Part Two

The Desire for Unity: the NZCFS and China

by Germaine Han*

A message in 1974 reads: ‘Chairman Mao says people must start with the desire for unity, and controversial issues among people should be settled by the democratic method—which is discussion, criticism (including self-criticism), painstaking reasoning, and the correction of mistakes.’ These words were directed to the members of the NZCFS (formerly NZCS) autumn tour of 1974. Written by Auckland branch executive member Joan Donley, the message was intended for the twenty-five society members headed for China.

As Donley prepared to lead the tour, she continued to quote Mao’s words. ‘Unite, and don’t split,’ she wrote, ‘be open and above board, and don’t intrigue and conspire.’ She closed her message with the following declaration: ‘I’m sure if we all make a conscious effort to carry out Chairman Mao’s advice we shall have a relaxed and happy tour with a minimum of antagonisms, and a trip we shall all remember with pleasure for many, many years to come.’

This idea of unity may have been directed toward the participants of the tour, but it could also have been applied to the NZCFS’s wider interactions with China. The society was keen to engage with China by organizing tours and maintaining good relations between New Zealand and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This article will reveal how the 1970s-80s called back the overarching ideas of unity and disunity in several ways within the ranks of the NZCFS.

First, in order to minimize the spread of misinformation about China, members of the NZCFS frequently organized tours to China. Up until 1989, the Auckland branch was largely responsible for organizing these tours. No matter where the tour participant was based, the starting and ending point for each tour was in Auckland. Although the tours first begun as study tours, they were often under a specific theme such as teachers’ or workers’ tours. They would later move to more general interest tours, such as following the Old Silk Road or the lives of Rewi Alley and Kathleen Hall. Between 1971 to 1989, over 1200 tourists went on a NZCFS-organized tour. The revenue gained from these tours would fund around 80% of the society’s other activities. This was especially because the NZCFS had near-exclusive travel agency rights to China at the time—allowing it to earn over $200,000 by March 1977.

In the early 1970s, many tours were only for society members. In Donley’s recommendations for the 1974 tour, she noted the importance of a minimum membership record for those undertaking a tour. She emphasized that attending society meetings would increase the applicants’ awareness of China and socialism. In this way, tour participants would ‘have a better idea of why they are going and what they can expect to gain from the trip’. Tour members were also given a booklet with helpful information—including a reading list so they could educate themselves on basic knowledge regarding China. The books on the list were all able to be found at Progressive Books.

It wasn’t until the late 1970s that the tour party members were less involved with the NZCFS. Rather, tour party members tended to be more middle-class and less involved with left-wing organizations. As a significant number of tour participants would end up joining the NZCFS, this would change the society’s general and political interests in the following years.

Air New Zealand advertisement of NZCFS tours in 1977. (Cecil Fowler Papers, MSS & Archives Accession 1531, Box R038163766. Special Collections, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.)

Tours to China advertised in the October 1, 1985 paper of the New Zealand Herald. (Wilfred (Bill) McAra papers, MSS & Archives-94/4, Series 2, File 21, Special Collections, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.)

Group photo from a NZCFS tour to China. Date unknown, likely around 1975 or later. Taken and/or processed by Selwyn Rogers Photography. (Cecil Fowler Papers, MSS & Archives Accession 1531, Box R038163766. Special Collections, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.)

When they weren’t occupied with organizing tours or regular society meetings, the NZCFS would keep track of events in the PRC and celebrate accordingly. A key date of celebration was China’s National Day, which the Auckland branch regularly celebrated at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Notably, in December 1978, the event was joined by Li Mao-lai, the First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Wellington. Along with speeches from executive members, the society worked with the Chinese Cultural Society to put together a film showing. This showing included newsreels and footage of National Day celebrations in Peking. Thus, while celebrating at the museum, the society was also able to participate vicariously through the activities that happened in Peking. Celebrating National Day was a way to honour the link between New Zealand and the PRC. It also functioned as a picture of unity between the two nations.

In the same way that they celebrated with the PRC, the NZCFS would also mourn unforeseen events in China. When Mao Zedong died in 1976, each branch of the society grieved. In Auckland, a memorial meeting was held to commemorate Mao. The NZCFS’s national president at the time, Ron Howell, gave a speech that was later abridged and reprinted in the New Zealand-China News. Produced by the society as a newspaper, the New Zealand-China News was created to provide news about China and update society members of branch activities. Howell’s words were thus able to be preserved for those unable to attend the meeting.

Ron Howell, his wife, Nita, and two Chinese friends at the Tatung cave temples. From the March 1977 paper of the New Zealand-China News. (Wilfred (Bill) McAra papers, MSS & Archives-94/4, Series 2, File 21, Special Collections, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.)

In Howell’s speech, he noted that it was likely only one person at the memorial meeting, Vic Wilcox, had personally spoken to Mao. Despite that, Howell’s strong belief in Mao’s ideals were clearly conveyed in his words. ‘In a very real sense, Chairman Mao is not dead,’ Howell spoke. ‘He lives today and will, perhaps, live forever in the lives of millions inspired by his greatness, humility, words, thoughts, actions and values. Through him, countless millions have seen a great light.’

