Tung Jung Centenary Book Project
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Tung Jung Association we are collecting photographs that tell the shared stories of our community, from its earliest beginnings to recent decades.
The centenary photo collection aims to capture the everyday lives and experiences and significant milestones of the Jung Seng and Tung Goon people who have settled throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
The project will combine photos and essays to tell the stories of our communities in a special centenary book, to be released in October 2026.
Who is on the Book committee? Our editorial committee will be in charge of the selection process. These comprise, Tiana Marshall Wong (author, Gwa Leng and Bak Shek), Lucinda Chiu (project manager, Shek Ha), and advisers Rita Chung (Hok Hoi and Peng Di), Liz Ngan (Sun Gai and Sha Tou), Gilbert Wong (Sha Tou), Helene Wong (Sun Gai and Sha Tou) and Kirsten Wong (Bak Shek and Sai Jow).
Tiana Marshall Wong (黃小芳, Gwa Leng 瓜嶺, Bak Shek 白石, Teochew 潮州, Pākehā) is a poll tax and refugee descendant. She is completing an MA in Archaeology and a Graduate Diploma in Art History while working as a community activator at a charitable trust, University of Auckland research assistant, and archaeological assistant.
Lucinda Chiu (趙姐蘭), Sek Har 石下) is a project coordinator and the Treasurer of the Tung Jung. Her father is the current President of the Tung Jung and her father's cousins were on the committee of the Auckland Tung Jung Association. Her great-grandfather, Lowe Gum-Leong, a fruiterer in Auckland, was the New Zealand Kuomintang representative and a leader of the Auckland branch of the NZCA. Her other NZ based great-grandfather was Chiu Kwok-Chun, a Wellington Chinese community leader. Both were signatories to the incorporation of the NZCA. Chiu Kwok-Chun was also the Baptist missioner for the Chinese Mission Hall at Frederick Street, Te Aro for many years.
Gilbert Wong (黃橙英), has held senior roles as a journalist in New Zealand media and as a communications manager and director for the Human Rights Commission and the Auckland DHB. His father's village is Sha Tau 沙頭, and his parents arrived in New Zealand as children when New Zealand accepted refugees from the Sino-Japanese war of the 1930s.
Liz Ngan (顏 美 杏, Yuan Ha 園下, Sa Tau 沙頭, Sun Gai 新街) is a librarian and archivist with a background in IT, banking, oral history and NZ Chinese history. She worked on David Fung’s NZCA history, Turning Stone into Jade (2014) and served on the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust. She is a great-granddaughter of Chin Moon Ting (陳滿田 James Chin Ting), founding President of the 1911 Chung Wah Wui Gun national association, and founding President of the 1926 Tung Jung Association.
Rita Chi-Ying Chung (鍾賜英), Ph.D. (Hok Hoi 學海村, Pengdi 平地村) is a Professor Emerita at George Mason University, U.S.A., and an Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka/Victoria University of Wellington. Her research is focused on Chinese diaspora, specifically adjustment, adaptation, and identity challenges. Her father was the Vice President and Treasurer of Tung Jung, and her grandfather was one of the co-founders of the Tung Jung Association.
Kirsten Wong (黃銀芳) (白石 Bak Shek, 西州 Sai Jowl, and 新塘 Sun Tong) is a former member of the Tung Jung Committee. Based in Wellington she works on New Zealand Chinese Association's heritage projects and has a background in policy and communications. Her grandfather Chun Yee Hop 陳宜合 was a signatory to the founding of the Chung Wah Wui Goon in 1910, and an executive member, a member of the Tung Jung Executive in 1930, and the third President of the Chee Kung Tong of NZ also in the 1930s.
Helene Wong ( 黄喜莲) (Sa Tau 沙頭, Sun Gai 新街) has worked in the public service in social policy, and in theatre, film and television in a wide range of capacities. Her interest in Chinese New Zealand history led her to direct the documentary on Chinese immigrants, “Footprints of the Dragon”, and the writing of her memoir “Being Chinese: a New Zealander’s Story” (2016). Her maternal grandfather, Chan Moon Ting (陳滿田 James Chin Ting) was the founding President of the Tung Jung Association in 1926.
How is this being funded? Initial funding has been provided by the Tung Jung Association. The project team is also applying to the NZ Poll Tax Heritage Trust and Lotteries NZ for support with publication and design.
How do I submit photos? We are receiving contributions via Google Forms. Please use this link: https://forms.gle/a16U4UC7FRpLRUqL6 You will need to have a Google Account to fill out the form. If you need help filling it out, and your family is unable to help, please contact centenarybook@tungjung.nz.
When do I need to submit photographs? The form is open for submissions until 30 August 2025. Please help us spread the word by forwarding this notice to your Jung Seng and Tung Goon contacts.
What kind of photos do you want? We are looking for a range of photographs that are visually striking, symbolic, and create questions for the viewer. Images that tell the story of the wider community at work and play, candid shots, workplaces and homes, and formal moments. We want photos from our earliest times right up to the present day. We are especially looking for photos across the following themes:
- Work - Trades, businesses, professions
- Family & Domestic Life – Home, family life and domestic activities
- Recreation – Social gatherings, hobbies, leisure and fun
- Places – cities, towns and rural areas across New Zealand, and buildings and other places that were important to our community
- Community – Celebrations, special events, festivals, volunteering, Tung Jung and other community groups
- War & Service – Military participation (eg WWI and WWII, Sino-Japanese War) and wartime activities (eg 1937 Sino-Japanese War fundraising, lobbying and resistance)
- Migration – life in China, migration, people left behind and visits back
What about copyright and permission? Please be assured that we will respect your privacy and any copyright and permissions considerations. The form will guide you through all of the necessary copyright and permissions steps.
What happens to photos that are not selected for the project? Unfortunately, we won’t be able to publish every image received, but with your permission, all photos will be shown at the Tung Jung centenary events and a copy saved in a project record for future researchers.