Story: Latin Americans Page 1 Immigration history

First arrivals

Before the 1970s very few Latin Americans (people from Central and South America) came to New Zealand. Yet stereotypes were evident from

early on. One account of a mid-19th century South Island sheep run tells of a very hot-blooded Mexican worker who sometimes had to be restrained, in case he got his knife into someone literally instead of figuratively. 1 Early Latin Americans probably reached New Zealand on ships that called

at South American ports when sailing around Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. They also arrived as part of the mid-19th centurys floating population of gold seekers.

In 1874 there were fewer than about 80 Brazilians, Chileans, Mexicans and Peruvians living in New Zealand. The total number of Latin

Americans did not rise above 200 until after the First World War. Until 1945, about half were from Argentina and most of the rest were Chileans

or Brazilians. Some of those born in Argentina were British; in those years Argentina had close ties to Britain and farming links with New Zealand.

New Zealand and Argentinean teams played rugby against each other.

After the Second World War

The number of Latin Americans in New Zealand rose slowly after the

Second World War, to about 400 in 1971. In the 1960s New Zealand began selling dairy products to Chile, Peru and Mexico, and diplomatic

posts were opened in Lima and Santiago in 1972. However, these new contacts did not lead to greater migration to New Zealand.

An influx of Chileans

Chilean refugees were the first South Americans to arrive in significant

numbers. They came after the military coup of 1973, in which President Allendes democratic government was replaced by General Pinochets dictatorship. By 1981, Chileans outnumbered Argentineans in New

Zealand. The Chilean community was augmented again in the 1980s by

new refugees and those admitted under the family reunification scheme.

But numbers diminished as many moved on to Australia, where the community was 30 times larger. Some Chileans regarded New Zealand as a place of exile, not a new home, 2 and Chiles first summer of democracy in 1989 prompted some to contemplate returning. Nevertheless, in 2001 Chileans were still New Zealands major Latin American group.

A Chilean family adapts to life in New Zealand

Cristina Guerrero and her family came to New Zealand as refugees in 1977. In a personal interview (2003), she described

how life became a remarkable blend of two distinct cultures:

We kept our Spanish pretty strong until we got outnumbered by our kids, who preferred to speak English. Now

more often it is Spanglish! Gradually we learned to cook the New Zealand way and now just please ourselves from

pastel de choclo one day, to fish and chips the next ... So with the language and with our food, it is a mixture of both

cultures now. Que rico!

Recent arrivals

In the 2000s there was a significant flow of Brazilians to New Zealand,

and by 2006 their numbers had outstripped Chileans. In 2013 Brazilians made up about one-quarter of a 13,000-strong Latin American

community. This included Chileans, Argentinians and over 1,100 Colombians.

The flow of refugees had almost ceased by 2001. Latin Americans

continued to arrive, some as partners of New Zealanders, others seeking economic opportunities rather than freedom from political repression.

Recent numbers remain low, however; between 1997 and 2002, fewer than 200 became residents. The community is strongest in Auckland.

The 2013 census gave the following figures for Latin American-born

people resident in New Zealand: 3,588 Brazilians; 2,409 Chileans; 1,701 Argentinians; 1,155 Colombians; 741 Mexicans; 447 Uruguayans; 150

Venezuelans; and 153 Bolivians.

Story: Latin Americans Page 2 Identity in New Zealand

Political activism

The most visible expression of Latin American identity in New Zealand was the political activism of refugees in the 1970s and 1980s. Chileans in

particular dominated the groups who were concerned about political prisoners in their home country. Their activities led to further refugees

arriving from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia and Peru. Later, the Auckland Latin American Committee built on the experiences of Chileans

to provide support for refugees from other regions.

Cultural groups

Many Latin Americans found New Zealand dull and its people reserved.

One Mexican thought Wellington was a ghost town. 1Others believed there was no real dancing in New Zealand. Their response was to socialise

with other Latin Americans and to stage cultural events.

Latin American dances such as the samba and rumba were taught in New Zealand before there was a large ethnic community. These dances became

more popular as the community grew, and today, tango, salsa and ceroc are widely enjoyed. Musical groups which brightened New Zealands cultural life included Kantuta in Auckland and Pachamama in Christchurch. Carnivals brought colour and energy to Wellingtons streets.

Language and sport.

There is a growing interest in Spanish language classes. By 2002, 4,823

high-school students were learning Spanish; up from 256 in 1991. Access

Radio (community-run stations) grew out of a SpanishEnglish programme in the early 1980s. Later, such radio shows became the main means of communication among Latin Americans in Auckland,

Wellington and Christchurch. Even in these cities, there were not enough people in any one Latin American group to establish national clubs,

though general Spanish language and Latin American groups flourished.

Soccer brought some Latin Americans together and fostered connections with other New Zealanders.

Brazilian identity

In the early 21st century some Brazilians, who speak Portuguese, took

steps to form an association of Brazilian residents. The Brazilian Culture Education Centre opened in Auckland to teach Portuguese to both

children and adults and to promote Brazilian music, folklore and literature.

Staying Chilean

Most Latin American refugees have become New Zealand citizens. But in 1983, five years after arriving as a refugee, one

Chilean observed:

I doubt there will be a day when Ill wake up and say I am a Kiwi. It doesnt work like that. I am different from the

Kiwi. [My national identity] is something I will never lose and dont want to lose.

This persistent sense of difference has underpinned the contribution of Latin Americans to New Zealand life.

Diplomatic and trading ties

The emergence of a Latin American community was matched by the

development of closer diplomatic and trading ties between New Zealand and Latin America, especially Chile. A working holiday agreement

between New Zealand and Chile fostered people-to-people contacts.

Story: Latin Americans Page 3 Facts and figures

Country of birth

The New Zealand census figures listed here show the number of residents

born in countries of Latin America.

Argentina

1921 census: 49

1951 census: 103

1976 census: 181

2001 census: 384

2006 census: 909

2013 census: 1,701

Brazil

1921 census: 24

1951 census: 35

2001 census: 654

2006 census: 1,761

2013 census: 3,588

Chile

1921 census: 39

1951 census: 49

1976 census: 273

2001 census: 756

2006 census: 1,377

2013 census: 2,409

Colombia

2001 census: 216

2006 census: 390

2013 census: 1,155

Mexico

1921 census: 10

1951 census: 12

2001 census: 246

2006 census: 384

2013 census: 741

Peru

1921 census: 15

1951 census: 19

2001 census: 408

2006 census: 498

2013 census: 594

Other Latin American countries

2001 census: 1,065

2006 census: 1,644

2013 census: 1,704

Ethnic identity

In the 2013 census, people were asked to indicate the ethnic group or groups with which they identified. The numbers include those who

indicated more than one group.

Latin American: 5,622

Brazilian: 2,868

Chilean: 1,686

Story: Latin Americans Page 4 External links and sources

More links and websites

Embassy of Brazil in Wellington

Information about Brazil and its relations with New Zealand.

Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland

Scroll down the facultys list of research units and click on the New Zealand Centre for Latin American

Studies.

Hispanic club Latin, Spanish and Brazilian culture

The homepage of the University of Aucklands Hispanic club.

Homepage of the Latin American New Zealand Business Council

This site includes information on the council and latest news on Latin AmericanNew Zealand business

ventures.

Kantuta Latin music with a Pacific flavour

Website of New Zealands leading Latin American dance band, with information on the countrys dance

scene.