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Insight for Sunday 29 March 2009

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Mike Stauers says powerful cultural pressure to support relations who are poor is hard to resist.

The Pacific Island community is expected to be one of the hardest hit by the recession.

Traditionally many have found jobs in low-paid sectors and it is in factories and small businesses where the financial crisis is taking a toll.

Also affected are a small and growing number of middle class Pacific Islanders.

What will this mean for the flow of funds from Pacific Islanders to their families back home?

Are there signs that the recession is starting to change attitudes towards donations to the Church?

Pacific Issues Correspondent, Richard Pamatatau talks to some of those affected by the down-turn and explores whether it will have an impact on some long-standing traditions.

Picture: Mike Stauers says powerful cultural pressure to support relations who are poor is hard to resist.