"The New Zealand Mail" "Haining Street - The Chinese Quarters of the City of Wellington"
Fully booked

Chinese footprints: A walking tour of Chinese Wellington history

Photographic copy of a part of the New Zealand Mail, 1904, including a photograph of Haining Street, Wellington. Ref: 1/2-C-012470-F. Alexander Turnbull Library.

Chinese footprints, led by Lynette Shum (Oral History Advisor, National Library of New Zealand) & historian Nigel Murphy, will take attendees on a walking tour exploring the rich history of the Chinese in Wellington, much of which has been erased and now largely invisible to passers-by. The tour will draw on images, ephemera and oral history from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library.

Celebrate the Wellington Heritage Festival with Chinese footprints, led by Lynette Shum (Oral History Advisor, National Library of New Zealand) and historian Nigel Murphy.

This 2 to 2½ hour event starts at the Wellington Trades' Hall Building with a scene-setting introduction, then takes attendees on a tour exploring highlights sites of significance for Wellington's early Chinese community including businesses, eateries and Haining Street's 'Chinatown'. Much of this has been erased and now largely invisible to passers-by. The tour will also draw on images, ephemera and oral history from the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, and personal family history.

We conclude where we started, with an activity over a pot of Chinese tea and snacks.

Bookings essential, limited numbers. Please note this is an in-person event. If you have any questions regarding this event or would like to be added to the waitlist if the event is sold out, please email atloutreach@dia.govt.nz.

If we need to postpone or cancel the event, we will let you know no later than 9am on the morning of the walk.

Tickets are non-refundable but please do let us know if you can't make it so we can make places available to those on the waitlist.

Health & Safety

Care will be needed as we cross several busy roads. Please make sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothes for the weather. Bring a water bottle if you wish.

Location
Start from Wellington Trades Hall, 124-128 Vivian Street, Te Aro , Wellington

Regions

Wellington CBD
Wellington

Tags

Walking Tour
Talk

Event times

Fully booked

2-4:30pm Thu 5 Nov

Booking required

Cost: $10

Fully booked

2-4:30pm Sat 7 Nov

Booking required

Cost: $10

Event hosts

National Library – Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa

National Library collects, connects, and co-creates knowledge to power New Zealand. Focusing on taonga, knowledge, and reading, we are caretakers of collections such as music, paintings, prints, manuscripts, newspapers, oral histories, and comics. Alexander Turnbull Library is part of the National Library with collections including oral histories, photographs, music, digital materials, rare books, and fine printing. We are here to help you access and use the collective knowledge of the nation. It is home to the Alexander Turnbull Library, a leading research library which holds the world's foremost Katherine Mansfield collection.

Lynette Shum

Lynette Shum, third generation Poon Yue Chinese New Zealander, is Oral History Advisor for the National Library of New Zealand, whose first home was a laundry on the fringes of Chinatown. She has completed an MA on the topic.   

Email: ATLOutreach@dia.govt.nz

Phone: 0272623281

Nigel Murphy

Nigel Murphy has been researching Chinese New Zealand history for 40 years. His interests include Chinese New Zealanders’ politics, organisations and associations, social and cultural lives, home villages, and transnational connections with other Chinese overseas communities.