Dozens of Chinese New Zealanders gathered in central Auckland on Monday to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing.
The day started with a photo exhibition at Auckland's Aotea Square depicting the student-led pro-democracy protests that took place in the months leading up to 4 June 1989.
The exhibition was followed by a seminar at the Ellen Melville Centre, with human rights activists sharing stories about the protests.
The commemoration ended with a candlelight vigil at the Tiananmen Square memorial boulder outside St Andrews Presbyterian Church in the evening.
Dozens gathered in central Auckland on Monday to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
The events were organised by nonprofit organisation New Zealand Values Alliance, which advocates for political freedom and human rights in China.
"Today we are here to remember the events of 1989, and the crimes committed under the authoritarian regime of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)," said Michael Zhuang, a spokesperson for the alliance who was speaking on the sidelines of the candlelight service. "Our group has been marking the 1989 events here in New Zealand for over two decades now."
The anniversary remains a sensitive topic in China that is heavily censored, with references of the crackdown removed from history books and mentions on social media erased.
The events were organised by nonprofit organisation New Zealand Values Alliance, which advocates for political freedom and human rights in China. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
Speaker after speaker at the vigil criticised the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing censorship of the crackdown.
Shawn Bay, who was a protestor in China in 1989, claimed the protestors tried to bring democracy to the country.
"All of us felt a sense of unity and fraternity for the first time in our lives," Bay said. "We could sense a change was coming before the CCP brutally crushed it."
Peter Zhang, who was in primary school in 1989, said the subject was never subsequently addressed in classrooms.
"I approached my elder relatives for information on the protests, but everyone kept mum," he said. "Such was the fear then, which prevails even now."
The day started with a photo exhibition at Auckland's Aotea Square depicting the student-led pro-democracy protests that took place in the months leading up to 4 June 1989. Photo: Supplied
Ben said he relocated to New Zealand to escape such fear.
"But the reality is complicated, especially if you have friends and family back in China," he said. "The CCP holds people you love hostage. That's the reason I have been silent up till now."
Former National Party MP Simon O'Connor, who has been a regular attendee at the remembrance services over the years, expressed disappointment at the lack of political support for the ceremony.
"I have been coming here for many years and I have always been disappointed that more MPs from across Parliament don't attend," O'Connor said.
"We trade with China, and we also have to speak up for our values, which include freedom and democracy."
Former National Party MP Simon O'Connor has expressed disappointment at the lack of political support for the ceremony. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
Zhuang of the New Zealand Values Alliance agreed.
"New Zealand needs to be responsible when it comes to dealing with any authoritarian regime such as China," Zhuang said. "We shouldn't let trade trump values such as human rights we hold dearly."
RNZ has approached the Chinese Embassy for comment on censorship and overseas influence.
Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
