Chinese community stake claim to shipwreck items

he ship's location had remain a mystery until documentary film-maker John Albert discovered the wreck 21km west of Hokianga Harbour in 2012. Photo / Peter de Graaf

New Zealand's Chinese community will stake claims to five items recovered from a shipwreck that sunk more than a century ago with the remains of 499 dead Chinese miners on board.

The SS Ventnor was on a repatriation mission to China when it struck a reef and sank off the Hokianga coast in 1902.

The remains of 499 Chinese citizens, who had been working in New Zealand when they died, were being taken home in accordance with Chinese tradition.

The ship's location had remain a mystery until documentary film-maker John Albert discovered the wreck 21km west of Hokianga Harbour, under 150m of water, in late 2012.

Mr Albert and his team recovered a number of artefacts - including a small bell, lantern, porthole, and navigational objects - last November.

The disturbing of the ship's items outraged the New Zealand Chinese Association (NZCA) who wanted the wreck to be left untouched.

Today, in a public notice published in the New Zealand Herald, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage urged interested parties to submit claims for "ownership and/or possession" to some or all of the items.

"We also invite submissions from parties who are not claiming ownership and/or possession but who wish to make submissions for consideration regarding the future care of the objects whether by them or by another party," the ministry says.

Today, the NZCA confirmed it would being making a submission on cultural grounds.

NZCA national president Meng Foon said the association will soon meet to discuss fine details of its submissions.

"These objects have a sentimental, cultural value to the descendants of whom we represent," Mr Foon said.

"It's important we articulate this in our submission to the Ministry for Culture and Heritage."

Angela Sew Hoy, great great-granddaughter of one of the Chinese miners, Choie Sew Hoy, took a different view. She welcomed last year's "amazing discovery" of the SS Ventnor shipwreck.

Today, she told NZME News Service that she will not personally be making a claim.

"As a part of New Zealand history, I believe the five recovered objects should be retained by the New Zealand Government," she said.

"I would love to see the objects put on public display at either Te Papa or New Zealand Maritime Museum, for all New Zealanders to see and understand the rich history of the New Zealand Chinese settlers from the gold rush days."