‘Seeing’ our tamariki in longitudinal studies: exploring the complexity of ethnic identification trajectories within Growing Up in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Longitudinal research provides unique opportunities for ethnic identification research and for understanding ethnic identity development. However, ethnic identification is subjective, fluid, multi-dimensional, and context-specific. This study draws on Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal data to explore: how children identify their ethnicity/culture; and how these descriptions compare with ethnic identification patterns described by their parent. At eight years of age children described their ethnicity/culture as Pākehā/New Zealand European (52%); Māori (22%); Samoan (8%); Tongan (5%); Cook Islands (4%); Chinese (4%); Indian (5%); Niuean (2%); Australian (4%); and 14% said they don’t think about their ethnicity. Across time, approximately 60% of the cohort have always been identified as or identified themselves as European, Māori and Asian respectively and 72% had always been identified as (or identified themselves) as Pacific. These findings show that emerging ethnic identification is complex, and differs according to who is responding and when, as well as according to ethnic identification itself. Measuring and interpreting ethnicity is an important opportunity for longitudinal studies. However, given the fluidity and contingency of this data, researchers face ongoing challenges in: maintaining kaitiakitanga (stewardship); providing robust evidence to guide policies that enhance wellbeing equity; and upholding Treaty of Waitangi obligations.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethnicity
• ethnic identity
• child identity
• longitudinal research
• equity
• child development
• health and wellbeing

Acknowledgements

Growing Up in New Zealand is grateful to our participants, the children and families who so generously share their time and information with the study team. We also thank Stephane Janicot (biostatistician), for his support with the data analysis for this paper. Growing Up in New Zealand is led by the University of Auckland with management of the contract through Auckland UniServices Limited.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The Growing Up in New Zealand study has been funded by the New Zealand Government and funding is managed through the Ministry for Social Development. Funding and support have also been received from the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as Oranga Tamariki, Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, the Ministry for Women, and the Department of Corrections. Support has also been provided for the study from the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Housing New Zealand (now Ministry of Housing and Urban Development), the Office of Ethnic Communities, Statistics New Zealand, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Treasury.