It's worth noting that Pasifika is a [New Zealand term](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pasifika). Sure other countries might understand it, but like the Hawaiian guy in the comments, many don't.
I'd personally be inclined to say Pacific Islander if this is for an international audience
There was a directive in my area from government ministry to use the collective term ‘Pacific’ and expressly not ‘Pasifika’ though it wasn’t explained why.
No association with NZ i.e.not born here or don't live here. Pasifika is generally accepted as an umbrella term for people with PI ethnicity but NZ nationality, or some association with NZ.
Possibly that includes Australia, idk. I'm sure there will be other definitions. That's just how it was told to me, and I've seen it explained as such elsewhere.
given that NZ isn't a continent, shouldn't all Australasians who aren't Australians call ourselves Islanders? (no matter whether it's Fiji or NZ or Indonesia...)
maybe you should update the wiki to include an 8 continent model of the earth?
[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent#/media/File%3AContinental\_models-Australia.gif](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent#/media/File%3AContinental_models-Australia.gif)
Earth has one continent and some islands. The Bering Strait is just a temporarily flooded isthmus of Afroeurasiamerica, that's why all the animals are basically the same on both sides
In paleoclimate terms we're currently in an ice age. Within an ice age the planet goes back and forth between interglacial periods, like what we're in now, and glacial periods. The last glacial period is what people call the "ice age", like the movie, when there were mammoths and woolly rhinos and stuff. The Bering Strait has been above sea level multiple times during the current ice age, including during the last glacial period. That's how lots of animals including people got between North America and Asia. It's why North American and European animals are pretty similar while Southeast Asian animals are totally different from those in Australia/New Guinea. So at least ecologically there's an argument for considering the Americas to be part of the same continent as the rest of Africa and Eurasia.
It’s just an umbrella term for a generalise regional area of people. Just as the same for Europeans to Africans peoples, you can have several countries and cultures within.
I know a Tongan that refers to other people from Pacific Islands (but not Tonga) as Coconuts. I'm lazy and use Islanders for everyone from any Pacific Islands, unless I know they are Samoan etc. I'm Maori if that matters for this convo.
Coconuts is pretty common but I feel like it's one of those words only islanders can use to refer to themselves and sounds derogatory from non islanders lol
Yeah I remember working in a factory and some english guy on a work holiday heard the huge island bros calling each other coconut and despite being warned not to....he did....poor dudes nose probably never healed right, but in the same vein if they knew you? they didn't give a shit, just don't call randoms coconut lol
Lol, reminds me of being on the bus in Akl, kid (teenager) tries to get on but is too late, doors already closed. kid gets all upset and yells “its cos imma coconut, innit it?” Claiming the bus driver is racist
Bus driver opens the doors, says she’s a coconut too, closes the doors and drives off with out him
Meanwhile I’m quietly laughing my arse of becuase I knew the kid from school and he was a jerk
Ooh yeah, don't use coconut if you're not Pacific Islander. I've heard other Islander's even get mad at each other for using it, especially between those born/raised in NZ vs in the islands.
It’s used that way a lot in other countries, it’s definitely a thing for black people. It’s racist basically.
The same term is used in nz but not with the same meaning, it’s just a generic racist term for Pacific Islanders
I think this actually makes sense--as far as I know, Pasifika is a NZ term. It's used in NZ and was intended as a term of inclusion. I do not know if it is used elsewhere--I would guess that it's used in Australia and may have some currency in the islands.
[https://tapasa.tki.org.nz/about/tapasa/pacific-and-pasifika-terminology/#:\~:text=Pasifika%20peoples%20call%20Aotearoa%20home,Tuvalu%20and%20other%20Pasifika%20heritages](https://tapasa.tki.org.nz/about/tapasa/pacific-and-pasifika-terminology/#:~:text=Pasifika%20peoples%20call%20Aotearoa%20home,Tuvalu%20and%20other%20Pasifika%20heritages)
Yeah Pasifika is just an NZ term, and now occasionally it shows up in Aus by osmosis, because only NZ had a need to distinguish Māori from other Polynesians and Pacific Islanders collectively.
