Jan. 9 -- More than 100 young people of Chinese descent in New Zealand will travel to the North Island in February to participate in the Waitangi Day commemoration and pay homage to their Chinese ancestors buried in Hokianga, according to New Zealand's "Xiangyin" website.
More than 100 young New Zealanders of Chinese descent will travel to Waitangi in February to pay respects to their Chinese ancestors buried in Hokianga. **Screenshot of RNZ in New Zealand**.
The tour will visit the site of the shipwreck of the SS Ventnor, located near the port of Hokiona.
The Vendno sailed from Wellington in October 1902 to transport the remains of 499 Chinese miners back to China to be reunited with their families, most of them gold prospectors working in Otago and Greymouth. That month, the Vintno sank at Hokianga Heads on its way to Auckland after being damaged by a reef in the Taranaki Sea. Most of the crew were rescued ashore, but 13 people, including the captain, drowned.
In 2012, documentary film crews first discovered the wreckage of the Venteno. In 2020, the remains of some miners were found 118 years after the shipwreck, and the local Maori tribe buried them with their own people.
Nathan Blundell, who will be on the trip, believes it will be a great opportunity to explore the shared values of Chinese and Māori. He hopes that during his travels, shared values such as respect for elders, heritage, genealogy, environmental protection, and hospitality can be explored and celebrated. (ENDS).