So you are going to marry a N.Z. farmer?

Abstract

This investigation, of how self-concept labels influence the adaptation of overseasborn partners of New Zealand-born farmers into rural New Zealand, was designed to look at why some partners successful make the transition to rural New Zealand and farming, while others struggle. The hypothesis is that if immigrant partners can change the self-concept labels they use to identify themselves then they will be more able to successfully adapt to rural life. However the results are not conclusive enough to prove or disprove this. The investigation was conducted using a focus group of seven participants who were all born overseas and have immigrated to rural New Zealand to marry/cohabit with New Zealand born farmers. The results focus on the shifts in self-concept labels amongst the group. They also explore labels that remain the same both before and after adaptation for a number of the participants. There is also discussion on two predominant self-concept labels that were identified, "family orientated" and "strongly connected to heritage".