Immigrants’ experiences of nature-based recreation in New Zealand

Abstract

This study addresses recreational behaviours of immigrants and ethnic minorities, with a focus on nature-based recreation in national and regional parks. The study comprised a survey questionnaire that compared immigrants with New Zealand-born citizens. The study was motivated in part by research undertaken internationally that demonstrates different recreational behaviours for ethnic minorities and for those of recent migrant status. This paper reports on five aspects: frequency of use; nature of the recreation party; constraints to participation; important features of natural areas; and benefits of visiting natural areas. The data revealed statistically significant differences based on migrant status and ethnicity for a range of recreation-related variables. The migrant and ethnic minority cohort in this study had lower incomes than New Zealand-born respondents. This may suggest that marginality and ethnicity need to be considered together as explanatory variables for recreational behaviour.

Keywords:

• immigrants
• ethnicity
• marginality
• nature-based recreation
• participation
• benefits

Notes

1. Traditional source countries include the United Kingdom, Australia, and a range of Western European countries.

2. The terms ‘immigrant’ and ‘migrant’ are used within this research interchangeably.

3. Integration, unlike acculturation, refers to a two-way relationship between migrants and the host society; acculturation means migrants becoming like the host society.