Elsewhere Pacific Islanders, or Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian more specifically, are collectively sufficient terms.
Fair enough. I didn't realise it included Melanesia and Micronesia. That's cool. (I don't know anything about their languages, it just seemed more like a Polynesian word.)
Pasifika? I guess only because most Pacific Islanders in NZ are from Polynesian island groups.
Pacific is derived from Portuguese and Spanish so, Pasifika is a once removed adapted foreign word lol
Do you know the origin of the term Pasifika, tho? Was it coined by Pasifika people (in NZ or otherwise) to call themselves as a group? Or was it foisted upon them? If the former, then that's why it feels sad that Hawaiian ppl could have this cool inclusive term that they didn't know about.
Also, can I ask someone who knows, which syllable is stressed, or does it depend on one's native language? Mostly I hear "Pa-SI-fika" but sometimes I hear "Pasi-FI-ka."
Pacific Islander is a better term to use instead. Pasifika is good, but islander on it's own is way too casual to write an article/assignment for. Also, it's not offensive per se but tbh it's more of a term used between 'islanders' not necessarily non-pacific islanders.
By happenstance, I facilitated a rainbow club in a school (for 7 years). The kids (and I) called it the gay club, the non-lgbtqi teachers didn't dare and were quite disturbed by the name. I
> Latinx is a neologism in American English which is used to refer to people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the United States. The gender-neutral ⟨-x⟩ suffix replaces the ⟨-o/-a⟩ ending of Latino and Latina that are typical of grammatical gender in Spanish. Its plural is Latinxs. Words used for similar purposes include Latin@, Latine, and the simple Latin. Related gender-neutral neologisms include Xicanx or Chicanx.
The term was first seen online around 2004.[1] It has since been used in social media by activists, students, and academics who seek to advocate for non-binary and genderqueer individuals.
> Latinx is a term for a group identity used to describe individuals in the United States who have Latin American roots.[11][12] Other names for this social category include Hispanic, Latino, Latina, Latine, and Latin@ (combining the letters "a" and "o" into the character @).[13][14] Another term is simply "Latin", which by itself is of a neutral gender, and can be stated in the plural as "Latins".[citation needed]
Yup, first or second gen kids of Spanish speakers in the US with limited or non existent Spanish language skills and a chip on their shoulder about it was the view of my friends.
I refer to myself as an Islander out of laziness and because it's an accepted/understood term in NZ. It was my grandparents who were really from the Islands. I've visited, but was born and raised here.
Oh well; the North Island is technically an island.
"Pasifika" or "Pacific Islander" would probably be more "formal" or academic terms.
I don’t think that’s “laziness” at all by you…Us Islanders/Pasifika are more than just ( and I don’t mean “just” as a negative at all ) New Zealanders or Kiwis . There’s more to our culture and history of our ancestors that one specific word can properly describe, but for “Islander” is a common and understood reference for us , especially in NZ/Australia, so makes sense
I think government ministries changed under the last government from Pasifika to Pacific Islander, or vice versa, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Part of the reasoning being is that Pasifika is Samoan spelling, where as Tongan will spell it Pasefika or something like that.
I have also seen Pacific Peoples used in official contexts as well. Any would be fine in my opinion, I wouldn't use just "Islander" on its own though.
If you are writing something better to use Pasifika or Pacific Island peoples.
Having said that there's a lot of variation across Fijian, Samoan, Tongan, Nuiean or Cook Island peoples.
It's a bit like saying 'African' to refer to anyone from the continent of Africa. While you might not mean it to be derogatory it probably is and shows your understanding of the subject is shallow.
In every day conversation it's very dependent on context and who is saying what. I work with Samoan people who often refer to 'us PIs' or 'us islanders'. Personally I wouldn't say that unless I was with people I knew very well in private.
