Dominion Federation of NZ Chinese Commercial Growers

The opening statement of our published book, Sons of the Soil, written by Lilly Lee and Ruth Lam expresses in a statement that I feel is very indicative of our Chinese Growers, that since 1867, our Growers have formed the backbone of New Zealand’s vegetable growing industry.

An accompanying book printed, “Success Through Adversity” by Nigel Murphy, explains more details of the Dominion Federation of NZ Chinese Commercial Growers, established in 1943, during the time of WWII.

The Labour Government at the time requested that the Chinese create an organisation with which they could negotiate prices and supplies to the armed forces in the Pacific at the time. Finally, unity was created between the European and Chinese Growers to provide for the demands for fresh produce for the troops.

After the war the Federation stayed intact, with meetings to formalise the constitution and structures to which they operated from. They met to discuss any issues over growing, with members from all over NZ from grower representatives to community leaders, exchanging ideas and worries, all to protect the Grower’s interests.

There were 1500 registered Growers in the early days, but in recent years this number has dropped dramatically due to death, retirement, change of occupations and young family members seeking other occupations.In spite of the dropping numbers there are a few encouraging signs that a new generation is coming back with renewed ideas, just as technology has developed, e.g. computers, self-stacking and grading machines to eliminate hard to find labour, management teams that have designated jobs, drones, new mechanized tractors, newer cropping methods, e.g. hydroponics etc... All these contribute to the growing industry being more attractive to the entrepreneurial grower.

We do try to achieve some solution to problems if we can.

Back to the present times, our Federation has had Howe Young in the seat of CEO for the past 13 years (previously Mr KJ Young) organising and keeping the Committee going.

Both Mr KJ Young and Howe brought to fruition the publication of our book Sons of the Soil which is a historical book on the NZ Chinese Growers from the first growers to the current days. This idea had been idealised for previous years, but it was a big project and had been brushed aside so often, until Howe really put the wheels in motion.

It took about six to seven years to complete and was a huge undertaking for us all, but with so much support from members, the community, the sponsors and special mention of Jeff Turner and his father, Jack’s historical records, so finally in 2012 we did the first book!

A successful book launch gave the books to a community that really needed the history recorded before it was too late. Since then numerous other historical books on different Chinese Occupations have appeared for distribution.

The Federation and its committee is transitioning all the time but we feel that the dinners are hugely successful, judging by the numbers attending, from Growers, the sponsors and dignitaries.

Howe and Dennis Fong in organising the yearly Conference dinners are realistic that while numbers are diminishing, those members attending are still very much able to enjoy all the camaraderie that comes from events such as these.

Attendance at the dinners proves extremely encouraging. We really do appreciate the support our numerous Sponsors give us from monetary amounts, items for raffles and for gifts and the actual attendance.

We are trying to find restaurants that can accommodate the growing numbers, as often the commercial firms would ideally like to mix and mingle with the Growers, but sadly there isn’t a lot of room to do this.

All the sponsor companies are really so generous, that we really appreciate it all.

The team at South Pacific Seeds, under Elyse Price, provide us with goodie bags that the growers clutch happily as they leave as not everyone can win prizes.

In recent years Howe has organised trips to different areas of Australia and a trip to China, all with the theme of a Growers Trip. We saw different cropping systems through these areas, and saw the vast areas they use, the different labour forces, the different marketing systems and the increasing hydroponic crops that are coming onto the shelves.

These have included members from throughout New Zealand and members who have ties to the commercial growing community. Generally everyone enjoys themselves so it is very good for different personalities to enjoy themselves on a social, but enlightening trip.

The Chinese may not be growing in large numbers in the future, but there will always be growers taking up the helm, until maybe we have to pop pills instead of eating that potato, onion or lettuce!!

Dennis Fong (CEO)

Howe Young (Advisor)

Ginny Sue (Secretary) 

Article by Ginny Sue

South Pacific Seeds and Seed Innovations are proud to partner with and support the Dominion Federation of Chinese Growers in their dual sponsorship of this event each year.