2024 In Review: A Challenging Year For New Zealand’s Chinese Community

Monday, 30 December 2024, 3:05 pm
Article: RNZ

New Zealand's growing Chinese population experienced a challenging year in 2024 that was somewhat overshadowed by high-profile criminal cases involving members of the community as well as concerns about public safety.

However, there were a few bright spots in the year as well as the community expanded its business reach.

Here's a quick look back at the year that was ...

Crime in the spotlight

Media attention this year focused on three high-profile criminal cases involving members of the Chinese community.

In July, police discovered the remains of missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao in a shallow grave on a farm in Greenpark.

The discovery gave her family a chance to find closure after Bao had been missing for more than a year, with a funeral service held for the 44-year-old mother in November.

After a seven-week trial that ended in early December, Chinese national Tingjun Cao, 53, was found guilty of Bao's murder.

Cao's sentencing has been set for 7 March 2025.

In March, a woman's body was found wrapped in plastic bags by the Gulf Harbour ferry terminal north of Auckland.

After a seven-month investigation, police identified the mystery woman as 70-year-old Shulai Wang from China.

Three people have since been charged with kidnapping and manslaughter in relation to Wang's death. The police investigation remains ongoing.

Twenty-six-year-old Lok Fung Lorrence Li and 42-year-old Shu Man Poon were early in the year named as the suspects charged with the murder of a Chinese couple living in Ellerslie.

Joseph Kwok and his wife, Mei Han Chong, were killed at their home in November 2023.

The trial for the accused is set to commence in April 2025.

Public safety concerns

Public safety was also in the spotlight after several high-profile incidents that occurred on public transport in Auckland.

A vicious attack on a Chinese teenager on a bus in June initially sparked concern about law and order.

Less than a month later, a woman boarded an Auckland bus, started counting Asian passengers and began using racist slurs.

Amid growing tensions, bus drivers in the country's largest city have been calling for increased protection and de-escalation training.

In one [alarming https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/527370/auckland-bus-driver-badly-shaken-after-being-attacked-by-passenger case], an Indian bus driver was punched in the face in Auckland, resulting in stitches and a broken tooth.

Figures from Auckland Transport show a troubling increase in assaults against bus drivers.

In response to calls for greater safety measures, Auckland Transport announced that protection screens will be installed on all buses by 2026.

Representation milestone

The Chinese community celebrated a historic moment in March with the official swearing-in of Lawrence Xu-Nan, the first lawmaker of Chinese descent to represent the Green Party in New Zealand's Parliament.

Xu-Nan's entry into the Beehive is a significant milestone, as it is the first time three lawmakers of Chinese heritage will simultaneously serve in the country's Parliament.

The other two lawmakers of Chinese origin are Nancy Lu and Carlos Cheung of the National Party.

Political discourse

Bilateral ties between New Zealand and China remained a key focus in 2024.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited New Zealand in June, becoming the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit the country in seven years.

More than 150 protestors and supporters lined the street amid tense scenes outside the hotel the premier was staying in.

AUKUS and concerns about foreign interference dominated discussions between the two nations during the visit.

In November, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong warned of political consequences if New Zealand were to join pillar two of the AUKUS military pact.

Wang also addressed political interference allegations during an exclusive 30-minute interview with investigative journalist Guyon Espiner.

In September, the Chinese Embassy complained that several members of the Chinese community had been subjected to harassment following the release of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's annual threat assessment.

In response, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service confirmed that it does engage with individuals linked to certain front organizations to dissuade them from activities that are not in line with national security interests.

Cost of living crunch

The cost-of-living crisis pushed many businesses close to the brink throughout 2024.

Chinese restaurant owners in Auckland's CBD reported that turning a profit was worse than it had been during Covid.

To attract customers, some Chinese restaurants embarked on a fierce price war with their competitors, introducing set meals for as little as $9.90.

The restaurant owners admitted that offering meals at such low prices made turning a profit nearly impossible, but they had little choice in a highly competitive market.

High-profile supermarket openings

The roster of supermarkets serving New Zealand's Asian communities expanded with the addition of several new players in 2024.

The opening of colossal Asian supermarket Foodie in West Auckland marked a significant milestone for the Chinese community.

The managing director of Foodie said the store's size ranked it alongside New Zealand's mainstream supermarkets.

Other noteworthy openings over the past year included a new Chinatown Market store in Christchurch and a new Tai Ping outlet in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson.

Landmark property development stalls

Work on the Seascape apartments, developed by Chinese company Shundi Customs and constructed by China Construction NZ, shuddered to a halt in August, leaving what was meant to be New Zealand's tallest residential building as an unfinished shell.

Sources suggested that a dispute between the developer and the builder caused the project to be halted.

The Building Disputes Tribunal ruled in favour of China Construction in August, but Shundi Customs refused to pay.

Shundi Customs has said work would restart and be completed in early 2026.

Ethnic business opportunities

The contribution of ethnic minorities to New Zealand's economy was a focal point at the inaugural Ethnic Business Summit in October.

Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee said migrant groups contributed approximately $64 billion to New Zealand's economy in 2021, emphasising their potential to make a substantial impact.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis echoed these sentiments, stating that ethnic communities also played a crucial role in establishing and strengthening international trade relationships.

Other highlights

Several other stories were noteworthy in their own way throughout the year.

In November, China extended its visa-free policy for New Zealand passport holders from 15 days to 30 in a move that was welcomed by the tourism industry and other businesses.

In June, dozens of Chinese New Zealanders gathered in Auckland to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing.

Chinese youth called on people to learn about the history of the 1989 pro-democracy protests and honour the memories of those who lost their lives.

Many Chinese New Zealanders reconnected with their cultural heritage this year.

More than a dozen refugees who fled China as children during Japan's invasion in the 1930s and '40s gathered to mark the 85th anniversary of their journey to New Zealand.

Some Chinese New Zealanders explored their heritage by embarking on journeys to learn Chinese.

In wider recognition of New Zealand's history, some also engaged with te reo Māori, seeking a deeper understanding of the country's rich culture.

Meanwhile, the Year of the Dragon has also provided Chinese New Zealanders with vibrant opportunities to showcase and celebrate their cultural traditions through festivals and community events.

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