Modem and Migrant: the Use of the Internet in New Zealand Immigration

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the Internet and immigration, using New Zealand as a case study. While different aspects of immigration have been documented from many disciplines, with the exception of Harold Innis, little research has been conducted on the relationship between communication and migration. Advances in transport and communications technology have contributed to an increase in migration which is becoming more complex as people move in response to changing socio-economic and political climates. This study suggests that in order to make an informed decision when relocating, a migrant needs to have access to relevant information during each stage of the decision-making process. In the past, communications media used in the migration decision-making process have included word of mouth, letters, advertisements, magazines, television and film and the introduction of the Internet appears to subsume and integrate these previous communications media. Incorporating the findings of participants in a group discussion and interviews with New Zealand immigration officials and immigration consultancies I have developed model of migrant decision-making. The framework of the model and the resultant template is also based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Knapp's theory of interpersonal decision-making and Heyer's information-seeking behaviour research. The template developed in this study can be used to provide a framework for further study into the use of new communications technologies and their impact on migration in the future.