Selected 2009 Publications

Latest Papers | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | Earlier Papers

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Who are we?: The Human Genome Project, race and ethnicity

Paul Callister and Robert Didham, September 2009, Social Policy Journal, 36:63-76
Download 'Who are we' here [72 KB PDF]

Abstract: Race and ethnicity continue to be evolving concepts. They are influenced by genetic research but are also shaped by discussion and debate that takes place far from laboratories. Their meanings also evolve somewhat differently in local contexts.

One of the newer influences on these concepts are the findings from the ongoing Human Genome Project. This project, as well as other genetic research, is already playing a part in the ongoing evolution of ideas of who we are, both individually and collectively.

However, a range of factors, including the significant intermixing of people across various boundaries, suggest that personal definitions of identity are likely to become more important than "scientific" definitions imposed by external authorities.

A 'main' ethnic group? Ethnic self prioritisation among New Zealand youth

Tahu Kukutai and Paul Callister, September 2009, Social Policy Journal, 36:16-31
Download 'A main ethnic group' here [80 KB PDF]

Abstract: Since 1991 a growing share of the New Zealand population has reported more than one ethnic group in the census, with rates especially high among children. A key challenge arising from the collection of ethnicity data is deciding where to count people who record more than one group.

In this paper we explore how a self-prioritised measure of main ethnicity may facilitate and improve the usage of multiple-ethnic data. We do so using 2006 data from wave one of the Youth Connectedness survey of early adolescents.

We find that three-quarters of youth who recorded more than one ethnic group were able to choose a main group when asked to do so. Though we have reservations about using a main ethnicity measure to output ethnic data, we see promise for research that seeks to better understand identification processes and their relations with ethnic identity and inequality.

The changing nature of young people's transitions in New Zealand

David Rea and Paul Callister, August 2009
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: Adolescence involves a wide variety of transitions to adult roles and responsibilities. These transitions include leaving home and school, getting a job, forming relationships, and sometimes having children. This paper reports on research that has investigated the changing nature of youth transitions in New Zealand over the last 30 years.

Our research aimed to uncover whether birth cohorts of young people have undertaken the transition to adulthood differently, and if so, what caused the differences. We found important changes in the nature of youth transitions.

We also found that for cohorts who were born in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the transition to adulthood differed from that experienced by both the preceding and later cohorts. The evidence suggests that the state of the labour market at the time was a key driver of these differences. There are a range of important policy implications from this study, particularly in the context of the current economic recession.

Paid caregivers and domestic workers: Some policy issues in relation to meeting future demand in New Zealand

Paul Callister, Juthika Badkar and Jessie Williams, August 2009. Policy Quarterly, 5(3): 38-43
Available from Institute of Policy Studies [180 KB PDF]

Abstract: The demand for domestic workers and caregivers for the elderly, both in New Zealand and Australia, is almost certain to increase in the long term. The growth in demand in Australia may make it even more challenging to find New Zealand workers to fill these jobs. It is therefore highly likely that New Zealand will need to turn to low-skill migration to meet this demand.

Policy makers have much experience with high skill migration. But thought now needs to be given to developing a framework that allows for management of low-skill migration and, in these jobs, a primarily female migration.

This framework needs to keep multiple goals in mind. This includes maximising the benefits for those from the sending countries, those living in the host country as well as migrants and their own families. As part of this, there needs to be policy development in relation to labour law and wider regulatory frameworks for these workers.

Finally, attention needs to be given to protecting vulnerable clients of domestic and caregiver workers.

Ageing New Zealand: The growing reliance on migrant caregivers

Juthika Badkar, Paul Callister and Robert Didham, July 2009
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: New Zealand's population is rapidly ageing. It is estimated that in 2031 those 65 and older will represent 35 percent of the population aged 15-64. While part of this increase is due to healthy ageing, nevertheless the number of people requiring some form of care is projected to dramatically increase.

It is projected that 48,200 paid caregivers will be needed by 2036 to look after a growing number of older disabled New Zealanders requiring high levels of care and support. It is highly unlikely that the local supply will be sufficient to meet this demand. Therefore immigration of low-skill workers needs to be considered as a part of the measures needed to alleviate the future pressures on the demand for paid caregivers for the elderly.

