Chinese New Zealander

Chinese New Zealanders

Top left to bottom right: Peter Chin, Meng Foon, Bic Runga, Pansy Wong.
Total population
147,570 3.4% of the population of New Zealand[1]
Regions with significant populations
Auckland, Wellington
Languages
New Zealand English, Chinese languages, others
Religion
Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, others
Related ethnic groups
Chinese Australian, Chinese diaspora

A Chinese New Zealander (simplified Chinese: 华裔新西兰人; traditional Chinese: 華裔紐西蘭人) is a New Zealander of Chinese heritage. They are part of the ethnic Chinese diaspora (or Overseas Chinese). Chinese New Zealanders are the fifth largest ethnic group in New Zealand.

The first records of ethnic Chinese in New Zealand were the immigrants from Guangdong province, China, who arrived during the 1860s goldrush era. Due to this historical influx, there is still a distinct Chinese community in the Southern city of Dunedin, whose current^[update] mayor Peter Chin is of Chinese descent. However, most Chinese New Zealanders live in the North Island, and are of more recent migrant heritage. Chinese New Zealanders may broadly be defined into two categories; the earlier generation, and recent or temporary migrants that have arrived since the 1980s.

At the last census in 2006, Chinese New Zealanders accounted for 3.7% of the total population, the largest Asian ethnic group in New Zealand (approx 42% of all Asian New Zealanders). As at the 2001 Census, 75% of Chinese in New Zealand were born overseas. In 2002, the New Zealand Government publicly apologised to the Chinese for the poll tax that had been levied on their ancestors a century ago.^[2]

History

Further information: Chinese immigration to New Zealand

Early Immigrants

The first immigration to New Zealand took place on the strength of two invitations from New Zealand's Otago goldmining region to potential goldminers of Guangdong province in 1865. These original goldmining communities suffered discrimination due to racist ideology, the economic competition they represented to the Europeans, and because of the implied 'disloyalty' within their transient, sojourner outlook. ^[3] While many believe there was a 'White New Zealand' policy similar to Australia's, New Zealand never had such a policy openly sanctioned and was open to Pacific Island immigration from its early history. ^[4] However in the 1880s, openly sinophobic political ideology resulted in the New Zealand head tax, also known as the 'Poll Tax', aimed specifically at Chinese migrants. Despite official barriers the Chinese still managed to develop their communities in this period, and numbers were bolstered when some wives and children from Guangdong Province were allowed in as refugees just before World War II. Chain migration from Guangdong continued until the new Communist Chinese regime stopped emigration. This original group of Cantonese migrants and their descendants are referred to in New Zealand as 'Old Generation' Chinese, and are now a minority within the overall Chinese population.

After the Second World War

Ethnic Chinese communities from countries other than China began establishing themselves in New Zealand between the 1960s and 1980s. These included ethnic Chinese refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos following the conflicts and upheavals in those countries; Commonwealth (i.e. English educated) professional migrants from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia; and Samoan Chinese as part of the substantial Pacific labour migrations of the 1970s.

Between 1987–96, a fundamental change in New Zealand’s immigration policy led to a substantial influx of ethnic Chinese business, investor, and professional migrants, particularly from Hong Kong and Taiwan. This period saw a spike in overall migration from the Asian region, including other Chinese people from East Asia and Southeast Asia. New Zealand's immigration system increasingly experienced the impact of global events, such as the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the fall of Suharto.

Recent issues

The nationalist New Zealand First Party fought the 1996 general election on an anti-immigration and very thinly veiled 'anti-Asian' platform,^[5] winning the balance of power and altering immigration policy towards skills-based immigration. From the late 1990s to the 2000s, skilled migrants from Mainland China became the new significant demographic group of Chinese immigrants.

International students

Mainland Chinese in New Zealand also include a substantial population of international students completing tertiary qualifications. These students, viewed by some as temporary residents, are often socially isolated from both mainstream and Chinese New Zealander society. There have been media reports of these groups facing victimisation from within their own communities ^[6] as well as from the population as a whole, and as being involved in Asian crime syndicates.

