Life in Tokelau - migrant story

Main BodyLife in Tokelau

§

Relaxed and warm, you do not need to be at any particular place every day of your life.

§

Family and religion, you live, eat, sleep, cry, pray, etc. with them all the time.
Throughout your life your family always there.
I was forced to attend church every day, at the time it was hard, but looking back, I’m pleased I was.

§

Friendly and happy, it is the only way my people would exert a little physical effort by having fun in what ever they do.
Everyone knows everyone, and everyone talks to you.
Money did not rule our way of life because it was not important.

§

Sleep and rest, on average I slept 9hours per night and three hours during the day – every day.

§

Safety and health.
I had never been on a bus, car, train, plane, etc.
I walked everywhere and on occasions I got to ride on a motor boat.
I was always safe on the roads.

§

Food and water, fresh fish was my staple daily diet, we had no fridge or freezer so fish caught one day was consumed the same day.
Meat was chicken and pork only on very special occasions.
Water was only rain water from the tanks and was used for drinking, washing, cooking, bathing, dishes, etc.

First impressions of New Zealand.

§

Cold and a big country.
I cannot remember it being so cold in Tokelau.
I had no idea that Islands can be so big … I thought Tokelau was big.

§

People and more people, there were too many people in New Zealand and they don’t talk.
Different ethnicities was fascinating especially the Māori people, they look like me but they speak a different language or similar.

§

Food and shops - the variety of food, fruit, vegetables and flowers.
It was like a dream.
You can cook for your family at home, or take cooked food home to your family.

§

Children had no respect for the elderly and they don’t get disciplined by their parents, especially when they talk back.

§

Safety consciousness in New Zealand is very important, and I had a few accidents in the early days.

Now in comparison –

à

I have my own family and we have a different lifestyle to the one I was brought up with.

à

I do not have the family support but I can pay for it.

à

I spent most of my time raising my family and working.

à

Constant need for money in order for the family to function.

à

Cold, cold, cold.

à

Fish is so expensive and not always fresh.

Usage

AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries

Relates To

EventsTauranga Memories (2011-2021) - Events

Admin

AuthorTauranga Regional Multicultural CouncilType of ContributionCommunity storyTaxonomyStories | Events

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Menu

Life in Tokelau - migrant story