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Story: History of immigration

Interview with Samoan overstayer

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During the 1990s people streamed into New Zealand, particularly from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The increase in the number of Pacific Islanders during this decade was less marked, and a few were deported for overstaying their temporary residence permits. In this 1994 interview, a Samoan woman talks about her pending deportation as an overstayer, and her fears for her New Zealand-born children.

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Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision

Reference: 17716

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, History of immigration – Multicultural New Zealand: 1991 onwards, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/2163/interview-with-samoan-overstayer (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 4 March 2009, updated 1 August 2015.