Post by NZBC on Feb 6, 2008 20:38:36 GMT 12
Following the depletion of the goldfields in the late 1880s, the Chinese drifted to towns and cities looking for work. Many worked in fruit shops, laundries and commodity stores. They also found a niche in the market gardening trade, especially from the late 1920s. Growing vegetables was extremely labour intensive, requiring long hours but comparatively small capital outlay. The Chinese often leased land from M¨¡ori, and worked side by side with them, making a modest living.
www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/NewZealandPeoples/Chinese/3/en