AUTHOR: Ministry of Social Development | Malatest International
This research involved ten ethnic-specific focus groups and strengths-based talanoa (conversations) conducted in Aug-Sept 2019, and involved 71 young Pacific people.
Key finding of the research included :
- Young Pacific people’s worldviews were shaped by their Pacific identity, cultural values, beliefs and languages, and sense of belonging.
- Young people are proud of being Pacific.
- Young people connect to their culture and identity through their relationships
- Their experiences of growing up in New Zealand strongly influenced their understandings, worldviews, identity and sense of belonging:
- Young people are exposed to different societal experiences growing up in New Zealand
- Young people embrace cultural values but experience cultural clashes
- Young people establish their identity in a different environment from their parents
- Young people are aware of different types of family violence and their impacts
- Young Pacific people held mixed views about physical discipline and abuse and generally considered discipline acceptable when it was used to teach children a lesson, adequate warnings and reasoning were provided, and punishment was not excessive.
- Young people commonly highlighted several barriers to help-seeking
- Young people viewed gender roles and societal factors as risks for family violence
- Young people identified elements that effective family violence prevention could encompass and promote
- Building resilience was considered one way of preventing family violence and helping young people and families to overcome and cope with adversity.
Last updated
