This fascinating talk explores the transformation of Chinese Wellingtonians’ identity from sojourners to permanent settlers. Historically, Chinese immigrants in Wellington — like many across New Zealand — maintained a mindset of luò yè guī gēn (落葉歸根, “fallen leaves return to the roots”), viewing their stay as temporary and their true home as elsewhere. Over generations, however, this narrative has shifted towards luò dì shēng gēn (落地生根, “take root where you land”), reflecting new forms of belonging, place-making, and cultural negotiation in Aotearoa. 

Drawing on oral histories, community archives, and contemporary perspectives, this talk highlights how local Chinese communities have navigated changing migration policies, intergenerational expectations, and bicultural frameworks to forge a distinctive identity as Chinese Wellingtonians — simultaneously connected to ancestral heritage and deeply embedded in the city’s social and cultural fabric. 

For more details, head to their website: https://www.wcl.govt.nz/news/new-zealand-chinese-language-week-2025/