand's demographics have changed through immigration in the 20th century, beginning with Pasifika people and then with various other ethnic groups, the concept of multiculturalism has also become increasingly important (Robie, 2009). As diasporic communities become established in New Zealand, and as their members become residents and citizens, they started becoming involved in politics (McMillan & Barker, 2021). They also started developing their own media resources.…”

“…Yu's research emphasised that ethnic media can be useful in helping immigrants to settle in their new country, understand the political process, and converse within their communities. As ethnic media provide primary information in their mother tongue for minority members of non-English speaking countries, it is important for them to understand and access elections and make their voting choices in Aotearoa New Zealand (McMillan & Barker, 2021). Ethnic media is important within the community, but what about the general society?…”

“…Ethnic media therefore can make up for some of the lack of awareness or missing coverage of ethnic issues in mainstream English language media (McMillan & Barker, 2021). Li's (2013) and Hoyle's (2020) articles illustrate that the lack of coverage of some small and medium-sized parties during the election drew complaints from some Chinese New Zealanders, who also wanted to be informed about the policies of the various political parties and then make their voting decisions.…”

“…Li's (2013) and Hoyle's (2020) articles illustrate that the lack of coverage of some small and medium-sized parties during the election drew complaints from some Chinese New Zealanders, who also wanted to be informed about the policies of the various political parties and then make their voting decisions. In fact, the two major political parties in New Zealand, especially the National Party, have too-long dominated the front pages of the ethnic Chinese language media (McMillan & Barker, 2021;Li, 2013;Hoyle, 2020;.…”