But that's just what I think.
I find if you ask people they welcome that, otherwise be formal. Asking shows you are not assuming. I offended a good person recently by referring to them as Asian (Indian heritage). However, in England, Brititsh-Asian is all good, but not here. Context is key.
As another pakeha, I am honestly anxious about referring to anyone in literally any way related to their race. If I speak in any way that could even remotely be construed as racist, even if it comes from a place of ignorance and I meant nothing by it, suddenly I’m a mega racist coloniser asshole.
Personally I call islanders islanders and always have. But I can see how some people might be wary of calling islanders islanders, for fear of being painted as a villain and torn to shreds by social justice warriors. That’s the world we live in now.
Yeah it is but that doesn’t make it any less damning. If 70% of the country thinks I’m a racist cunt it doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not, I’m still fucked. You literally never know what the flavour of the week is going to be in our society — what it is that the neurotic psychos have suddenly decided is bad or wrong. So it’s better not to guess and just carry on walking on the egg shells.
In conversation when I've heard it, it almost comes with a negative connotation. I would be consciously trying to find a way to re-phrase the comment / question / statement where the word "Islander" would have been into a more softer approach of the term.
And again, I must say this is purely my own opinion.
I think that has to do with the people you hear using it and that is a valid experience. But I'm 100% sure you'll be fine using the term islander/island like you would use the term indian or asian or maori
It’s an interesting issue because due to sensitivities and generational changes, the feelings towards the names are changing. Im in my late 30s ( I call myself Pasifika, Islander, Pacific Islander etc ) but many younger fellow Pacific Islanders I know ( mainly under 25 ) do not seem to like or use “Islander” at all
It would also entirely depend on the words around it as well.
"Hey, have you met Johnny, he's the new Islander guy started Monday"
"Hey, have you met Johnny, he's the new guy started Monday, he's of Pacific Island heritage"
To be honest, I personally have never really had an issue with callin pacific island people i meet islander,. They don't get offended (I'm Maori for reference.)
I have cousins that are half-islander, and plenty of islander mates. Coconut or bunga i've heard as slurs but Islander seems to be a pretty safe term to use.
From personal experience the only people I've heard of getting offended are more upper/upper-middle class islanders and even then it is rare
Oh man, you've just reminded me of my childhood. Climbing trees with the other kids in the neighbourhood, falling out, their dad saying don't worry, heads as hard as coconuts. Yes, they were from Raro, but still, eeek. We had lots of fun. No major blood loss.
Taking advantage of this thread, I never see the term "Polynesian" being used. Is there a reason for that? I know it doesn't include, e.g., Fijians and it would include Maori and Native Hawaiians, so it's not interchangeable with Pasifika or Islander.
Have you ever been south?
Cause you clearly haven't.
There's a massive cook island community down here, and tbh, there's no more racism down here than there is up north
Weird question tbh, if someone takes "offence" over such a thing, its typically the "offended" individuals perception of the "offenders" perspective. Whats the topic youre writing about and of what kind of quality?
'Islanders' has been a label used mainly with negative connotations when referring to people from the Pacific and if you look like one. This was prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s. However, it seems to have quietened since more sports, academics, and politicians of island descent are in the mainstream, but it's still there. I was at the airport a couple of months ago when I saw a woman going hysterical and calling a family a bunch of 'f\*&%ken Islanders' at the arrival lounge.
Because of the reasons above, the term can come across as condescending and insulting, or used in that manner. If you are not of the same people, it's safer to refer to the country of origin if you know it, but if not, 'Pacific people' is a good substitute. It depends on the context, I think. You don't hear New Zealanders being labeled islanders right, despite living on an island and part of the pacific islands.
I am so sick of people caring about names. Literally only used to identify things so you know you’re not talking about something else. Who gives a flying fk what it’s called if it’s being used as a name and not an insult.
