List of New Zealanders of Chinese descent

This is a list of New Zealand people, some or all of whose ancestors originated in China.

Politics

edit
  • Peter Chin, lawyer, Mayor of Dunedin; 'Old Generation' Cantonese New Zealander
  • Meng Foon, Mayor of Gisborne; 'Old Generation' Cantonese New Zealander
  • Raymond Huo, Member of Parliament 2008–2014 and 2017–2020; first-generation mainland Chinese
  • Pansy Wong, New Zealand's first ethnic Chinese MP 1996–2011; first Asian MP and first Asian Cabinet Minister; 1970s generation Hong Kong migrant New Zealander of Shanghai heritage
  • Kenneth Wang, former ACT party MP 2004–2005; came to New Zealand in 1986; graduated from Auckland University with a master's degree in fine Arts in 1988; founder of advertising and media agency Brandwork
  • Jian Yang, New Zealand MP
  • Carlos Cheung, Member of Parliament 2023–Present
  • Nancy Lu, Member of Parliament 2023–Present
  • Lawrence Xu-Nan, New Zealand politician

Arts

edit
  • Geeling Ng, model and actress, born in 1960 in New Zealand; known for Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985), Illustrious Energy (1988) and Desperate Remedies (1993)[1]
  • Raven Tao, model, television host, actress and former radio DJ based in Hong Kong[2]
  • Bic Runga, singer/songwriter, of Māori (indigenous New Zealander) and Chinese Malaysian parentage
  • Boh Runga, New Zealand recording artist; lead singer and guitarist in New Zealand rock band Stellar; older sister of Bic Runga and Pearl Runga, who are also musicians
  • Li Ming Hu, known for her role as Li Mei Chen on New Zealand's popular TV show Shortland Street; second-generation New Zealander of Singaporean and Taiwanese parentage
  • Raybon Kan, comedian, second-generation New Zealander of Mainland Chinese parentage
  • Wing, singer, emigrated from Hong Kong
  • Ant Sang, comic book artist and graphic designer, best known for his work on the Bro'Town television series and the graphic novel Shaolin Burning
  • Roseanne Liang, filmmaker; writer and director of the feature film My Wedding and Other Secrets and the short film Banana in a Nutshell
  • Yoson An (born 1992), actor, born in Macau
  • Michelle Ang (born 1983), New Zealand film and television actress; regular cast member on the Australian show Neighbours, won "Best Actress in A Feature Film" at New Zealand Film and Television Awards 2011 for My Wedding and Other Secrets
  • Brent Wong (born 1945), painter, born in New Zealand[3]
  • Jess Hong, actress

Sports

edit
  • Li Chunli, gold medal-winning table tennis champion, 1980s generation migrant New Zealander and Mainland Chinese[4]
  • Tyla Nathan-Wong, New Zealand Women's Sevens (2012–14); Maori Women's Sevens (2012); Auckland Women's Sevens (2012–13); NZ Women's Touch team (2010–present); NZ U19 Women's Touch Team (2011)[5]
  • Pat Lam (born 1968), New Zealand-born rugby union coach of Samoan and Chinese/Hong Kong descent.
  • Ben Lam (born 1991), nephew of Pat. Competed internationally for the New Zealand Men's Sevens (2012-2016). Currently plays wing for the Hurricanes of Super Rugby. Grew up in Kowloon Hong Kong.
  • Nigel Ah Wong also known as Nigel Lam Ah Wong, center/wing for Counties Manukau and Top League Kobelco Steelers. Ah Wong is a cousin of Ben and nephew of Pat.

Journalists and writers

edit
  • Chiu Kwok-chun (1884–1957), journalist, political reformer, newspaper editor, baptist missionary and community leader.
  • Tze Ming Mok (莫志明), cultural commentator, blogger and literary writer; second generation New Zealander of Chinese Singaporean and Malaysian parentage[6]
  • Alison Wong (born 1960), 'Old Generation' Cantonese; poet and fiction writer; born in Hastings, New Zealand;[7]
  • Chris Tse, writer and poet. Author of How to be Dead in a Year of Snakes and He's So MASC.[8][9]
  • Jack Yan (甄爵恩), graphic designer and publisher of fashion magazine Lucire; 1.5 generation Hong Kong migrant New Zealander; pioneer in font software; new-media fashion publishing[10]

Business people

edit
  • Tom Ah Chee co-founder of the Foodtown supermarket chain and Georgie Pie fast food restaurant chain
  • Chew Chong (born between 1827 and 1844), merchant[11]
  • Appo Hocton (黃鶴庭)(c.1823–26 September 1920), Chinese-born New Zealand servant, landlord, carter and farmer[12]
  • Charles Sew Hoy (徐肇開 )(1836–1901), merchant, gold prospector, and Chinese leader
  • Mai Chen, prominent constitutional lawyer; chair of the short-lived Pan Asian Congress of 2002; 1970s generation and 1.5 generation Taiwanese migrant New Zealander
  • Ron Sang (方勵涵 )architect, art collector, art exhibitor and publisher of New Zealand art books

References

edit
  1. ^ "Geeling Ching". IMDb.
  2. ^ "Raven Tao". "Raven Tao isn't your average model, actress, TV host and radio personality—she also has 'real estate agent' and 'law student' on her résumé." HK Magazine [dead link]
  3. ^ "Home". brentwong-painter.com.
  4. ^ "New Zealand Olympic Committee".
  5. ^ "Tyla Nathan-Wong | allblacks.com". Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  6. ^ Mok, Tze Ming (5 December 2007). "Yellow Peril • Public Address". publicaddress.net.
  7. ^ Alison Wong joins Shanghai International Program Booksellers [dead link]
  8. ^ Auckland University Press
  9. ^ "| New Zealand Book Council". www.bookcouncil.org.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Home". jackyan.com.
  11. ^ "Chew Chong".
  12. ^ "Appo Hocton – Jumped ship to become first Chinese Immigrant to New Zealand". www.theprow.org.nz.