Kirsten Wong

Kirsten Wong is a Wellington-based writer and editor, and a second-generation Chinese New Zealander. Starting out as teenage anti-nuclear activist in the 1980s, the Tino Rangatiratanga movement brought her to the shock realisation that the most satisfying and fun changes you can make are those in your own community. Since the 1990s Kirsten has been involved in community, identity, anti-racism and heritage, including working for the Government on its apology to Chinese poll-tax payers for institutionalised racism.

Since 2007 when the Ventnor story was ‘rediscovered’, Kirsten has been on the community group that has promoted the history and our ties with Te Roroa and Te Tao Maui. She now works on the New Zealand Chinese Association's ‘Ventnor memorial’ project. Scheduled for unveiling in 2019, the memorial is set to become a significant cultural site in the Hokianga, and a potent symbol for valuing our culture and shared history. 

As part of the AAAH2018 Symposium @ Te Papa, Kirsten Wong presented Breathing Life into Old Bones with Alison Wong.

Learn more about the Ventnor project here