Chinese ANZACs

The Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae, together with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Mr Wang Lutong, the Minister of Ethnic Communities Hon Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, the Chief of Army Major General Peter Kelly, the National Senior Vice President of the Royal New Zealand Returned Services Association Mr Bob Hill, and other distinguished guests will attend the official launch of a book about Australian and New Zealand ANZACS of Chinese descent during World War One at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on 8 March 2016 at 6.00pm.

Mr Meng Foon, National President of the New Zealand Chinese Association (NZCA) said “This event commemorates and honours the contributions that Chinese New Zealanders have made to New Zealand. It is also an opportunity to let our fellow Kiwis know about the role that ethnic Chinese have played in helping forge our country’s history.”

“This book marks a new phase in the NZCA’s support of research and publication of histories of various Chinese communities, as opposed to simply just the histories of individuals and families.”

“We want to support research into the development of the New Zealand Chinese identity as a unique strand within the multicultural fabric of New Zealand, within a bicultural setting.”

The NZCA is delighted to announce the publication of its latest book – Alastair Kennedy’s Chinese ANZACs: Australians of Chinese Descent in the Defence Forces 1885-1919 - Second Edition revised to include New Zealand-born Chinese of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1914-1919.

Chinese ANZACs highlights the commitment of early Australian and New Zealand Chinese in serving their respective countries and the British Empire. It comprises essays on military history, individual biographies, and is supplemented with many illustrations, photos, and artwork.

This beautiful hard cover edition includes a special chapter 55 New Zealand-born Chinese who enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 1914-1919. The stories of 30 or so of these soldiers are featured in the book, with details compiled with assistance from the Auckland War Memorial Museum and Dunedin-based historian Dr James Ng.

This publication has been made possible with the support of the New Zealand Consul-General in Guangzhou, Rebecca Needham, and part-funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s War Commemoration budget.

Alastair Kennedy’s book will appeal to those interested in New Zealand Chinese history, the First World War, New Zealand military history, as well as the families of those mentioned in his research.

An official national launch of this book will take place at the Dominion Museum, Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington on March 8 2016 as part of First World War centenary commemorations. This will be followed by local book launches organized by NZCA’s fourteen branches across New Zealand.

Please direct any enquiries about the national book launch to Mr Meng Foon, NZCA National President 0274 484084.

For any sales enquiries about this publication, please contact Dr James To, NZCA National Secretary jamesto@es.co.nz.

ENDS

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