About the Research

Contemporary Pacific research is premised on the notion that research is both ‘of’ and ‘for’ the people, not just about them, a conclusion that aligns with similar views of research in Aotearoa New Zealand (Gegeo 2001, Sanga & Reynolds 2022, Smith, 2013). More recently, innovative frameworks have emerged that support robust research methodologies involving both Māori and Pacific people and acknowledging the connections between the two, and the uniqueness of all Pacific people (Mullane et al., 2022).

Tangata Hourua (Strength in Combining) draws from Kaupapa Māori (Māori principles) and Pacific methodologies, that seeks to uphold the
rights of Māori as Indigenous people of Aotearoa, whilst giving voice to Pacific peoples living here with shared or connected whakapapa (family
connections). (Mullane et al., p. 383)

Our research was premised on the notion that it will also be ‘of’ the region and ‘for’ the region. 

Mobilities defined

Our research explored three forms of mobility – emphasising migration as the internal and external movement of communities within and beyond national territorial boundaries. We examined these mobilities across various temporal dimensions, including ‘historic,’ ‘recent,’ and ‘right now’ timeframes, as well as those familiar to physical and population scientists (2020-2050, 2050-2120). Investigating the influence of climate and the environment, we analysed how different forms of movement unfold across time and space – from short periods and distances to longer durations and extended distances within and across geographic boundaries.

We spoke to 17 communities to investigate a broad range of climate-related mobilities by different island and settlement types across the region.

Staying in place

Voluntary relocation

Informal relocation

Environmental displacement

Types of settlements

Research methods

Fieldwork

Qualitative interviews and walk-the-land interviews
Talanoa, tok stori and maroro with key knowledge holders, experts and policymakers were conducted. In some cases walk-the-land interviews were conducted which involved the researcher walking the land with community leaders. These observational discussions were used to stimulate discussion about how these sites, resources, and features affected climate-related im/mobility.

Community workshops
Framed using local Indigenous research approaches. These included:

• Youth global cafes – conversations aimed at creating a living network of Pacific youth in collaborative dialogue around climate-related mobility, focusing on what climate resilience means and future visions for youth-framed time periods to imagine what a resilient future ‘staying in place’ would look like beyond 2050.
• Community leader workshops – workshops including a broad range of stakeholders from LGBTQI communities, disability groups, government agencies, civil society organisations.
• Community workshops by generation – collecting stories about what we can learn from the past to inform our future what would make them stay, make them leave; past histories of displacement, lost or been moved off land – nuclear testing, phosphate mining, cyclones.