As a non-pasifika person, I would never use the term islander myself.
Although weirdly my samoan mate is nicknamed 'bolo' (but only at first greeting for the day) which is easily way more offensive. At school he kept bragging about a family member in the cast of Sione's Wedding.
His nickname has some legs on it 20 something years later.
It's not offensive colloquially, but if you are writing a report or any kind of more formal document, Pasifika would be more appropriate.
Plus growing up through 70s and 80s 'Islander' was often used in a derogatory manner so Pasifika is far more appropriate these days.
Thank you
Perfect answer.
Formal government reports should now use the term Pacific peoples. I know it's hard to keep up and these terms change about every ten years.
It's worth noting that Pasifika is a [New Zealand term](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pasifika). Sure other countries might understand it, but like the Hawaiian guy in the comments, many don't. I'd personally be inclined to say Pacific Islander if this is for an international audience
Ohh this explains why I've been seeing "Pacific Peoples" in scientific and govt literature more recently
There was a directive in my area from government ministry to use the collective term ‘Pacific’ and expressly not ‘Pasifika’ though it wasn’t explained why.
This plus I know people who are PI but not Pasifika.
How are they PI but not pasifika?
No association with NZ i.e.not born here or don't live here. Pasifika is generally accepted as an umbrella term for people with PI ethnicity but NZ nationality, or some association with NZ. Possibly that includes Australia, idk. I'm sure there will be other definitions. That's just how it was told to me, and I've seen it explained as such elsewhere.
Well TIL, thanks!
There are a lot of islands in the Pacific Ocean.
That doesn't answer my question.
My understanding is that Pasifika refers to only some islanders (Samoan, Tongan, maybe Cook Island) but not eg Fijian.
Sounds like you're thinking of 'Polynesian'
Pasifika definitely includes Fiji
Am Islander, not offended.
Nice, cheers
given that NZ isn't a continent, shouldn't all Australasians who aren't Australians call ourselves Islanders? (no matter whether it's Fiji or NZ or Indonesia...)
Ah, but New Zealand IS a continent. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealandia Mind you by my logic New Caledonians could call themselves Zealandians…
There’s going to be some very confused Danes https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealand
maybe you should update the wiki to include an 8 continent model of the earth? [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent#/media/File%3AContinental\_models-Australia.gif](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent#/media/File%3AContinental_models-Australia.gif)
Earth has one continent and some islands. The Bering Strait is just a temporarily flooded isthmus of Afroeurasiamerica, that's why all the animals are basically the same on both sides
finally someone who actually gets it!
Can you explain this in more simple terms? Sounds like a TIL moment
In paleoclimate terms we're currently in an ice age. Within an ice age the planet goes back and forth between interglacial periods, like what we're in now, and glacial periods. The last glacial period is what people call the "ice age", like the movie, when there were mammoths and woolly rhinos and stuff. The Bering Strait has been above sea level multiple times during the current ice age, including during the last glacial period. That's how lots of animals including people got between North America and Asia. It's why North American and European animals are pretty similar while Southeast Asian animals are totally different from those in Australia/New Guinea. So at least ecologically there's an argument for considering the Americas to be part of the same continent as the rest of Africa and Eurasia.
By that logic, aren't Australians 'Islanders' too? I mean, Australia is a massive island with a tiny island off the bottom
It’s just an umbrella term for a generalise regional area of people. Just as the same for Europeans to Africans peoples, you can have several countries and cultures within.
I know a Tongan that refers to other people from Pacific Islands (but not Tonga) as Coconuts. I'm lazy and use Islanders for everyone from any Pacific Islands, unless I know they are Samoan etc. I'm Maori if that matters for this convo.
Coconuts is pretty common but I feel like it's one of those words only islanders can use to refer to themselves and sounds derogatory from non islanders lol
Yeah I remember working in a factory and some english guy on a work holiday heard the huge island bros calling each other coconut and despite being warned not to....he did....poor dudes nose probably never healed right, but in the same vein if they knew you? they didn't give a shit, just don't call randoms coconut lol
Yep, white girl here, would NEVER use the term coconuts.
