The Welsh in New Zealand

Welsh immigration to New Zealand 

Although the numbers of Welsh immigrants were relatively small, from the mid-1800s, there were some specific pockets related to mining endeavours, in particular the West Coast of the South Island. 

People born in Wales only ever formed a small proportion of all British immigrants who came to New Zealand. But they were some of the earliest to arrive.  The two earliest censuses in New Zealand, in 1848 and in 1851, revealed that the Welsh formed less than 1% of the British-born population of New Zealand. Even in the large immigrant streams which arrived in New Zealand between 1853 and 1870 there were few Welsh. However, the gold rushes attracted more people from Wales, especially to the West Coast where Welsh miners, drawn largely from Australia’s Victorian goldfields, made up nearly 4% of all miners. Between 1871 and 1890, when large numbers of immigrants assisted by the New Zealand government arrived, the Welsh continued to make up less than 1% of all arrivals from the United Kingdom.

Source: Welsh immigration. Te Ara | The encyclopedia of New Zealand. 

Welsh Societies in New Zealand 

Although small in numbers, the establishment of Welsh Societies in New Zealand was a way for Welsh speakers to continue to speak the language and connect with fellow migrants from Wales. 

As part of a oral history project, interviews with members of Wellington's Welsh Society demonstrate the connections and camaraderie of these groups. 

• Welsh Society of Wellington Oral History Project. Interviews with members of Wellington's Welsh Society. 1998. Held at Alexander Turnbull Library. 

St David's Day (01 March) celebrations in New Zealand

St David's Day celebrations were celebrated across the country, by different Welsh societies, and always included singing. 

Welsh Choirs

With singing a key part of regular Welsh Society get togethers, it's unsurprising that Welsh Choirs were also part of the Welsh experience in New Zealand.

The Royal Welsh Male Choir toured New Zealand (1909)

Welsh Choirs in New Zealand 

Welsh Food & drink 

Scorpio's Welsh Restaurant (Wellington) was a restaurant at 163 The Parade, Island Bay in 2002, run by Jo and Mike Howard, and advertised as "New Zealand's only Welsh restaurant". A selection of Scorpio's Welsh Restaurant calendars [2002 - 2006] are held at Alexander Turnbull Library. 

The Welsh Dragon Bar, billed as "the only Welsh pub in the Southern Hemisphere", later re-opened on Cambridge Terrace. 

Language revitalisation - connections between Welsh & Te Reo Māori 

• Te reo Māori and Welsh: Two indigenous languages, two stories of revival. Spinoff. 17 September 2021. 
• Welsh a worldwide model for language revitalisation say University of Waikato as they launch Cardiff partnership. 10 November 2021. 
• Language revitalisation through international punk. 6 October 2022
• Young Welsh language champions here to experience te ao Māori and rugby. NZ Herald. 14 December 2022.