The New Zealand government announced Wednesday a 5-million-NZ-dollars (about 3.45 million US dollars) grant to help run a Chinese community trust, in a bid to atone for past discrimination.

The announcement was made by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark during a reception to mark the Chinese new year at the Parliament Building. She said the aim of the trust was to raise awareness of the early Chinese community in New Zealand and of their history, language and culture.

Chinese faced significant legislative discrimination in New Zealand from the 1880s until the 1950s. Among the difficulties they faced was having to pay an entry or poll tax of up to 100 pounds, and taxes on shipping and cargo tunnages. The tax was aimed at keeping the Chinese out of the country.

Clark said the reconciliation package was announced after consultations with the Chinese community. It followed an apology by Clark in 2002 to those Chinese who faced statutory discrimination in New Zealand. 

Other initiatives include: new school resources which tell the stories of Chinese settlers in New Zealand; and preservation of a significant Chinese heritage site in Central Otago.

It was envisaged that the community trust would fund projects to boost the study of Chinese New Zealand history, Clark said. It would encourage cultural and language maintenance and promote greater public awareness of ethnic diversity. It would also support projects that strengthen the unique identity of Chinese New Zealanders. 

 "The establishment of a trust signifies the determination of the government to secure the place of the Chinese community and its role in our nation's history," she said. Enditem