“There's so much more to that sinking island!”—Restorying migration from Kiribati and Tuvalu to Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

Background and Aims Many Pacific people are considering cross‐border mobility in response to the climate crisis, despite exclusion from international protection frameworks. The ‘Migration with dignity’ concept facilitates immigration within existing laws but without host government support. Through the metaphor of Pacific navigation, we explore the role of dignity in the lives of I‐Kiribati and Tuvaluans in Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods Combining talanoa (pacific research method) with I‐Kiribati and Tuvaluan community members, alongside critical community psychology and thematic analysis, we depict climate mobility as a wa or vaka moana (ocean‐going canoes) journey. Analysis Participants are expert navigators, navigating immigration obstacles to (re)grow their roots in Aotearoa New Zealand before charting a course for future generations to thrive. They draw strength from culture and community to overcome the adversity of precarious living and visa non‐recognition. Conclusion Reconceptualising climate mobility through a Pacific lens imagines both dignity and cultural preservation as possible, despite the indignities and limitations of socio‐political systems and protections for climate migrants.

Climate micro-mobilities as adaptation practice in the Pacific: the case of Samoa

“…The current literature on Pacific Islanders' circular migration focuses mostly on inter-island and international movements between islands and neighbouring countries, such as New Zealand, Australia and the USA [29][30][31]. Much of such literature and discussion on climate adaptation assert that these macro-scale movements should be strategies and long-term solutions for climate change in the Pacific Islands.…”

Contributions, missed opportunities, and future directions: A critical reflection on global climate change and environmental sustainability in AJCP over five decades

“…If CP were to engage more substantively as a field in strengthening these analytical areas and beyond, we would have the opportunity to play a bigger part in catalyzing systems change to address these issues. Briefly, we would like to acknowledge other peer‐reviewed publications that offer coverage of climate topics from a CP perspective, including Journal of Community Psychology (e.g., Khan & Terason, 2021; Normann, 2021; Scafuto, 2021; Yates et al, 2023), Community Psychology in Global Perspective (e.g., see special issue Fernandes‐Jesus et al, 2020), and the Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice (e.g., Corlew & Johnson‐Hakim, 2013; Dittmer, 2013). Building from the important scholarship that has been done, we must consider the urgent work that remains ahead and identify how AJCP could become a more attractive venue for these topics to ensure such works reach a broad CP audience.…”