Fiji Islanders have emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the
United States of America since Fiji became independent in 1970. Emigration
has continued since then with peaks during times of political crises, such as
national elections. It has experienced troughs during periods of political
stability and economic growth. The trends in Fiji suggest that deficits in
huamn development, especially in relation to human security, underlie the
emigration of Fiji citizens, particularly the Fiji Indians. The gender dimensions
of emigration and its implications for human development are explored
in this article.