Molly Elliott, an executive member of the Auckland Branch and the editor for the New Zealand-China News, had more to say about Mao. She described the chairman as ‘a soloist hovering above his contemporaries like a star above gently ruffled water, a man so outstanding that placing him within a familiar context is like trying to fit in Moses into the Salvation Army’. These romanticized images and analogies liken Mao to more of an idea than a person, but it is clear that he was highly respected by the society and treated as such. Although Chairman Mao’s death happened oceans away, the NZCFS was still struck deeply enough to grieve him.

Photograph of Molly Elliott. Unknown date and photographer. (Cecil Fowler Papers, MSS & Archives Accession 1531, Box R038163763. Special Collections, Te Tumu Herenga | Libraries and Learning Services, University of Auckland.)

Nevertheless, the society’s actions did not stop at reacting to circumstances in China. When there were moments of interaction between China and New Zealand, the NZCFS took active steps to pursue friendship and amity between the two nations. The tours to China were only one example of the society’s efforts to befriend the PRC.

Another instance of extending friendship was when Chinese sports teams entered New Zealand. When the Chinese football team was due to arrive at the Auckland airport on 17 July, 1975, the society welcomed them with open arms. With the combined efforts of the Chinese Cultural Society, the NZCFS held a reception for the football team two days after their arrival. The reception was held at the Functions Room—which was, once again, at the Student Union Building on the University of Auckland campus. The Chinese team would play against New Zealand at Newmarket Park on the very next day.

Yet the society’s deep admiration for the PRC stood in stark contrast to their disapproval of Taiwan, particularly when it was referred to as the Republic of China (ROC). This was largely based on the divide between Taiwan, where the ROC was based, and the Chinese mainland, where the PRC was based. Since the ROC did not only claim authority over Taiwan but also the Chinese mainland, it stood in direct conflict with the PRC. And since the PRC claimed jurisdiction over Taiwan, the NZCFS naturally supported them.

In the March 1977 edition of the New Zealand-China News, National Secretary Jack Ewen wrote an article in response to Taiwanese sports teams arriving in New Zealand. While they were in the country, the sports teams intended to participate in soccer and surf lifesaving. Like the Chinese football team from two years before, the Taiwanese team would be playing against New Zealand at Newmarket Park.

‘Our society continues to oppose entry of Taiwan teams especially under the title, “Republic of China”,’ Ewen wrote, referencing the conflict between the ROC and the PRC. ‘We view this as an undermining of New Zealand’s good relations with the People’s Republic of China… It is not enough for the Government to agree that Taiwan is a province of China when an occupying regime, the remnants of the Kuomintang, is given tacit recognition through sports and other activities.’ By referring to the ROC as ‘an occupying regime’, it was indisputable where the NZCFS stood in regards to China and Taiwan. Ewen continued to compare the New Zealand government with other countries that had recognized the PRC. ‘As in Australia [and] Canada… no Taiwan sports teams parading under that title particularly as the Republic of China should be permitted entry.’

The society’s stance on Taiwan was explained in another article, also by Ewen. Entitled ‘One China—People’s China’, it was written to address what was described as the ‘Taiwan question’. This was an article that covered Ewen’s thoughts on the one-China policy, essentially the position that Taiwan legally belonged to China. In short, the society’s protests against Taiwan (as the ROC) were motivated by both politics and friendship with the PRC. Ewen wrote of the ‘danger of a de facto “double recognition” of “two Chinas”’, referring to the separate PRC and ROC governments. He feared ‘the consequent possible loss to New Zealand of lately achieved sporting, cultural and trade links’ with the PRC.

To support the society’s previous protests against the arrival of the Taiwanese softball team, Ewen argued, ‘Our friendship with and support for the Chinese people compelled us to do no less.’ The NZCFS had taken a firm stance on the political divide between the PRC and Taiwan, and they considered it their duty to influence New Zealand’s government affairs regarding Taiwan. While the society held ‘small, but effective demonstrations’ in Auckland, on a national level, it also sought discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Members viewed their efforts to support the PRC as another way to strengthen the unity between China and New Zealand.

As the years went by, the NZCFS continued to keep up with news from the PRC. It was not until 1989 when the status quo was forced to shift dramatically. In May 1989, the events of Tianenmen Square viscerally shook the entire society when the Chinese People’s Liberation Army opened fire on student protestors in Beijing. Now known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown on the students resulted in innumerable deaths and injuries. All of a sudden, the society’s ideas of what the PRC was supposed to be were fractured.

During the society’s biennial national conference in Auckland, deep regret was expressed at reports of the deaths and casualties. A press release was quickly put together and signed off by the national president of the time, Bill Willmott. An excerpt from the press release reads as follows. ‘The Society hopes that, even at this late stage, the violence can be stopped immediately, that further bloodshed be avoided and that no repressive measures be taken against the students and people involved.’ If unity with the PRC meant supporting the violent actions of its government, the NZCFS did not desire to be part of it.

Tiananmen Square Memorial on Alten Road. Author’s own photo.

In responding to the events of Tiananmen Square, the society would find itself pulling away from the PRC. Ideas of solidarity with China faded, and the goal to ‘tell the truth about China’ would lie buried under the dust that Tiananmen left. Although the NZCFS’ love for China and its culture would not diminish entirely, it would stop being a voice for the PRC. Instead, it would redirect its attention toward the New Zealand community. Their actions following 1990 will be explored in the next and final article.