ABSTRACT
Drawing on official, state, popular and personal narratives, this chapter examines aspects of New Zealand's history of discriminatory actions and prejudicial attitudes towards minority migrant and refugee groups. This chapter proceeds in three parts. First, it offers some suggestions as to why New Zealand has acquired a reputation for welcoming newcomers. Why, despite xenophobic, racist and sectarian incidents in the past, is New Zealand depicted as a hospitable country to migrants, be it a myth or otherwise? The second section outlines examples of hostility directed at several migrant and refugee groups in New Zealand from 1848 until the present day, including the Irish, Chinese, Pasifika, Muslims and refugees. The third section reflects, first, on how we might explain the hostility directed at migrants and refugees and revisits the question of New Zealand's reputation as a welcoming nation. Comparisons and transnational connections with other nations are made throughout since any investigation of immigration control, sectarianism, racism and xenophobia is subject to the influence of ideas circulating internationally, peoples and broader forces.
