A sepia toned image of a family photograph depicting a woman holding the hands of two young children. The photo is deteriorating and the child on the left is almost obscured by the damage.

Text on white background, "Farewell Guangdong".

22m

Seven stories of love, humility, and sacrifice. An intergenerational celebration of women from our Chinese New Zealand community.

Made with the support of NZ On Air

Series details.

Credits

Toby Mills & Lily Lee
Producers
Lynda Chanwai-Earle
Director
Megan Whelan
RNZ Chief Content Officer
Tim Burnell
RNZ Commissioning Team Lead
Nicholas Meuli
RNZ Commissioning Coordinator
Robert Whitaker
RNZ Design Lead
Zhenya Nagornaya
RNZ Graphics
Josie Campbell
RNZ Publicity
Poppy Granger
RNZ Publicity and Research Coordinator

In 1937, Japan invades China. The Japanese sweep south to Guangdong, capturing the strategic port of Guangzhou. Many women and children try to escape war-torn China. Their husbands in New Zealand beg the government to grant them sanctuary here.

These are some of the harrowing stories of our grandmothers and mothers, the pioneers of our community.

Based on Lily Lee's publication Farewell Guangdong, we use dramatic re-enactments, interviews, and historical archive material to bring to life first-hand accounts from the wives and children who fled Guangdong, China, during the second Sino-Japanese War from 1937 to 1945.

Produced by

Tawera Productions

Made with the support of

Partner Logo for NZ on Air for use on dark background

Get in touch

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