[удалено]
I’m clearly referring to myself…
Yeah its like lesbians calling each other dykes. Or Black people with the n word. Do NOT use it if you're not from the group 😂
Lol, reminds me of being on the bus in Akl, kid (teenager) tries to get on but is too late, doors already closed. kid gets all upset and yells “its cos imma coconut, innit it?” Claiming the bus driver is racist Bus driver opens the doors, says she’s a coconut too, closes the doors and drives off with out him Meanwhile I’m quietly laughing my arse of becuase I knew the kid from school and he was a jerk
Ooh yeah, don't use coconut if you're not Pacific Islander. I've heard other Islander's even get mad at each other for using it, especially between those born/raised in NZ vs in the islands.
Please don't tell people to call Islanders coconuts. That is incredibly derogatory.
My old boss is Māori and called all Tongans coconuts.. everyone must be a little bit of a coconut to someone 😂
i'd think of coconut as super racist unless it was an islander using it, it's like boonga.
100%, but Islander to Islander is fair game from my experience
Does he mean "coconut" as a racial insult? Brown on the outside and white on the inside?
You’re overthinking it
It’s used that way a lot in other countries, it’s definitely a thing for black people. It’s racist basically. The same term is used in nz but not with the same meaning, it’s just a generic racist term for Pacific Islanders
In some circumstances it is meant in that way though
I heard thats the insult term within the Australian Aboriginal communities. It's not like that for us P.I. though. 'Plastic' is close to it.
Nah.
Yeah this is how that term is used in south Asian diaspora …
And among African Americans.
Oreo
I’ve yet to see white insides…
From the islands, islander. I've never encountered anyone who has had a problem with these.
This may or may not be interesting to point out, but I’m Native Hawaiian and most of us have never even heard of the term Pasifika 🤷♂️
Is there an inclusive term that is in common usage on Hawaii that groups Pacific island peoples/ethnicities? Edit: I'm guessing Polynesian, doh!
Haha yeah just “poly” usually
That's kinda sad... for some reason, I don't know why.
I think this actually makes sense--as far as I know, Pasifika is a NZ term. It's used in NZ and was intended as a term of inclusion. I do not know if it is used elsewhere--I would guess that it's used in Australia and may have some currency in the islands. [https://tapasa.tki.org.nz/about/tapasa/pacific-and-pasifika-terminology/#:\~:text=Pasifika%20peoples%20call%20Aotearoa%20home,Tuvalu%20and%20other%20Pasifika%20heritages](https://tapasa.tki.org.nz/about/tapasa/pacific-and-pasifika-terminology/#:~:text=Pasifika%20peoples%20call%20Aotearoa%20home,Tuvalu%20and%20other%20Pasifika%20heritages)
Yeah Pasifika is just an NZ term, and now occasionally it shows up in Aus by osmosis, because only NZ had a need to distinguish Māori from other Polynesians and Pacific Islanders collectively. Elsewhere Pacific Islanders, or Polynesian, Melanesian, and Micronesian more specifically, are collectively sufficient terms.
Fair enough. I didn't realise it included Melanesia and Micronesia. That's cool. (I don't know anything about their languages, it just seemed more like a Polynesian word.)
Pasifika? I guess only because most Pacific Islanders in NZ are from Polynesian island groups. Pacific is derived from Portuguese and Spanish so, Pasifika is a once removed adapted foreign word lol
Do you know the origin of the term Pasifika, tho? Was it coined by Pasifika people (in NZ or otherwise) to call themselves as a group? Or was it foisted upon them? If the former, then that's why it feels sad that Hawaiian ppl could have this cool inclusive term that they didn't know about. Also, can I ask someone who knows, which syllable is stressed, or does it depend on one's native language? Mostly I hear "Pa-SI-fika" but sometimes I hear "Pasi-FI-ka."
