Photographs and documents relating to Chinese living in the Auckland region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries feature in an online exhibition by the Auckland Regional Office of Archives New Zealand.
The exhibition Auckland Chinese focuses on three people, Ah Kit, Lau Fong, and Wong You. A final album relates to Chinese living in inner city Auckland and includes references to the businessmen Wong Gong and James Ah Kew, as well as Wong Hol of Wakefield Street, and the child Evelyn Wong Tong.
The range of sources available to researchers at Archives New Zealand Auckland Regional Office is highlighted; viewers can look at Customs correspondence, certificates of registration and photographs collected under the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act 1908, a Customs inwards passenger list, an Auckland Hospital Charitable Aid Board application for relief, and a Wellesley Street School class list.
The two albums devoted to Ah Kit include photographic images over a 15 year period, certificates of registration, and correspondence with the Customs Department documenting Ah Kit’s efforts to bring his brother Ah Ling, his wife Ganjup, and his two sons Ah Yim and Ah Keong to New Zealand.
Members of the Auckland Chinese community, and Nigel Murphy, author of the book Guide to laws and policies relating to the Chinese in New Zealand 1871 – 1997, provided valuable feedback during the exhibition’s preparation.
The exhibition can be viewed on http://gallery.archives.govt.nz/v/auckland.