It’s Not Me, It’s You: Students’ Perspectives on the ‘Brain Drain’ Words by Beth Mountford (she/her)
With the gradual reopening of New Zealand’s borders, there has been much speculation in mainstream media about a ‘brain drain’. For those unfamiliar with the term, a ‘brain drain’ is the emigration of skilled workers from a particular country to another where they may be attracted by higher rates of pay or better opportunities.
For him it follows logically that people would leave after graduating, as “you don’t have those ties”.
Past - Niuean Three The Wan Solwara Team
Salient caught up with some VUW students and CW: Racism, Abuse, Death graduates joining the drain about why they’re feeling drawn away New Zealand and what the move All quotes arefrom attributed to Tauleletoahukuitogia means to them. Latule-Mailisi who has provided local knowledge and context surrounding the controversy, as a descendant Pete McKenzie, who graduated with a VUW Honours of Niue. Degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts at the end of last year is soonThree heading New York to begin and a Masters The Niuean areto Tamaeli, Latoatama, Degree. Folitahu who, whilst imprisoned, premeditated the murder of Resident Commissioner Larsen in 1953. McKenzie says it has been a “confronting experience This is a major event in Niuean history which had realising that [he is] part of the brain drain,” but permanent effects on the relations between New maintains that moves such as his have overall benefits Zealand and the Pacific. It is one of the only instances for New Zealand. “You want people with overseas of a New Zealander in public service being killed experience, you want people to bring back fresh overseas. perspectives,” he said. In the early 1900s, New Zealand Prime Minister McKenzie says that the rising cost of living and Richard Seddon stated his “mission” to extend rental prices in Wellington “removes an obstacle” to the Domain of New Zealand into the South Pacific. making the move overseas, saying “it’s easy to not Seddon embarked on a “tour” of Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and go overseas if everything is really good here but if the the Cook Islands, with intention to persuade leaders of cost of living is the same in the states as it is in NZ the benefits of annexation. In 1901, Niue and the Cook then that’s one barrier that’s missing.” Islands became dependent territories under NZ law. Fulbright, a cultural exchange programme that From 1943-1953, Cecil Hector Larsen acted as operates between New Zealand and the US, declined Resident Commissioner for Niue. A decade of to have a phone conversation. They stated in an unregulated governance from the New Zealand email to Salient that “part of [their] kaupapa is for Government enabled Larsen to misuse his power Fulbrighters to share their mahi in the US and then to abuse the Niuean people. With no departmental when they come back to Aotearoa, share what they oversight, Larsen exercised unrestricted executive learnt in the US.” powers, corrupting the judicial system as the sole judgesaid and that jury “on of Niue. They the whole” their scholars come
back to New Zealand and stay here “so the brain Larsen’s determination at the time led to Niuean drain (while it’s definitely a thing) is less of an issue for residents’ imprisonment for acts such as public [them]”. affection, consuming alcohol, and swearing. These prisoners were detained andwork usedopportunities to maintain the Other students cited better Resident Commissioner’s property and retrieve his golf overseas. Masters in Design student Elliot said that balls. “The Governor would say to the men they can’t many of his friends who have already moved overseas kill a cat, mocking them and belittling them.” Local are “doing the same jobs but for three times as much history illustrates allegations of abuse towards the [pay] and a lot more respect as an employee”. unlawfully detained. “The men committed the crime as the Governor (resident Commissioner) was mean with no respect for the Niuean people. He bullied them, and men (and) women were abused.”
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“For example I brought this real nice set of Milwaukee socket wrenches the other day and I was like oh shit, if I’m going overseas what am I going to do with my nice set of Milwaukee socket wrenches that I just bought,” he said. The people of Niue the New Zealand Patrick, a third year petitioned Bachelor of Arts student says that Government three throughout Larsen’s 10 he has “always felttimes constrained by the anti-intellectual year term, no Zealand” avail or recognition. According culture herebut in to New in which cultural pursuits to Margaret Pointer, the Wellington Government’s are “poorly understood…and viewed largely as intention was to promote Larsen as overseer to all pretentious”. Pacific Island states in New Zealand’s domain. Pointer refers to that the lack ofoverseas political will from “Wellington” He says going after completing his to make any such forhe Niue, until the controversy qualifications is changes something “need[s] to go and do”. of Larsen’s murderindominated media, and required In order to remain New Zealand he would need change to be “high made.job satisfaction, decent pay and to be offered access to those jobs”. The three men, from the islands of Liku, Makefu and Hikutavake, escaped killed Hector Larsen in hisfor Kate Prickett, Directorand of the Roy McKenzie Centre Niuean residence before turning themselves in the the Study of Families, says that New Zealand’s current next he was killed some relief brainday. drain“When is two-pronged; wethere have was people leaving from the Niuean People.” The Coco-net’sas coverage of because of the economic circumstances well as “a the controversy clarifies there-opening spirit of theofpeople, and bit of catch up” due to the the borders. determination of the Niuean Three, saying “There’s On circumstances she said if onlythe so economic far the people will bend, before the“even people you stay here and turn a wage your wage is not going break.” to be keeping up with the housing costs. To get a “The men and weretosentenced to hang. New Zealand sent mortgage get onto the housing ladder is not the hangman there and dug holes. On to thiswork day something that’s available forthree young people the sky turned into fire and the hanging was called towards right now.” off.” After two execution sentences, the complexity of She says that the resolution of issues such as the the case, immense public pressure, and intervention affordable housing crisis will have to be “part of the from Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Sid Holland picture” to attract kiwis back to New Zealand. granted the Niuean Three clemency. They were released from Mt Eden Prison between 1960-1970. “It’s not just always going to be about the love of New Only Tamaeli was able to return home to Niue before Zealand and wanting to be here. People need to feel he passed away. that they can come back and have a stable house to live in, thathalf they havecentury career prospects The second of can the 20th led to a and opportunitiesoftoo,” she said. amongst Pacific nations, renaissance independence who shrugged off New Zealand’s colonial rule in All of the students and graduates that Salient favour of their own sovereignty. In 1974, Niue emerged interviewed professed their love for New Zealand. as a self-governing state in free association with They collectively spoke of a natural curiosity to New Zealand. Just as the Cook Islands had done, it explore, to see “bigger and better” things, and have retained the Queen in right of New Zealand as their the fabled overseas experience. head of state.
