Author(s): William Tai Yuen

History

China received the first piecs of information about New Zealand and Australia from Ferdinand Verbiest, a Flemish Jesuit, through his world map of Kunyu Quantu of 1674, the first map in the world showing the insularity of New Zealand. From the early 19th century China came to know more about New Zealand through published texts, including Chinese writing by western missionaries and other sources. A collection of English translations of the Chinese texts about New Zealand is included in an Appendix. Chinese migrants' experiences in New Zealand provided another dimension to China's knowledge and perception of New Zealand. Chinese and New Zealand sources used to trace the long negotiations between the Chinese Government and the British Government for Chinese consular representation in Australasia, leading to the establishment of the Chinese consulates in New Zealand and Australia in 1909. New Zealand-China trade, especially the substantial imports of Chinese tea in the 19th century, contributed to China's awareness of New Zealand. A positive evaluation of the role of New Zealand missionaries in China and their contribution to China's modernity and awareness of New Zealand in a long time frame.