Kalimpong Kids: The NZ Story in Pictures

Explore 'Kalimpong Kids: The NZ Story in Pictures', a captivating paperback that unravels the rich history of young Anglo-Indians in New Zealand. Authored by Jane McCabe and published by Otago University Press, this beautifully illustrated book captures the essence of a significant but often overlooked chapter in New Zealand's immigration history. With dimensions of 203 x 230 mm and 146 pages of fascinating narratives, the book recounts the journey of 130 children sent from Kalimpong, India, to New Zealand in the early 20th century through an organized immigration scheme. These children, the mixed-race descendants of British tea planters and local women, encountered a new life as they were placed within New Zealand families from the Far North to Southland. The initiative, spearheaded by Rev Dr John Anderson Graham, aimed to provide these children with a nurturing environment and educational opportunities that were absent in their homeland. With Jane McCabe, the granddaughter of one of these children, as your guide, you will uncover the hidden stories of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage. Dive into extraordinary personal narratives and stunning photographs that reveal the complexities of interracial relationships and the challenges of abandonment. With a resurgence of interest in this unique history since the 1980s, 'Kalimpong Kids' provides an enlightening perspective on the intersection of cultures in New Zealand. Perfect for history enthusiasts, educators, and families exploring multicultural narratives, this book is a must-have addition to your collection. Discover the compelling, little-known stories of Kalimpong Kids today!

Author: Jane McCabe Ed. Publisher: Otago University Press
Bind: paperback
Dimensions: 203 x 230 mm
Pages: 146


In the early 20th century, 130 young Anglo-Indians were sent to New Zealand in an organised immigration scheme from Kalimpong, in the Darjeeling district of India. They were the mixed-race children of British tea planters and local women, and were placed as workers with New Zealand families from the Far North to Southland. Their settlement in New Zealand was the initiative of a Scottish Presbyterian missionary, the Rev Dr John Anderson Graham, who aimed to ‘rescue’ and provide a home and an education for children whose opportunities would have been limited in the country of their birth. Jane McCabe is the granddaughter of Lorna Peters, who arrived with a group from Kalimpong in 1921. Jane is one of many hundreds of descendants now spread throughout New Zealand. Most grew up with little or no knowledge of their parent’s Indian heritage. The story of interracial relationships, institutionalisation - and the sense of abandonment that often resulted - was rarely spoken of. But since the 1980s increasing numbers have been researching their hidden histories. In the process, extraordinary personal stories and many fabulous photographs have come to light. Jane McCabe here tells this compelling and little-known New Zealand story, in pictures.