Kōrero: Immigration regulation

The first Chinese immigrants to New Zealand were men who arrived from 1866 to work on the Otago goldfields. Their wives and children usually remained behind in China. From the late 19th century some came out to assist in market gardening and retail businesses, but anti-Chinese legislation restricted their numbers. More liberal residence requirements from 1947 allowed wives and children to settle permanently. This Chinese family ran a greengrocer’s shop in the early 20th century.