"Jade Taniwha" book on Maori-Chinese in NZ

"Jade Taniwha" book on Maori-Chinese in New Zealand to be launched today

14 June 2007
AUCKLAND, New Zealand

New book launched today uncovers the story of Maori-Chinese identity in New Zealand

Jade Taniwha: Maori-Chinese Identity and Schooling in Aotearoa by Jenny Bol Jun Lee reveals for the first time the lives of New Zealand's unique Maori-Chinese community. Over two hundred people are expected to attend the launch today at the Waipapa Marae at 5:30 pm.

Jenny Lee's Jade Taniwha takes an unprecedented look at the history and identity of New Zealand's Maori-Chinese, beginning with the earliest experiences of Maori and Chinese at the margins of this country's colonial history. Lee shows that despite the racism and exclusion directed towards Maori-Chinese, the community has drawn strength from its different traditions.

At the heart of Jade Taniwha are the accounts of four Maori-Chinese, recollecting their experiences of identity at school in New Zealand. At once scholarly and highly readable, the book shows how members of this unique hybrid community struggled to define themselves on their own terms, often in the face of discrimination and prejudice.

Says Lee: "It is a story that is relevant today. Fear of Asian immigration has had a long history in New Zealand, and anti-Asian prejudice continues to have an impact on the lives of those who share both Maori and Chinese heritage. At the same time, negative stereotypes about Maori mean that members of the Maori-Chinese community face prejudice on all sides."

Jade Taniwha is a compelling and often deeply personal book that provides a fascinating glimpse into a part of New Zealand's history that has remained hidden until now. A warm and sympathetic work, Jade Taniwha shows that Chinese and Maori have many values in common, and these shared values have provided the foundation for a unique new community in New Zealand.

ENDS

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