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Migration of ancient Pacific Islanders
Pacific Islanders, also known as Pasifika, are the indigenous inhabitants of the South Pacific islands. They are usually split into three ethnic/racial groups: Melanesians, Micronesians, and Polynesians, each with their own unique cultures and languages. The native peoples of the Philippines are also considered Pacific Islanders. Their native languages originate from the Austronesian language family. People of different ethnic backgrounds (Europeans, Asians, Africans, etc.) who live in Pacific nations are generally not considered Pacific Islanders.
Pacific Islanders are commonly found living in New Zealand, making up 9% of the country's 4.886 million residents. Many immigrated from their homelands to find work opportunities in New Zealand.