Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust applications closing soon

27 August 2010


Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust applications closing soon

Members of New Zealand’s Chinese community are invited to apply for funding from the current funding round of the Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust.

The Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust was established in 2004 in recognition of the hardship caused by the poll tax and other discriminatory legislation, and is a gesture of goodwill to poll tax payers, their descendants, and future generations.

The Trust aims to create a greater understanding of the Chinese community in New Zealand and strengthen the unique identity of Chinese New Zealanders.

In the last funding round, the Trust granted $65,150 in total to a variety of projects and activities across the country.

The New Zealand Chinese Association was granted $30,000 to research and document the Association’s history, including the history of the descendants of the poll tax payers.

Arrowtown’s Lakes District Museum was granted $6000 towards an upgrade of the display cabinets containing artefacts from the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement.

$500 was granted to the Rewi Alley Chinese School Trust to teach traditional Chinese painting as part of a programme of cultural and language activities offered to more than 400 children.

The Trust holds two funding rounds each year. Applications for the current funding round close on 30 September 2010. Successful grants will be announced in December 2010.

To obtain an application form, or to learn more about the Trust, visit the Department of Internal Affairs’ website: www.dia.govt.nz or phone 0800 824 824.

ENDS

Media contact
Iona Wassilieff, Communications Advisor, Department of Internal Affairs, Local Government and Community Branch, phone (04) 495 7299 or email iona.wassilieff@dia.govt.nz