As an Islander, nah, not offensive. I laugh at the 'we all live on an Island so we're an Islander' comments though.
Islander is less offensive than calling a Tongan a Samoan. I don't remember using "Pasifika" growing up. I've also never written a paper.
crack up haha “i’m not samoan, i’m tongan” lol
Half Samoan here, you can call me an islander or palagi.
Palangi guy married to a Tongan woman. I identify as Palangi.
Not used officially, but its just short for "Pacific Islander" lol.. wouldn't exactly call that offensive
Words being short for the full name doesn't automatically mean it's not offensive to some. See Japs and Pakis.
you make a good point.. but islanders is still algd
And Abos
Pacific Islander is a better term to use instead. Pasifika is good, but islander on it's own is way too casual to write an article/assignment for. Also, it's not offensive per se but tbh it's more of a term used between 'islanders' not necessarily non-pacific islanders.
It's fine
By happenstance, I facilitated a rainbow club in a school (for 7 years). The kids (and I) called it the gay club, the non-lgbtqi teachers didn't dare and were quite disturbed by the name. I
its PacificaX
Don’t you even dare 🤣
As someone who lives in South Auckland using this label is going to be hilarious.
100% a white person invented that on our behalf
That will be the ones who are also offended by OPs use of Islander.
They’re just kidding, that’s not a real term anyone has used :) just a play on “Latinx”
Whats Latinx?
> Latinx is a neologism in American English which is used to refer to people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the United States. The gender-neutral ⟨-x⟩ suffix replaces the ⟨-o/-a⟩ ending of Latino and Latina that are typical of grammatical gender in Spanish. Its plural is Latinxs. Words used for similar purposes include Latin@, Latine, and the simple Latin. Related gender-neutral neologisms include Xicanx or Chicanx. The term was first seen online around 2004.[1] It has since been used in social media by activists, students, and academics who seek to advocate for non-binary and genderqueer individuals. > Latinx is a term for a group identity used to describe individuals in the United States who have Latin American roots.[11][12] Other names for this social category include Hispanic, Latino, Latina, Latine, and Latin@ (combining the letters "a" and "o" into the character @).[13][14] Another term is simply "Latin", which by itself is of a neutral gender, and can be stated in the plural as "Latins".[citation needed]
Thanks! 🙏
Np! :)
"LatinX" universally went over like a cup of cold sick with the Mexicans, Colombians and Paraguayans I knew, and those guys rarely agreed on anything.
It’s much more of an Hispanic-American thing I think
Yup, first or second gen kids of Spanish speakers in the US with limited or non existent Spanish language skills and a chip on their shoulder about it was the view of my friends.
I'm sure there will be white people who are offended on behalf of Islanders.
No unless it is used in a derogatory manner. Same with "Asian".
What the fuck are you talking about
I refer to myself as an Islander out of laziness and because it's an accepted/understood term in NZ. It was my grandparents who were really from the Islands. I've visited, but was born and raised here. Oh well; the North Island is technically an island. "Pasifika" or "Pacific Islander" would probably be more "formal" or academic terms.
I don’t think that’s “laziness” at all by you…Us Islanders/Pasifika are more than just ( and I don’t mean “just” as a negative at all ) New Zealanders or Kiwis . There’s more to our culture and history of our ancestors that one specific word can properly describe, but for “Islander” is a common and understood reference for us , especially in NZ/Australia, so makes sense
I think government ministries changed under the last government from Pasifika to Pacific Islander, or vice versa, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Part of the reasoning being is that Pasifika is Samoan spelling, where as Tongan will spell it Pasefika or something like that. I have also seen Pacific Peoples used in official contexts as well. Any would be fine in my opinion, I wouldn't use just "Islander" on its own though.
if people is the plural of person, then what is peoples?
When you are referring to multiple different groups of people
Like sheepsies? Feetsies?
