2. Literature scan 2.1. Aotearoa New Zealand’s migrant population 2.1.1. Early settlement Māori are indigenous to Aotearoa New Zealand, arriving from East Polynesia in approximately the late 13th century. European explorers, sealers and whalers migrated in the late 18th century, followed by settlers and Christian missionaries in the early 19th century. By 1874, the Māori population (10%) were outnumbered by European settlers (Stock, 2017). Since the arrival of European settlers in Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori have and continue to encounter oppressive, structural and intergenerational violence and colonial impacts imposed by the state7. Of note to this research is that within the Treaty of Waitangi and Te Tiritiri o Waitangi signed on 6 February 1840 was a mutual understanding between Māori and the Crown that more migrants would arrive in Aotearoa New Zealand. Some scholars have argued that although Te Tiriti o Waitangi details immigration obligations that are important for both Māori and migrants, the voices of Māori as tangata whenua are typically excluded in decision-making about immigration (Kukutai & Rata, 2017), and a review of current immigration policies and processes is required to ensure that both Māori and migrant interests are protected (Kukutai & Rata, 2017; Stock, 2017). 2.1.2. A fast-growing feature of Aotearoa New Zealand society Natural increase has generally been the main driver for population growth in Aotearoa New Zealand. Very recently immigration has also become an important feature of growth in this country (Kukutai & Rata, 2017). Consistent with recent years, the year ending December 20198 saw an annual net migration of about 44,000, many of whom were Chinese and Indian migrants (Statistics New Zealand, 2019). Other contributions to a fast-increasing population include youthful population structures amongst migrants and higher birth rates among Māori and Pacific peoples. The broad Asian ethnic group are a fast-growing population in this country and are expected to increase from 540,000 in 2013 to 1.2-1.4 million in 7 An exhaustive review of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history and colonisation is out of scope for the literature scan - scholarly works provide an in-depth and comprehensive understandings (for example, see works by James Belich, Buddy Mikaere, Judith Binney and others) 8 This was the most recent information release prior to the mass COVID-19 travel restrictions enforced globally. www.malatest-intl.com Drivers of racism – March 2021 16