Pacific Islands (Pasifika) youth in South Auckland - A research study

The place of family and community is regarded as an important influence on the future of Pasifika (Pacific Islands) youth. Yet how these youth view the place of Pasifika families in the future is not adequately covered in the research literature. As more Pasifika youth are thought to be joining gangs, there are concerns as to whether the gangs have replaced the family for Pasifika youth and whether the street has become home to them. This book details a research study with Pasifika youth from the suburbs of Mangere and tara including those who had never been involved in gangs, those who were currently involved in gangs and those who had transitioned out of gang life, in an effort to understand how Pasifika youth understood family and how they perceived family in relation to the future; the perspectives of young Pasifika people on gangs, community, culture and leadership; why some Pasifika youth did not join gangs or why some were joining them, and the support systems Pasifika youth had, and used, to remain out of gangs; and the views and experiences of exiting gang life for Pasifika ex-gang members and the mechanisms that had assisted them to transition out of gang life.