However, despite much speculation, the political and administrative status of Chinese international students as non-residents has hampered the undertaking of verifiable research about their health, societal well-being or their actual level of involvement in crime.

Demography

Composition

As of the most recent census, the majority of the overseas-born Chinese were under 25 years of age, and 12% had lived in New Zealand for less than one year. The median age of the Chinese ethnic group in New Zealand is younger than the national average.

Employment

According to the 2001 Census, New Zealand-born Chinese had a higher median income (NZ$20,200) than other New Zealanders (NZ$18,500), but overseas-born Chinese New Zealanders had a median income less than half of the national median (NZ$7,900).

According to the 2006 Social Report (New Zealand Ministry of Social Development), based on the 2005 Household Labour Force Survey, the 'Asian and other' category displayed the second-highest level of unemployment after New Zealand's indigenous people (the Māori) and the highest level of underemployment. Possibly reflecting the asset-rich status of migrants as well as their barriers to employment, the 'Asian and other' category was simultaneously one of the most income-poor ethnic categories in the country while also being the ethnic category with the highest access to the internet. (Note: At this time, the 'Other' ethnic groups (Middle Eastern, African and Latin American) comprised less than 1% of the population, and the 'Asian' groups approximately 9%.)

Notable persons

Politics

• Peter Chin, Mayor of Dunedin, 'Old Generation' Cantonese New Zealander. Dunedin born Chinese, married to Noleen for 46 years, with four children and eight grandchildren. Forty three years a practicing lawyer in Dunedin underpins 15 years of Council experience. He has been a Dunedin City Councillor since 1995 and was elected Mayor of Dunedin in 2004. Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2003 in acknowledgment of his services to local body and community affairs. A member of the NZ Chinese Poll Tax Advisory Team, chairperson of the Dunedin Chinese Gardens Trust,involved in the performing arts. Has performed for Dunedin Opera Company and Dunedin Operatic Society, and comperes concerts; featured in the film "Illustrious Energy", TV documentary series "Hanlon" and the TV series "Gold".Was defeated as Mayor on October 9 2010.
• Meng Foon, Mayor of Gisborne , 'Old Generation' Cantonese New Zealander
• Raymond Huo, Member of Parliament since 2008, 1st generation mainland Chinese.
• Pansy Wong, New Zealand's first ethnic Chinese MP, first Asian MP, and first Asian Cabinet Minister, 1970s Generation Hong Kong migrant New Zealander of Shanghai heritage.

Arts and sports

• Bic Runga, singer/songwriter, of Māori (indigenous New Zealander) and Chinese Malaysian parentage.
• Chang, presenter with The Edge radio station. ^[7]
• Li Ming Hu, known for her role as Li Mei Chen in New Zealand's popular TV show, Shortland Street, second-generation New Zealander of Singaporean and Taiwanese parentage.
• Raybon Kan, comedian, second-generation New Zealander of Mainland Chinese parentage.
• Li Chunli, gold medal-winning table tennis champion, 1980s generation migrant New Zealander and Mainland Chinese. ^[8]
• Caleigh Cheung, actress and fashion writer, known for her roles on Shortland Street and Ride with the Devil, New Zealand born Cantonese with Hong Kong and Old Generation parentage. ^[9]
• Wing (singer) singer, emigrated from Hong Kong.
• Robyn Wong, NZ champion mountain biker, represented NZ at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games ^[10]
• Denise Kum, born in Auckland – She graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland in 1992
• Eddie Wong Sensei, 7th Dan, respected Yoshinkan Aikido instructors in Oceania (New Zealand and Australia). Over 40 years experience in aikido, more than 25 years in Tai Chi Chuan and Chinese Kung Fu. First introduced to Yoshinkai Aikido in 1965, when he joined David and Hisae Lynch's dojo, after having spent 3 years studying Judo, Jiujutsu and Karate. In 1979 he had a dojo in Manukau Road,Epsom, with his wife Mary, teaching Yoshinkai Aikido; later relocated their dojo to Mt. Albert, Auckland. Edward Wong, Auckland – Queens Service Medal 2010, for services to martial arts

