References

New Zealand Herald. (2010). Rise of Asian gangs.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10667659

New Zealand Parliament. (2009). Young people and gangs in New Zealand.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/ParlSupport/ResearchPapers/b/c/7/00PLSocRP09021-Young-people-and-gangs-in-New-Zealand.htm

Marika. H. (2012, April 15). Racism ‘Getting worse’.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6744625/Little-old-Chinese-lady-says-racist-abuse-is-getting-worse

New Zealand Herald. (2011, July 21). Should the burka be allowed.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10739891

Misa. T. (n.d.). Clinging to kiwiness.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.nzherald.co.nz/tapu-misa/news/article.cfm?a_id=11&objectid=10342128

Littlejohn. R. (2012, May 10). How to avoid airport security.

Retrieved September 27, 2012 from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2142619/How-avoid-airport-security-Wear-burka.html

Conclusion

There are obvious negative impacts involving immigrants brought on by arriving in New Zealand and failing to assimilate into society whether the cultural differences are minimal, or the differences are enormous. The New Zealand Government really needs to rethink who they let into the country and just how much impact that they can have on society. After all, the concept of multiculturalism in society just so happens to be much more difficult to implement and if it's not done carefully, the results can be devastating.

Rise of Gangs

With the large number of immigrants sweeping the country, specifically those from Asia, it’s no wonder there has been a large rise in the number of Asian gangs. Money laundering, corruption, drugs and violence all seem to play a part in their scheming. They often resort to scapegoating innocent students to help them divert police when large shipments of drugs arrive. Asian youth are coming to New Zealand, joining gangs and committing illegal activities. This has nothing but negative effects for New Zealand’s society and will only intimidate the people whether they’re immigrants or Kiwis’ who are actually attempting to construct a decent life for themselves, their families, and those around them.

 I’m not saying that it’s only Asian immigrants joining gangs but quite a large chunk of the male Pacific Islander and Maori population is as well. They are easily influenced through mainstream media and movies brought over by immigrants and created by foreign cultures. As I addressed the influence of foreign culture on New Zealand’s society in a previous post you can understand just how strongly a group of youth may find something like joining a gang to be exciting and dangerous. This imposes a huge risk on the safety and wellbeing of Kiwis’ and immigrants.
 

Is this really what we want New Zealand's current society to be like? 

Anti-sentiment

While I have to say that as personalities differ, so does tolerance towards others with different values and social beliefs regardless of race or religion. While some immigrants bring a piece of their own culture and assimilate into New Zealand society peacefully without any inconvenience, there remain those who fail to appropriately follow the accepted social traditions in the form of New Zealand’s cultural norms and go as far as to create tension between local communities throughout New Zealand’s society. Those at fault are not just immigrants but many Kiwi’s as well. However this problem seems to always revolve around someone of a foreign nation. 

 If you’re female and were to travel to certain areas of the Middle East wearing a revealing clothing then I’m sure your safety would very much be under threat, whereas if you were in New Zealand and refused to show your face or concealed it in some way your punishment would be a slap on the wrist and maybe some media coverage saying how bad that person is for not allowing you the right to dress freely. Of course if you’re of Maori or Pacific Island descent, I’m sure you would be asked which house you robbed. One can understand how this really doesn’t reflect all too well on New Zealand’s society.

morphing culture

Looking over the past few years, wherever there seems to be a large concentration of people around New Zealand there appears to be an undeniable mix of cultures resulting in a loss of New Zealand’s own cultural identity. From fast food restaurants, clothing outlets, street vendors, and even the media, the lack of cultural identity appears to have been taken over by dominant foreign cultures. Walking through the streets of the main cities, immigrants can feel as if they were back at their own countries. The Americanisation of New Zealand is one of the main influences that is surrounding the loss of New Zealand's cultural identity. Also in the major cities, there appear to be quite a few immigrants which is fueling the rate that this kind of influence is expanding.


Where is the New Zealand portrayed on those touristy ads that you see when on holiday? Where is the culture, the scenery, the people. Walking through the streets of Auckland city, quite a large number of the Maori seem to be homeless and the Pakeha seem to be very few in number.


It's not hard to walk down a street and find an Asian or a European with a Ta Moko(Traditional Maori Tattoo), or an entire suburb littered with foreign scripts on store fronts and one can argue that this is actually helping to positively expand New Zealand's culture and foreign culture together through multiculturalism, but instead it is creating problems between Kiwi's and foreigners which in turn negatively impacts New Zealand's society as a whole through racism and inequality.

Intro

immigrant cultures impacting New Zealand

There has been a remarkably large number of immigrants arriving in New Zealand over the past years and while there appears to be an amazingly positive outlook towards multiculturalism in New Zealand and its effects on society, the negatives are some huge issues that need to be addressed. Cultural identity, racism, and crime seems to be making Kiwis’ or New Zealanders uncomfortable, myself included.  . NZ Society in general is taking a turn for the worst as more and more immigrants arrive in NZ and the “Kiwi” population diminishes. With the lack of opportunities for Kiwis, a large portion of them have already left New Zealand for neighbouring countries. This is why the immigrant problem needs to be reviewed immediately.