New Zealand does not have a formal scheme for caregiver migration. However there has been a rapid and growing reliance on migrant caregivers for the elderly over the last five years.

Globally as the demand for elder care grows, New Zealand may not be able to rely on the current sources of migrant caregivers for the elderly and alternative regions such as Melanesia and non-traditional parts of Asia need to be considered. While temporary migration is one option, programmes that provide pathways to permanent migration also need to be considered.

Which tertiary institutions are educating young, low-skill Māori men? A research note

Paul Callister, July 2009
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: School data indicate a significant number of young Māori males leave school with no or very few level 1 National Certificate of Educational Achievement credits. Tertiary education providers potentially give these young men a second chance to gain basic qualifications, with the possibility of then adding to these qualifications.

Ministry of Education tertiary enrolment data from 2001 to 2008 show that no type of tertiary institution stands out as being highly successful in enrolling Māori men in level 1–3 courses, although in recent years the polytechnic sector has been the most successful. Wānanga have achieved success in attracting Māori students, both numerically and as a percentage of their overall rolls, but they are attracting relatively few young Māori men in level 1–3 courses

While improving outcomes for young Māori men is partly in their own hands and those of their wider whānau, outcomes could be influenced by individual tertiary providers better targeting or tailoring their courses. However, the government and other organisations could also offer more support to young Māori men. This could include scholarships and other financial support targeted at young low-skilled Māori men.

Men's participation in unpaid care - A review of the literature

Lindy Fursman and Paul Callister, June 2009, Department of Labour
Read 'Men's participation in unpaid care' here

Abstract: Men - in a variety of ways and in a variety of situations - are involved in providing unpaid care. Some men undertake a considerable amount of care, others relatively little. However, on average, men spend significantly less time in unpaid care than do women. Conversely, on average, men spend significantly more time on paid work than women.

This report outlines the results of a review of recent literature about the impacts of men's current levels of participation in unpaid care, the barriers impeding greater participation by men in unpaid care and the range of supports that may assist men to become more involved in care.

Doctors and romance: Not only of interest to Mills and Boon readers

Paul Callister, Juthika Badkar and Robert Didham, 2009, Journal of Primary Health Care, 1(2)
Download 'Doctors and romance' here [272 KB PDF]

Abstract
Introduction: Internationally there is a growing demand for health services. Skilled health workers, including doctors, have a high degree of international mobility and New Zealand (NZ) stands out internationally in terms of the significant flows of doctors in and out of the country. Through changes in training of doctors in NZ and migration flows, there have been major shifts in the composition of the medical workforce in NZ since the mid-1980s.

Aim: Studies of the changing nature of the medical workforce often focus on gender and migration separately as well as only considering doctors as individuals. The aim of this exploratory study is to examine the living arrangements of doctors, the composition of migrant doctors who are coming to NZ, and to understand the educational and employment status of the partners of doctors.

Methods: This study is a descriptive analysis primarily using census data from 1986 through to 2006 and immigration data collected by the Department of Labour.

Results: Half of the female medical doctors approved for residence through the Skilled/Business stream migrated independently, while for male doctors less than a third came to NZ independently. Male migrant doctors were more likely to be partnered. Census data showed that people with medical backgrounds tend to partner with each other. However, these relationships are changing, as more women become doctors.

In 1986 about 14% of male doctors had a nurse or midwife as a partner and nearly 9% had a doctor partner. By 2006 the proportion of partners of male doctors who were also doctors had risen to 16%, higher than the 9% who were nurses. For female doctors the changes are more dramatic. In 1986, 42% of female doctors in relationships had a doctor as a partner. By 2006, female doctors had increased substantially, but the percentage with a doctor partner had dropped to under a third. Well-qualified couples where one or both are doctors, have a greater propensity to live in main urban areas.

Discussion: Through official reports and extensive media coverage, the NZ public is well aware of local and national doctor shortages. There is also awareness, often through personal visits to a GP or hospital, of the significant rise in number of female and of foreign-born doctors. The choices doctors are making in living arrangements need to be taken into account when considering both national and international recruitment of medical staff. Researchers and policy makers may need to consider family migration issues more than they have in the past for doctors as well as for other migrant groups.

