by: WH McLeod & S.S. Bhullar

Reviewed by: Sukhdeep Kaur

A brief letter from Dr.W.H.McLeod, author of ‘Punjabis in New Zealand’ (a history of Punjabi migration 18901940) inspired S.S.Bhullar to initiate the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Punjabi’s in New Zealand, The heartening support of the Punjabi community gave S,S.Bhullar the opportunity to organize the celebrations and publishing the book “Punjab to Aoteroa.’

The book holds an impressive account of the Punjabis in New Zealand since their arrival in the country to their present day lives. The history contained herein is made more interesting with the numerous photographs for the last 100 years. The book traces the contribution of the Punjabis in New Zealand to the development of the country. It brings out the Punjabi determination, perseverance and will to succeed at its best. We are taken to the bottom of the ladder of achievements to where the first Punjabi

immigrants Bir Singh Gill and Phuman Singh Gill arrived in the country with almost nothing in the maternal sense. As the pages turn, the history of the Punjabis and their climb up the ladder in New Zealand unfolds. The two brothers started as hawkers to earn their livings. During his lifetime itself the hardworking and persevering Phuman Singh Gill opened two confectionery shops in Palmerstone North. Today his grandson Peter Singh is a professional man and has attained the position of the president of N.Z.E.1. During the years from 1890 & 1912, we are told, that the number of migrants were very few. For the most part the numbers consisted of men who were either here temporarily to earn enough to send back to the Punjab or were restless men in search of adventure. Most of them started as hawkers in their first employment. The only other occupations that these early arrivals went for was  coal mining, (Sundar Singh, Sham Singh and Harnam Singh ‘Bheru’ were a close knit group of ‘Malwais’ who worked in the west land mines.

There was a change in occupation in the period 19121921. Very few of these men were hawkers. Work as rural laborers as plan workers, ditch diggers and as scrub cutters was undertaken. Not all Punjabis adhered to this occupational pattern. There were, for example, men who leased their own land or ran saw mill business. Mr.Meleod assisted by Mr.S.S.Bhullar has written the success story of the Punjabis in New Zealand. From owning just a horse, a tent, a few utensils they have become the owners of flourishing Dairy farms and comfortable homes.

A notable feature of the Punjabi migration between the period 1912 to 1921 is that almost all the migrants entered New Zealand from Fiji. Prospecuve immigrants had to fill in a form in English and it was to learn the language in a cram school, run by a padre in Suva, that these men had first gone to Fiji. After the first world war more educated Punjabis were attracted to New Zealand, men who could hope to complete the form without prior tuition from the Suva padre. The book deals with how the present day Punjabi has come a long way since the days of getting tuition to gain entry into the country. They are lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers and scientists. Chapter 7 of the book deals with how the Sikhs as a vibrant community have formed associations and developed institutions for the preservation of their separate identity and the progressive growth of their culture, Accounts of the activity of the Sikh society in the opening of Gurdwaras and arranging Sikh functions have been enumerated. In Chapter 9 achange which has affected the Sikh members of the community in ‘recent years’ is discussed. The occasion for this change can be traced to those fateful days in June 1984. Since then the Sikhs in New Zealand have made every effort to maintain their separate distinct identity. The book also maintains the record of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Punjabis in New Zealand. The event celebrated on Oct.21,1990 was attended by all the people of New Zealand who matter. Among the chief guest were also present Dame Te Akairanzi Kahu (Maori Queen and Mr.Jim Bogler (Present Prime Minister). 3.S.Bhullar came to New Zealand in 1970 after having completed his M.A., LLB degrees from Punjab University Chandigarh, He is now a practicing barrister and solicitor in Taumarunui, a place which once was the center of the Punjabi community since his arrival in New Zealand he has taken a keen interesting the close-knit Punjabi community and has been deeply involved in its affairs.

This book prepared by him and McLeod throws light on the achievements of the Sikhs and Punjabis in yet another part of the world far away from their homeland. Let us hope we will see more such books to record the history of Sikh community and its trials and tribulation in distant lands.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 30, 1993