The Tuvaluan New Zealand community consists of 4,653 Tuvaluans ethnic people living in New Zealand. About 46% of them were born overseas and nearly 80% of them live in Auckland.[1]
Due to global warming, the islands of Tuvaluan are threatened by rising sea level.[2] In response to this risk, the Tuvaluan government made an agreement in 2002 with the New Zealand which allows the migration of 11,000 Tuvaluans (the island nation's entire population).[2] The New Zealand Census indicates a higher proportion of Tuvaluans being born in Tuvalu illustrates the significance of New Zealand as a long term destination for Tuvaluan migrants.[3]
New Zealand has an annual quota of 75 Tuvaluans granted work permits under the Pacific Access Category, as announced in 2001.[4] Tuvaluans also have access to seasonal employment in the horticulture and viticulture industries in New Zealand under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Policy introduced in 2007 allowing for employment of up to 5,000 workers from Tuvalu and other Pacific islands.[5]
According to the 2006 Census, there were 2,625 Tuvaluans in New Zealand, which has grown to 3,537 Tuvaluans in 2013 and 4,653 Tuvaluan in 2018.[6]
About 88% of Tuvaluan New Zealanders are English speakers about 42% of them can speak another language, mainly Tuvaluan language.
Majority of the Tuvaluan New Zealanders follows Christianity (88%), 8% of them choose No religion in the Census.
In 1992, the Tuvalu Community Church congregation of Henderson, Auckland was established.[7] [8] In 2021, the first Tuvaluan Congregational church was opener.[9] It was designed by South Pacific Architecture, which won a Public Architecture Award at the 2021 Auckland Architecture Awards.