Journalists and writers

• Mai Chen, prominent constitutional lawyer, Chair of the short-lived Pan Asian Congress of 2002, 1970s generation and 1.5 generation Taiwanese migrant New Zealander
• Derek Cheng, reporter for the New Zealand Herald, second generation New Zealander of Hong Kong Chinese parentage.
• Manying Ip, Professor at the University of Auckland School of Asian Studies, community spokesperson during the 'Asian Invasion' 1990s, and author and editor of numerous seminal texts on Chinese people in New Zealand. 1970s 1st Generation Hong Kong migrant New Zealander. ^[11]
• Errol Kiong, reporter for Radio New Zealand and the New Zealand Herald, first generation migrant New Zealander and Malaysian Chinese.
• Tze Ming Mok, cultural commentator, blogger and literary writer; second generation New Zealander of Chinese Singaporean and Malaysian parentage. . Editor of the May 2006 issue of Landfall, a New Zealand literary journal.^[12]
• Lincoln Tan, senior reporter for the New Zealand Herald, founder of iBall newspaper (iBall has been renamed as ASIAN TODAY after Lincoln's departure); first generation migrant New Zealander and Peranakan Singaporean.
• Alison Wong, poet, Old generation Cantonese. (1960 – ) is a poet and fiction writer. Born in Hastings, New Zealand, great grandparents on both sides migrated from China's Guangdong; Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Victoria University. As the Earth Turns to Silver – published 2010, shortlisted for Australian PM awards; Robert Burns Fellow at the University of Otago,poetry collection Cup
• Gilbert Wong, New Zealand's most senior Chinese journalist, for many years New Zealand's only prominent Chinese journalist, Old Generation Cantonese.
• Steven Young, member of the Old Generation Chinese community associations, specifically the Wellington Chinese Association. Web-archiver of numerous resources on the Old Generation communities.
• Jack Yan, graphic designer and publisher of fashion magazine Lucire, 1.5 generation Hong Kong migrant New Zealander.
• Jane Yee, columnist on Stuff.co.nz and C4TV presenter, Chinese and Pākehā New Zealand parentage.
• Simon Wong, journalist, Marlborough Express, AUT Graduate 2009.
• Gordon Wong, commercial lawyer, first Chinese to become a Partner in a major law firm in New Zealand
• Dr Renee Liang, 2010 Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award Recipient, consultant paediatrician , poet, short story writer and playwright, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Master of Creative Writing from the University of Auckland, graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Drama Studies.Second generation Chinese New Zealander, paediatrician. Wries poetry,plays, short stories; MC at Poetry Live Auckland, member Guerrilla Poets.
• Kim Webby Independent Media Production Professional
• Jason Moon – Born in Wellington, Victoria University graduate with double degrees in Marketing and Education; third generation Chinese New Zealander -Presents Asian Report on Radio NZ.
• Sonia Yee – Spoken Features Producer at Radio New Zealand National, Educated Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and University of Canterbury, Spectrum at Radio NZ; The Golden Tide – five part documentary series-

See also

• Demographics of New Zealand
• Head tax (New Zealand)

References

1. ^ QuickStats About Culture and Identity – Asian, 2006 Census, Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 2007-07-13.^{[dead link]}
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
3. ^ http://www.handsonhistory.co.nz/pre-chinese.htm^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Immigration regulation – Controlling Pacific Island immigration – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
5. ^ ABC Radio National – Background Briefing: 7 July  1996  – Whose Country Is It Anyway?
6. ^ [2]
7. ^ Display – Music – The Edge
8. ^ New Zealand Olympic Committee
9. ^ http://www.actors.co.nz/people/viewAnybody.aspx?AnybodyID=61447
10. ^ [3] Robyn Wong profile at Penny Farthing Cycles website
11. ^ Manying Ip | Faculty of Arts Staff | The University of Auckland
12. ^ Public Address | Yellow Peril

External links

• Entry on Chinese New Zealanders in Te Ara, the Online Dictionary of New Zealand