New Zealand

New Zealand

Der Brockhaus-Atlas. Die Welt in Bild und Karte, Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus 1937

Der Brockhaus-Atlas. Die Welt in Bild und Karte, Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus 1937

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Der Brockhaus-Atlas. Die Welt in Bild und Karte, Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus 1937
New Zealand 1938
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Population ca. 1,600,000
Area (km²) ca. 270,000
Inhabitants per km² 6
Gross domestic product per inhabitant Gross domestic product p. inhab. 500 US$
Jewish population before 1938 Jewish pop. before 1938 2,600 (0.19 %)
Profession
Agriculture and forestry 24 %
Mining and industry 32 %
Trade and transport 28 %
Other professions 15 %

 

Policy on Immigration and Refugees

Between 1929 and 1935, New Zealand is in the firm grip of the economic depression. Unemployment figures are sky high; there are more emigrants than immigrants. The government of Michael Joseph Savage, the first Labour Party prime minister, is primarily focused on a gradual economic recovery. It also eases limits on immigration, but only for British migrants.

The government in general has little sympathy for non-British immigrants. In addition, it is convinced that most Jewish refugees would not be “easily assimilable” and therefore are particularly unsuitable as immigrants. The government’s lack of desire to accept refugees and New Zealand’s geographical distance from the events in Europe also determine the regime’s attitude in Évian.

For both humanitarian and practical reasons, however, the government’s policies are subject to criticism within the country itself. In 1938 slightly more than 1.6 million people live in New Zealand, a third of today’s population. Because the birthrate is falling while immigration stagnates, some influential New Zealanders favor a dramatic growth in the population, in the interests of both the country’s defense and its economic prosperity.

In 1939 these two arguments also play an important role in a debate in the New Zealand upper house. Labour politician Thomas Bloodworth argues, for example: “In the name of our common humanity and our Christian society, I appeal to the Parliament and to the people of New Zealand to help these refugees who are suffering so terribly at this time.” But he also adds “that New Zealand by helping the refugees, could very considerably help itself.”

However, the government cannot be moved to change its policies. Its interest in the refugee crisis, and the interest of the majority of the population, is too limited, and the skepticism towards the immigration of a large number of Jewish refugees remains strong. According to government figures, New Zealand accepts a total of 1,294 European refugees between 1934 and 1942, most of them from Germany.

Between 1938 and 1945, the government of New Zealand allows two groups of non-Jewish refugees to settle in the country. A total of 484 Chinese women and children fleeing the Sino-Japanese war receive temporary visas, in order to rejoin their husbands and fathers living in New Zealand, and in 1944 834 Polish refugees are allowed into the country.

 

Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938 After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato. Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938

After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato.

Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

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Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938 After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato. Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938

After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato.

Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938

After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato.

Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

Wagons-Lits / Cook at the migration office in Vienna, August 18, 1938 After the Reindler family receives three of the extremely rare entry permits for New Zealand, their travel agency asks the migration office in Vienna if the emigrants can travel to New Zealand with a shipping company that is not licensed by the office. Wilhelm Reindler will later become an economics professor at the University of Waikato. Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Wien

Delegation

Cyril Blake Burdekin

* 17 November 1887 Wellington   † 25 August 1963 Eastbourne/Sussex

Cyril Burdekin, son of a civil servant, begins to work at the New Zealand post and telegraph office at the age of 14. At the end of 1914, he is drafted into the New Zealand armed forces and serves in Egypt, the Balkans and France. In 1920 he begins working as a press officer and librarian at the New Zealand House in London, which represents New Zealand in Britain. The fact that the New Zealand government sends a low-ranking official like Burdekin to be its representative in Évian demonstrates its relatively detached attitude towards the conference’s goals.

During the Second World War, also at London’s New Zealand House, Burdekin is responsible for the care and later for the repatriation of New Zealand’s prisoners of war in Europe; beginning in 1942, he serves as New Zealand’s representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission. In 1946 the lifelong teetotaler, non-smoker and vegetarian retires and settles in a town on the southern coast of England.

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942 Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942 Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Cyril Blake Burdekin, as director of the prisoner-of-war department at the New Zealand House in London, ca. 1942 Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington

Conference Contributions

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

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Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY

Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 1/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY
Statement by Cyril B. Burdekin (New Zealand) in the public session on July 9, 1938, 11am, p. 2/2 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY
Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 1/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY
Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 2/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY
Communication from the delegation of New Zealand to the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee, July 9, 1938, p. 3/3 Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY