You can search the Poll Tax Records here .
The Government’s formal apology on 12 February 2002 those who were required to pay a Poll Tax before entering New Zealand and to their descendents and families is some recognition of the injustice inflicted on early Chinese.
- Helen Clark (Prime Minister) makes an apology on behalf of the NZ Government for the Poll Tax.
- Nigel Murphy (Alexander Turnbull (NZ National) Library) summarises his research into Poll Tax.
- Dr Manying Ip (Associate Professor, Auckland University) backgrounds the Prime Ministerial apology by Helen Clark.
- Pansy Wong (National Party MP) offers a politician’s perspective.
- For a theoretical background to the efficacy of apologies on the route to national reconciliation for injustices, we reprint extracts from Elazar Barkan's THE GUILT OF NATIONS: RESTITUTION AND NEGOTIATING HISTORICAL INJUSTICES, selected by Nigel Murphy.
- Allen Chang, President of the Tung Jung Association (and also representing other organisations) responds to the apology.
- Esther Fung, President of the Wellington Chinese Association responds to the apology.
- Pepe Choong, expresses her feelings as a new migrant hearing about the apology.
- Paul Wah, former secondary Principal and old China hand, writing in the Dominion recommends people take the injustice lightly.
- Henry Chan compares and contrasts the NZ Government's apology with the Australian situation, and counsels against seeking monetary compensation.
- Kenda Gee of the Canadian Head Tax Committee argues that compensation is the only way to go.
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