The Chinese first came to NZ in the 1860s in search of gold at the invitation of the Otago Provincial council to help the flagging local economy. Thousands of them left everything behind – their families, their homes and their culture – to seek their fortunes in the harsh conditions of Central Otago.

Tchun Fong Hotel, Canton, Longwoods 1880’s For most of them conditions were brutal and the gold scarce. Many of them died thousands of miles away form home, their graves still scattering the Central landscape. Still most hadn’t earned enough to go home or move on so they stayed. Stereotypically they became market gardeners, laundrymen and shop keepers. Tchun Fong Hotel, Canton, Longwoods 1880’s

Because of the riches associated with the Gold Rush Dunedin was, in the late 1800s,the commercial centre of New Zealand. Many Chinese became key players in the city’s economy – none other than this man Choie Sew Hoy. He was a giant in the business community and his legacy still lives on. Choie Sew Hoy

The Sew Hoy Emporium. This is now classified as a heritage building on Stafford Street in Dunedin. It is one of the few reminders that the people of Dunedin now have of that Chinese link to the city’s early history. In 1998 Dunedin commemorated 150 years of European settlement and the resident Chinese community sought a suitable way of marking the Chinese role in the city’s history. They decided to build an Authentic Chinese Garden to stand alongside the city’s built European heritage.

It started as the Early Chinese Settlers gold mining activities had, by digging a hole in the ground. But this was not a search for gold. On land that had been reclaimed from the harbour the first foundations of the gardens were uncovered. It was the Chinese Garden Trust that the garden would remember the past the Chinese had shared with the Maori and Europeans in the development of Dunedin and make a new contribution to the on behalf of the Chinese to the present and future economy of Dunedin. It was to be a place of inner city calm. The most important reason was to remember the contribution that the Chinese people made to Otago’s history.

Work begun in January 2007. The work involved a lot of people including business people, volunteers and tradesmen form both Shanghai and Dunedin. The local government of Shanghai, Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Construction and Decoration company agreed to help only. They said “Trust us, we will help, but the garden must be authentic.”

So in Dunedin the contractors worked on the foundations, 10000 km away in Shanghai local craftsmen began hand-crafting every part of the gardens built structure. The wooden structures were all designed to lock into place with no nails, screws, or glue. These were exactly correct when it was assembled in Dunedin to within 1 mm.

Isn’t that amazing!

This is rock sourced from a traditional source in Lake Tai This is rock sourced from a traditional source in Lake Tai. 120 containers including 40 containers of this specially mined Chinese rock was shipped to Dunedin.

40 or so Chinese artisans came to Dunedin to put it all together 40 or so Chinese artisans came to Dunedin to put it all together. They were great to watch. They used hand saws, chisels – no drills or staple guns and they carried the big and heavy things by ropes and yokes. It was an unusual site in Dunedin.

They worked up to 40 days without a break They worked up to 40 days without a break. The Dunedin Chinese Garden trust had to make them take breaks to see around Dunedin.

The Dunedin Public enjoyed a free preview with over 3000 queuing before the official opening.

In September 2008 the Dunedin Chinese Garden was opened by many important people. This was celebrated with a Lion Dance and fire works at the ornamental entrance arch.

The release of goldfish into the Garden lake was regarded by the Chinese as and a harbinger of good fortune.

“The Dunedin, celebrating the present and providing enlightenment on our shared path to the future”. Chinese Garden is a gift to the City for all New Zealand honouring the past Photo: J Sinclair -ONTRACK

Thank you to Malcolm Wong and Peter Sew Hoy from The Dunedin Chinese Garden Trust for allowing us to use this informative PowerPoint and narrative.