This talk provides a brief overview of the history of Chinese Laundries in New Zealand and touches on some of the reasons that prompted Chinese immigration to Aotearoa in the 19th century.
Laundries flourished in the early 20th century before declining mid-century when home laundries started to become commonplace.
Connie Kum, a third generation descendant of the Gin family who owned a laundry on Auckland's Pitt Street, shares her memories of growing up amidst starch and irons and irate customers who'd lost their laundry "ticket"!
To see images from this talk go to our YouTube page: http://bit.ly/2XRR46R
Recorded at the Auckland Central Library on 5 June 2019.
Music credits: Mid-Air Machine - Four Corners; Scott Holmes - Missing
