The Determinants of Remittances among Tongans in Auckland

Abstract

Aspects of the Auckland Tongan community's remittance patterns in 1984 are identified and explained. It is argued that the attitudes of Tongan people regarding gender differences contribute to a distinctive feature of the group's remittance behavior and contemporary obligations also influenced the amount of remittances and the percentage of income remitted. Employment and residence status, length of stay in New Zealand and dependents in Tonga are other explanations for attitudes to remittances. Most migrants send substantial sums, especially recent migrants, without secure residence status in New Zealand. Most remittances are sent for subsistence needs, though a very high proportion of remitters are unconcerned about remittance use, and believe that the duty of supporting kin is the critical factor in remittance flows.