Our People Our Century - Being Kiwi

This episode of the six-part Our People, Our Century series explores the mix of cultures that Aotearoa-New Zealand has become. In these excerpts, a Chinese Kiwi family speaks of the racism they experienced, from the poll tax of the 1890s to their relative isolation — despite living in downtown Wellington. Artist Trevor Moffitt describes his father's “heavy silent disapproval” at his artwork; Moffitt went on receive acclaim for paintings that explore themes of New Zealand identity. Finally, mixed marriages between Māori and Pākehā shed some light on biculturalism.

If you were Chinese and you came in, then you had to pay the £10 poll tax ... but a year later they changed that to £100, to really discourage Chinese immigration, and Chinese were the only people who had to pay that tax.

– Kirsten, a descendant of Chinese immigrants, discusses the challenges they faced

Key Cast & Crew

Chris Wilks

Director

David Harry Baldock

Producer

Ray Waru

Producer

Libby Hakaraia

Research

David Filer

Associate Producer

Norman Elder

Production Manager