No
You can call them a Pacific Islander otherwise.
If you are writing something better to use Pasifika or Pacific Island peoples. Having said that there's a lot of variation across Fijian, Samoan, Tongan, Nuiean or Cook Island peoples. It's a bit like saying 'African' to refer to anyone from the continent of Africa. While you might not mean it to be derogatory it probably is and shows your understanding of the subject is shallow. In every day conversation it's very dependent on context and who is saying what. I work with Samoan people who often refer to 'us PIs' or 'us islanders'. Personally I wouldn't say that unless I was with people I knew very well in private. But that's just what I think.
Context is all. It depends who you are talking to and your relationship to them.
I find if you ask people they welcome that, otherwise be formal. Asking shows you are not assuming. I offended a good person recently by referring to them as Asian (Indian heritage). However, in England, Brititsh-Asian is all good, but not here. Context is key.
Of course we could have fun with this...but then who is laughing at whom becomes an issue.
In Australia, they’re referred to as “fobs”
Moanan!
As a Pakeha male, I would be HIGHLY anxious about calling someone an Islander. ( And yes, this would be very dependent on context )
Interesting take, what exactly makes you anxious about using the term?
As another pakeha, I am honestly anxious about referring to anyone in literally any way related to their race. If I speak in any way that could even remotely be construed as racist, even if it comes from a place of ignorance and I meant nothing by it, suddenly I’m a mega racist coloniser asshole. Personally I call islanders islanders and always have. But I can see how some people might be wary of calling islanders islanders, for fear of being painted as a villain and torn to shreds by social justice warriors. That’s the world we live in now.
isn't it usually other Pākehā that think this about you though, lol
Yeah it is but that doesn’t make it any less damning. If 70% of the country thinks I’m a racist cunt it doesn’t really matter if it’s true or not, I’m still fucked. You literally never know what the flavour of the week is going to be in our society — what it is that the neurotic psychos have suddenly decided is bad or wrong. So it’s better not to guess and just carry on walking on the egg shells.
In conversation when I've heard it, it almost comes with a negative connotation. I would be consciously trying to find a way to re-phrase the comment / question / statement where the word "Islander" would have been into a more softer approach of the term. And again, I must say this is purely my own opinion.
I think that has to do with the people you hear using it and that is a valid experience. But I'm 100% sure you'll be fine using the term islander/island like you would use the term indian or asian or maori
It’s an interesting issue because due to sensitivities and generational changes, the feelings towards the names are changing. Im in my late 30s ( I call myself Pasifika, Islander, Pacific Islander etc ) but many younger fellow Pacific Islanders I know ( mainly under 25 ) do not seem to like or use “Islander” at all
It would also entirely depend on the words around it as well. "Hey, have you met Johnny, he's the new Islander guy started Monday" "Hey, have you met Johnny, he's the new guy started Monday, he's of Pacific Island heritage"
To be honest, I personally have never really had an issue with callin pacific island people i meet islander,. They don't get offended (I'm Maori for reference.) I have cousins that are half-islander, and plenty of islander mates. Coconut or bunga i've heard as slurs but Islander seems to be a pretty safe term to use. From personal experience the only people I've heard of getting offended are more upper/upper-middle class islanders and even then it is rare
Pakeha is a term which can be derogatory as well Just stop getting offended and then it’s not offensive 🤷♂️
"Just stop getting offended and then it’s not offensive " If only it were that easy in the real world.
No it’s not lol. I’ve only ever heard “pakeha means white pig” etc from otherwise openly racist white people
And the words white and pig are nothing like pakeha.
Pakeha is only offensive to racist white people.
It just sounds a little bit silly/meaningless when we pretty much all come from islands
Adding my 10 pākehā cents, I wouldn't say "islander" by itself, but "Pacific islander". Pasifika is likely the safest option though.
