The Factors that Influence Adoption of ICTs by Recent Refugee Immigrants to New Zealand

Research indicates that to effectively participate in today’s global digital information age, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) familiarity is essential for individuals and communities. There is concern, especially amongst developed nations that advances in, and the rapid growth of, ICTs has the possibility of creating a new form of inequality among individuals. The New Zealand government recognises the potential for some sections of society to be alienated from the new digital environment and has made a commitment to creating an inclusive society where all individuals have the opportunity to access and effectively use ICTs. This paper presents results from a qualitative study with the goal of identifying the factors that influence ICTs’ adoption by recently arrived immigrants from developing countries, the majority of whom are refugees, and who had settled in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city.