It has been suggested that Brisbane is the new 'land of milk and honey' for Pasifika groups based in Auckland, who are seeking a 'better' life. Although contemporary Pasifika trans-Tasman migration is happening at increasing rates and has been noticeable since the 1990s, this process has not hitherto, been accurately recorded or fully understood. The trans-Tasman migration literature suggests that Pasifika movements are economically driven. However, my research shows that Pasifika trans-Tasman migration involves a host of other reasons that relate to Pasifika notions of well-being. Therefore, the aim of my research is to understand Pasifika perceptions of well-being and their trans-Tasman migrant experiences that fulfil their well-being aims. The focus is on the movements of Samoan and Tongan groups, between Auckland and Brisbane, and utilises a mixed-methods approach within Pasifika research frameworks to capture Pasifika voices and understandings. Interviews, surveys and participant observations were carried out during 2015-2018 in Auckland and Brisbane. The interweaving of the qualitative and quantitative data sets recorded in this study provide a deeper understanding of the salient links that exist between Pasifika notions of well-being and their trans-Tasman migration movements. The findings show that Pasifika define their well-being holistically: Tongan mo‘ui ‘oku lelei and Samoan ola manuia are usefully understood as eight spheres of wellbeing. The interconnections between the eight spheres influence both current experiences of wellbeing and future outlooks held by Pasifika living in Auckland, compared to Brisbane. A key finding is that the spiritual/God (relationship with God and church), familial/social (relationship with significant others) and cultural spheres are intrinsic to the holistic well-being of Pasifika individuals and their collectives within Auckland and Brisbane. These three spheres have been redefined within the freedoms and new spaces found in Brisbane, compared to Auckland. This process of redefinition is particularly evident amongst the second-generation and third-generation descendants of the Pasifika migrants. Another key finding is the defining of Pasifika economic participation in the labour markets within Australia and New Zealand. Economic provision and economic sustainability spheres are best understood in light of the collective well-being of Pasifika. The research has also generated an innovative methodological development. E-talanoa is an informant-centred method of studying multi-sited Pasifika groups, using online forums, and represents a contribution to the culturally appropriate data collection of Pasifika voices and knowledge for the trans-Tasman literature and diaspora discourse. Given the obvious lack of information on Pasifika well-being and trans-Tasman migration, this study can inform both local and national government policies that are affecting the well-being of Pasifika migrants living in Australia.
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