New Zealand Chinese-Language Media and the 2005 General Election Phoebe Hairong Li Supervisors: Assoc Prof Manying Ip Dr Nabeel Zuberi Imaging Chinatown: 11 June 2009

Composition of the New Zealand-Chinese Population Source of data: Statistics New Zealand

Chinese-Language Media in New Zealand Print Media Newspapers Magazines Books Broadcasting Satellite TV Airtime TV Radio Websites

Aim of the Research  Hypothesis: Chinese language media provides a unique perspective for investigating Chinese migrants’ settlement and adaptation in NZ as the host country.  Central Investigations How do Chinese migrants perceive NZ? What kind of aspirations do Chinese migrants hold concerning their new lives in NZ? How do Chinese migrants maintain the link with their homeland?

Theoretical Framework Ethnic Chinese media serve the specific needs and interest of the Chinese migrant community  Examination of the multi-layered Chinese identity within NZ context  Conceptualisation of the Chinese-language media in NZ Ethnic Chinese media as a form of alternative media in contrast to NZ mainstream media Ethnic Chinese media as a form of alternative media in contrast to NZ mainstream media Patterns of Chinese migrants’ acculturation in NZ Patterns of Chinese migrants’ acculturation in NZ  Discourse analysis Construction of Chinese media messages Construction of Chinese media messages Chinese audiences’ reception of the NZ Chinese media Chinese audiences’ reception of the NZ Chinese media

Key Empirical Findings  Commercial advertisements and homeland news comprise the main content of the Chinese media  Chinese media and audience paid special attention to the NZ general election  Chinese media primarily serve recently-arrived PRC migrants, who address their concerns and interests about NZ politics in these media  Chinese media reveal that recent PRC Chinese migrants maintain a strong tie with their homeland

New Zealand Local News in Chinese Media (cont.)‏ New Zealand Local News in Chinese Media (cont.)‏

Chinese Internet Viewers’ interests to New Zealand Local News (cont.)‏

(cont.) Opinions of Political Parties Expressed on Chinese Talkback Radio (cont.)

Discussion of Empirical Findings Profiling recent PRC Chinese migrants to NZ Source of data: New Zealand Ministry of Education Source of data: New Zealand Immigration Service

Discussion (cont.)  Their support for Chinese MPs and conservative parties  Their concerns about NZ as a welfare state  Their patriotic sentiment towards China

Source of data: Ravallion and Chen (2007:20)‏

Conclusions  An alternative way of studying the Chinese migrant community in New Zealand  China’s rise as a superpower impacting on the New Zealand Chinese community  New Zealand Chinese media as an ‘imagined Chinatown’

Acknowledgements This research has been awarded a BRCSS Doctoral Completion Award from the BRCSS Network and a SPEaR Postgraduate Scholarship from the Ministry of Social Development.