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Post by christine on Jan 25, 2012 23:09:19 GMT -5
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Post by helen on Jan 26, 2012 4:30:38 GMT -5
Thanks for posting - I wish we had the population in Auckland to do this.
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Post by chansomvia on Jan 26, 2012 15:46:27 GMT -5
An excellent posting, the "little" sister from America did a very professional job, explaining how she was involved in the root program in a calm clear manner. Very inspiring and glad to know that the young still have the interest to trace their roots.
New Zealand has the Annual Youth Camp organised by the Chinese Association to take a group of youngsters to China to see their roots, as well as to have a holiday. This should be encouraged and supported as it can be financially difficult for those still in schools to pay for this trip.
The other important work done in New Zealand is the compiling the history of clans. Helen, I met Mrs Delia Ma over the Chinese New Year whose maiden surname is Lau, from Oamaru originally, she has your first book of the Changseng people. The photo of her uncle, who is a General, is on page 25. She is looking for the second book. She was absolutely delighted at seeing the old pictures.
The collecting and publishing of these historical events is to be commended, as a lot of work is done by a band of dedicated people who volunteer so much of their time.
Joe
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Post by helen on Jan 27, 2012 1:29:44 GMT -5
Hi Joe -
The NZCA winter camp is great - but they don't do the whole research thing as the Americans do.
What was the name of the book Mrs Ma has? It may not be the same as the one I have - published by the Tung Jung Association on their 80th anniversary in Wellington.
Has she seen the Shanty town one - Golden prospects by Julia Bradshaw?
My own book on the Chinese in taranaki has sold well recently - more Libraries are buying it.
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Post by chansomvia on Jan 27, 2012 23:25:13 GMT -5
hi Helen,
Delia Ma is an hour's drive away but I remember the author was Henry Chan. Does this click your memory? Will ring her up to confirm.
Joe
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Post by helen on Jan 28, 2012 4:01:51 GMT -5
Hi Joe The book you are refering to is Zengcheng New Zealanders. There hasn't been a follow up one as Henry passed away about a couple of years ago. I looked at page 25 and there was no general. - maybe she has another book. Will be interesting to find out.
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Post by christine on Feb 1, 2012 12:53:55 GMT -5
I guess I still call her little even though she is taller than me, I should say "younger" instead. Thank you for the kind words, I will share them with her.
I am very interested in learning more about the Nz program, I think its important for Chinese descendants everywhere to have a way to get help going back "home" at some point.
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Post by helen on Feb 2, 2012 3:57:35 GMT -5
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Post by christine on Feb 2, 2012 18:38:00 GMT -5
Thank you Helen for sharing that. It sounds like that trip is more of a "China in a nutshell" whirlwind than what I am familiar with from Roots. We also visited the school but thank god it was only for a day, I personally did not look forward to basketball and classes when I would much rather be listening to the voices and historic recollections of the villagers in all my group members' ancestral homes. If it was up to me I would visit villages all day long.
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Post by helen on Feb 3, 2012 0:08:53 GMT -5
Hi Christine - If I wasn't working I'd love to spend a good 6 months living there. Maybe sometime in the future -
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Post by chansomvia on Feb 10, 2012 5:49:34 GMT -5
Hi Helen,
We are a bit off topic as we are talking of New Zealand Chinese; but the book is indeed Zengcheng New Zealanders:. Page 25 has the photo of General Lowe Laishen, I am very impressed with the work done to produce such detailed history of the Chinese settlers from this part of South China.
There are other retired Chinese professionals such as James Ng who has written of Chinese Settlement in New Zealand Past and present. I found the Zengcheng and James Ng book in our suburban Library in Christchurch, his major 4 volume book on the Cantonese in New Zealand is unfortunately unavailable here as our main City Reference Library where the volumes are kept was damaged during the earthquake. Too dangerous to enter and remove these items yet with on-going after shocks.
I have had detailed maps from Henry of our Haiyen village and my cousin in London will meet me to go to the village this summer. She left sixty years ago and it will be an interesting visit to say the least. Thank you Henry for sending me the maps so quickly.
Joe
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