This study compares four aspects — demography, arrival conditions, employment and adaptation — of Chinese women migrants in New Zealand over three periods, before 1987, from 1987 to 1996 and after 1996. The two principal findings were, firstly, that the gender ratio of Chinese female migrants rose from well below 50 percent before 1987 to more than 52 percent in 2001. This may be attributed to the “astronaut's wife” phenomenon and the arrival of older females and younger females who have gained residency as parents or spouses. Secondly, female migrants who entered New Zealand after 1987 tend to have a higher education than previous migrants. However, the employment situation of recent arrivals seems unfavorable when compared with those who arrived in New Zealand before 1987. As a result, many recent arrivals undergo re-training to gain recognized qualifications to enhance their employment opportunities.
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