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Kōrero: Citizenship

An arch welcoming royal visitors

Image
An arch welcoming royal visitors

When the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York visited Dunedin on their New Zealand tour in 1901, they were welcomed by various arches, including this one erected by the Chinese community. The confident slogan ‘Welcome from Chinese citizens’ suggested, however, an equality that did not exist. Chinese were subjected to intense racial prejudice, being forced to pay a poll tax in order to enter New Zealand, and a fee to become naturalised.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: N-P 940-42

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

David Green, Citizenship – 1840–1948: British subjects, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/3714/an-arch-welcoming-royal-visitors (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā David Green, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009.