Wellington Chinese History Wiki
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Joe Kum Yung memorial, Haining Street.

New Zealand Chinese communities have a long history in Wellington, New Zealand, with the earliest Chinese settling in Wellington around the 1860s[1] when John Ah Tong set up a carpentry business in Willis Street[1][2]. Chinese didn't arrive in significant numbers until the 1880s[3], some 40 years after Wong Ah Poo Hoc Ting (aka Appo Hocton) jumped ship in Nelson to become the first Chinese migrant to New Zealand[4][5][6], and only a few years after the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce invited Chinese miners to Otago[7]

Early Chinese activity in Wellington historically centred around Haining Street and Frederick Street, and Sage's Lane, which was unofficially known as Wellington's Chinatown, or 'Tong Yan Gaai' (Chinese People's Street).

This wiki maps locations of significance to this community, and some of the history, organisations, businesses and people associated with them.

Although this wiki focuses on the greater Wellington area, there will be some content from further afield, which has a connection with the history of Chinese in Wellington, or may just be snippets of information that are of interest.

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Timespanner. (2018, December 11). Timespanner: Early Chinese in Wellington. Retrieved 10 December 2018, from https://timespanner.blogspot.com/2018/12/early-chinese-in-wellington.html
  2. Early Chinese Settlers in New Zealand. (2020, January 31). BEACON. http://www.bhb.nz/63/post/2020/01/early-chinese-settlers-in-new-zealand.html
  3. Wellington City Council. (2013). Thematic Heritage Study of Wellington. Retrieved 8 November 2017, from https://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/services/community-and-culture/heritage/files/thematic-heritage-study.pdf?la=en
  4. The Prow, & Stade, K. (2008). Appo Hocton – Jumped ship to become first Chinese Immigrant to New Zealand. Retrieved August 31, 2017, from http://www.theprow.org.nz/people/appo-hocton/#.Waht38ig-Uk
  5. HO, D. K. T. (2016). Appo HOCTON. Retrieved November 29, 2017, from https://www.objectaffection.com/appohocton/
  6. Appo Hocton panel unveiling. (2020, August 19). Our Nelson. https://our.nelson.govt.nz/stories/appo-hocton-panel-unveiling/
  7. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga, & Spoonley, P. (2017, August 1). Welcoming Chinese miners, 1865 [Web page]. Retrieved 25 September 2017, from https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/28172/welcoming-chinese-miners-1865

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Map[]

Scroll and zoom on the map to explore locations in Wellington of significance to the Wellington Chinese community.


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*1887 IMMORALITY IN THE CHINESE QUARTER, New Zealand Times - - 1970/01/01 00:00

Mr Seddon asked whether inquiries will be made as to the truth of the rumour that large numbers of young girls are frequenting for immoral purposes the Chinese quarters in Wellington and other cities...

* Joe Lee Brothers Fruit and Grocery shop - - 1970/01/01 00:00

Joe Lee Brothers were Fruit and Grocery shops, listed on page 1249 of the International Chinese business directory of the world (1913) as being located at 195 Revans Street, Newtown, and 12 Courtenay...

* Tom Hung was a Laundry, 143 Willis Street and 108 Lambton Quay - - 1970/01/01 00:00

Tom Hung was a Laundry, listed on page 1250 of the International Chinese business directory of the world (1913) as being located at 143 Willis Street and 108 Lambton Quay, Wellington (Another laundry,...

Fortune exhibition - - 1970/01/01 00:00

Te Waka Huia Wellington Museum presents Fortune, a knitted feast for the eyes.   At the heart of Fortune is a knitted yum cha banquet, created by Auckland-based artist Bev Moon during lockdown in 2021...

EoM - Buy me a coffee 5/5 - - 1970/01/01 00:00

We need your support! Join us in celebrating and safeguarding the vibrant history of Wellington's Chinese community. Your donation on our Buy Me a Coffee page makes a real difference...

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