Follow Up to Formal Apology to Chinese Community

Dunedin meeting report

Monday 6 May 2002, 7:00 – 10:00pm
Venue
Otago & Southland Branch NZCA Hall, 279 King Edward Street, Dunedin
Chairperson
Peter Chin
Interpreter
No set interpreter
Facilitators
Peter Chin
Ministerial representative/s and government officials
Hon David Benson Pope MP Dunedin SouthNicola White Policy Advisor DPMCSonja Rathgen Director OEANigel Murphy Researcher and Historian OEAVanessa Traill Consultation Co-ordinator OEACraig Nicholson Community Advisor OEA
Attendance
70-80 peopleNotes
James Ng spoke to the meeting giving his perspective on the apology and its implications
Discussion and questions were taken from the floor
There was debate about details of history, and clarification was given about the poll tax and the bond that was required to be paid on behalf of the war refugees in 1939-1941
The focus was on local initiatives, especially on historic sites relating to the early Chinese gold-miners, rather than on language, history and research
Radio New Zealand was present and taped the proceedings
A number of people had travelled from as far away as Queenstown and Oamaru to attend
The majority of attendees were descendants. One attendee was a poll tax payer.Discussion groupsThe meeting did not form separate discussion groups.Issues raised
The composition of the consultative team, how the members were chosen and whether they were descendants
Adequate representation of Otago/Southland and the heavy representation from Wellington
It was explained that the team was an interim group and had been involved in advising on the process of the consultations and the information that was disseminated. There were a large number of Wellington people on the initial group as many Chinese associations have their national headquarters in Wellington. At the end of the round of consultative meetings another team more regionally representative would be formed to compile a report to government reflecting the outcomes of the meetings and the wishes of the poll tax descendant community
The need for wider and more inclusive consultation with the community was emphasised
The need to strictly limit the consultations to people who are poll tax descendants was forcefully stated.Suggested outcomes
History, recording and preserving Chinese New Zealand history, including displays, exhibitions and publications
Publish or make more accessible public records and archives relating to Chinese New Zealanders
Chinese New Zealand archive-research centre, possibly as part of National Library of New Zealand
Create an historic village based on Lawrence Chinatown
Maintenance and teaching of the Cantonese language via funding for community schools and introduction of the language as an option in school
Physical memorial such as a Chinese garden in Dunedin
Restoration of Chinese heritage sites in Otago, to tie in with tourism in the region
Preservation of Chinese cemeteries and gravestones in Otago-Southland
Immigration - ease entry conditions for descendants still living in China.