Author Description

Being Maori-Chinese uses extensive interviews with seven different families to explore historical and contemporary relations between Maori and Chinese, a subject which has never been given serious study before. A full chapter is given to each family which is explored in depth often in the voices of the protagonists themselves. This detailed and personal approach shows how in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Maori and Chinese, both relegated to the fringes of society, often had warm and congenial bonds, with intermarriage and large Maori-Chinese families. However in recent times the relationship between these two rapidly growing groups has shown tension as Maori have gained confidence in their identity and as increased Asian immigration has become a political issue. Being Maori-Chinese provides a unique and fascinating insight into cross-cultural alliances between Asian and indigenous peoples, revealing a resilience which has endured persecution, ridicule and neglect and offering a picture of New Zealand society which challenges the usual Pakeha-dominated perspective. Today's Maori-Chinese, especially younger members, are increasingly reaffirming their multiple roots and, with a growing confidence in the cultural advantages they possess, are playing important roles in New Zealand society.