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Since the arrival of Chinese goldminers in the 1850s, Chinese immigrants and New Zealand Chinese have fast become part of the New Zealand society. However, little has been documented about the Chinese in Auckland.
Auckland City Libraries has the largest family history collection in a public library in New Zealand. Our heritage collections also include many books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and ephemera which chart the changing face of this country and city through its short history. We are in the process of identifying heritage resources relevant to Chinese Aucklanders for present and future generations.
Some of the party of thirty Chinese refugees from the Canton area who have been brought to New Zealand by relatives
Chinese history and family history collection
Currently, the Auckland Research Centre holds books on both Chinese settlement history and Chinese genealogy. These include the famous Windows on a Chinese past by James Ng and Manying Ip's Unfolding history, evolving identity: the Chinese in New Zealand.
You can also search the catalogue for more books on these subjects. Books on Chinese settlement in other Pacific countries can also be found there.
As some of these are held in the Auckland Research Centre, a 'card access only' area, you will need to either be a member of Auckland City Libraries (see membership for more details) or purchase a day access card to gain entry.
New Zealand Chinese history materials from the Digital Library
Our Digital Library offers many useful database for Chinese genealogy, such as:
Some biographical and historical events about Chinese New Zealanders can also be found on our Index Auckland database.
Chinese historical materials from Special Collections
Special Collection's Manuscript collection contains a diary by Elizabeth Shirtliff who travelled to Southeast Asia and China in the early 1900s. They also hold some photographs of Chinese market gardeners in early Auckland and some unidentified portraits of Chinese women by photographer Clifton Firth.
Chinese immigration records from Archives New Zealand
Archives New Zealand hold some Chinese New Zealanders' limited citizenship records as well as their migration records.
Want more information? Check out our family history research service page to see how we can help you. |