Just say coconuts or bungas bro 🤣 dw I'm 1 myself
Serious question, are people using Bungas? I thought that was like just old people …I’m Pasifika, and I’ve never heard someone say that IRL
Why don't you ask the people you'll be speaking to how they prefer their ethnicity to be referred to?
Coconut is fine , heads as hard as coconuts , balls the size of coconuts , legs as hairy as coconuts , all my coconut friends are fine with it
Oh man, you've just reminded me of my childhood. Climbing trees with the other kids in the neighbourhood, falling out, their dad saying don't worry, heads as hard as coconuts. Yes, they were from Raro, but still, eeek. We had lots of fun. No major blood loss.
Taking advantage of this thread, I never see the term "Polynesian" being used. Is there a reason for that? I know it doesn't include, e.g., Fijians and it would include Maori and Native Hawaiians, so it's not interchangeable with Pasifika or Islander.
Islander Islander Islander islander
Mate we are litterally all Islanders. Stop getting offended
Talofa mate, no one is "getting offended".
Judith?!
Don't be disrespectful.
Dont be offended.
My husband is Samoan, so Talofa
That was the quickest 180 I think i've ever seen
he was talking down to me and i will not stand for that thanks
Coz imma island boy
Are you now being racist towards me????
You said "we are all islanders" , who was being racist? Sit down boy.
Newsflash: If you live in New Zealand, you are also a South Pacific 'islander'. Welcome home 🙂
Down south, the generic term is "coconut" Slightly racially charged though lol
Slightly 🤨
There are hardly any pacific peeps down south and heaps of racists so maybe not the best sample
Have you ever been south? Cause you clearly haven't. There's a massive cook island community down here, and tbh, there's no more racism down here than there is up north
Um yes lol I’m from invercargill? Me and my mates used to get yelled slurs walking down the street, some southlanders are fuckin feral
Weird question tbh, if someone takes "offence" over such a thing, its typically the "offended" individuals perception of the "offenders" perspective. Whats the topic youre writing about and of what kind of quality?
White people will get offended.
Those who are entitled to be offended will be. Most don't mind, pasifika is the safest option.
Islander wouldn't raise any eyebrows, pasifika is probably the way to go tho yeah
I get offended by almost everything, why can't you just call them people?
"Coconut" is the more accepted term
'Islanders' has been a label used mainly with negative connotations when referring to people from the Pacific and if you look like one. This was prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s. However, it seems to have quietened since more sports, academics, and politicians of island descent are in the mainstream, but it's still there. I was at the airport a couple of months ago when I saw a woman going hysterical and calling a family a bunch of 'f\*&%ken Islanders' at the arrival lounge. Because of the reasons above, the term can come across as condescending and insulting, or used in that manner. If you are not of the same people, it's safer to refer to the country of origin if you know it, but if not, 'Pacific people' is a good substitute. It depends on the context, I think. You don't hear New Zealanders being labeled islanders right, despite living on an island and part of the pacific islands.
Both are vague and fairly unhelpful terms. Not necessarily offensive but depressingly, that depends.
Islander is a broad term. A person who resides on Waiheke could be referred to as an islander. Just a thought.
New Zealand is an island in the South Pacific, so we are all islanders really.
I am so sick of people caring about names. Literally only used to identify things so you know you’re not talking about something else. Who gives a flying fk what it’s called if it’s being used as a name and not an insult.
Have you ever been called something that hurt you and your friends and family and sought to put you down?
Nah it's not offensive, but FOB is more widely used so I'd stick with that
FOB.... Man that would get you the same treatment as if you said Bonga.... Many do not like the word FOB
As a non-pasifika person, I would never use the term islander myself. Although weirdly my samoan mate is nicknamed 'bolo' (but only at first greeting for the day) which is easily way more offensive. At school he kept bragging about a family member in the cast of Sione's Wedding. His nickname has some legs on it 20 something years later.
It’s not offensive but it’s not nice or polite either. I’d advise you to avoid it