Paid domestic work: A private matter or a public policy issue?

Paul Callister, Lisa Tortell and Jessie Williams , March 2009
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: In industrialised countries most of the goods and services traditionally undertaken in the home are now largely sourced outside the household. The main exceptions are childcare, food preparation and washing and cleaning, which can be unpaid work or can be undertaken on a paid basis: this is paid domestic work.

The ILO estimates that there are over 100 million domestic workers globally. These workers are often the most disadvantaged and vulnerable and, in many countries, are migrants, sometimes working illegally and sometimes part of guest worker schemes. Most domestic workers internationally are women.

In New Zealand, domestic work was once an important source of paid employment for women with shortages of workers met by migration from the British Isles. While it had almost disappeared as a paid occupation post World War II, a number of reasons suggest a likely increase in the number of paid domestic workers in the near future, probably met, again, by migration.

Nevertheless, little is known about New Zealand domestic workers, and paid domestic work fits uncomfortably with labour law, principally because the workplace is the private home. This has meant that overall, paid domestic work has, in a variety of ways, been a private matter in New Zealand.

However, we suggest that it is time that paid domestic work is viewed as a public policy issue, particularly in relation to labour law and migration policy development.

Dying differently: Gendered mortality trends in New Zealand

Paul Callister and Robert Didham, January 2009
Available from Institute of Policy Studies

Abstract: This paper has two broad aims. First, we consider whether mortality explains the 'man drought' in the broad 25-44 age group. Confirming earlier work, we find it does not and explanations need to be found elsewhere. But men do die at a higher rate than women through the lifecycle with an overall result that men have a life expectancy of around four years lower than women.

Given this overall pattern of higher mortality for men, we then draw on a number of studies to attempt to learn more about the reasons for the differences in life expectancy. In particular, we focus on those men who in other studies we identify as 'missing' in many areas of life. They are the group who tend to have little formal education and who are then over-represented in terms of being on the margins of employment and family life. They are also the group most at risk of poor mortality outcomes.

Who are we?: The conceptualisation and expression of ethnicity

Paul Callister, Robert Didham and Anna Kivi, January 2009
Available from Statistics New Zealand [612 KB PDF]

Abstract: Drawing on a range of national and international literature, this scoping paper explores some aspects of 'who are we' within a New Zealand context. Throughout the world the conceptualisation of ethnicity, or in some countries race, is undergoing significant change. There are many drivers including high rates of international migration, a vibrant indigenous rights movement in some countries, growing incidence and recognition of ethnic intermarriage, a concern about racism and discrimination, and, connected with this, a debate around how to support and, in some situations, integrate increasingly diverse populations into the wider community.

Against this background, the paper draws together some ideas in the following areas: ethnogenesis; the official construction of ethnicity in New Zealand; ethnic intermarriage, and related to that, the transmission of ethnicity to children and multiple ethnicity; ethnic mobility; indigeneity; genetics, the human genome project and ethnicity; and the recent growth of New Zealander responses in the New Zealand census. It is not possible to draw many strong conclusions from the burgeoning national and international literature except there is a very vigorous and complex debate taking place about identity in most countries around the world.

While there are some commonalities in the international debates, many local factors affect country specific discussions. However, some of the very broad threads that can be drawn from the literature include: while it is clear that for some people, and in some situations, ethnicity is a critical and daily part of their identity, for others ethnicity can be a minor part of identity or, in particular contexts, ethnicity might have little meaning; that identities are always emerging; that ethnicity is multi dimensional and that, in most countries, there is some fluidity of ethnicity; that identity is not only expressed but is perceived and observed and this perception of others can forge, reinforce and, at times, restrict identities; that the division of the world population, or the population of specific countries, into neat, non-overlapping groups is increasingly problematic; and that official definitions of ethnicity officially may not match all that closely ideas of 'who we are' personally.

All of this suggests that, from a New Zealand policy perspective, while ethnicity can be an important analytical variable, much care is needed in its use.

Latest Papers | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | Earlier Papers