An Immigrant Nation
Starts Tuesday 21 February, 7.30pm
Like so many countries, New Zealand is a nation of immigrants. Many
of these people were driven from their homes by war, famine or
oppression. Others came as sojourners always intending to go home.
All of them came in search of a new life.
Through a series of emotional and personal stories, An Immigrant
Nation, starting on Heartland tonight at 7.30pm, encapsulates the
immigrant experience. Each programme explores issues such as
prejudice, loss, longing and a feeling of always having a foot in
two worlds. The series also looks at life for different
generations, about where they feel they belong and issues of
preservation of culture.
The stories covered throughout the series include; Dalmation at
Heart, which sees the story of the Dalmations from the coast of
Croatia; The Unbroken Thread, the story of a unique Italian fishing
community; The Irish: Just Slightly A People Apart, about three
Irish families; Footprints Of The Dragon, looking at the lives of
Chinese migrants; A Little Piece of Deutschland, the story of
German wine-maker Almuth Lorenz: From Sri Lanka ... With
Sorrow, which focuses on New Zealand's small but vibrant Sri Lankan
community; and Searching for Paradise, the story of a young Samoan
musician, Pati Umaga.
Although each story is specific to a cultural group, the issues
travel across cultural boundaries. Within each, individual and
family stories act as a window into the immigrant culture and
community. Each goes back to the country of origin and the New
Zealand they found on their arrival.
