The Oceanian diaspora is the group of people living outside of
Oceania
Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...
whose ancestors migrated from Oceania. The term can also refer to groups who have migrated between the islands of Oceania.
History
In ancient times, the many islands of Oceania maintained contact with one another through sailing networks.
During the colonial era, this intermigration reduced, as colonisers needed Oceanian populations for labour purposes. In the modern era, the diaspora has largely drifted towards the industrialised nations of the Pacific (such as
Australia and
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
), though maintaining its cultural and family ties with its ancestral homelands.
The Oceanian diaspora's migration has been induced partly by
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
-related issues that are playing out on various islands, and it has played a significant role in advocating for policies to address climate change.
In popular culture
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Moana is an animated film about a girl who leaves her island to address environmental problems.
References
{{Diasporas
Oceanian diaspora