Original source: New Zealand Herald

Prime Minister Helen Clark last night formally apologised to the Chinese people for being forced to pay a poll tax from 1881 until 1944. She told a parliamentary function to mark the Chinese New Year that the apology marked the beginning of a "formal process of reconciliation with the Chinese community".

She also hinted that the matter could go beyond an apology. "The Government will be entering into discussions with descendants of those who paid the poll tax on an appropriate form of reconciliation." Helen Clark said the Government recognised that "the cost of it and the impact of other discriminatory immigration practices split families apart".

The plan to talk to descendants of poll tax-payers surprised leaders in the Chinese community. New Zealand Chinese Association past chairman Ron Hoy Fong said only an acknowledgement of past wrongs had been expected. "I think this is great; it's the end of a sad part of New Zealand's history." His grandfather paid £100 - then the equivalent of about 10 years' work - to come to New Zealand in 1920. He worked as a market gardener doing back-breaking work scorned by others, and it was 28 years before he was able to afford to bring his wife to New Zealand from China.

But some members of the Chinese community say there has not been enough consultation for the apology to be offered. Peter Kohing, of Wellington, said he was "pleased the Prime Minister wants to set the record straight ... but the story isn't being told properly". There needed to be "full, frank and open consultation" with descendants and Chinese groups.

- NZPA