Peters a politician to the end, but Chinese at the start?

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Half-Maori, half-Scottish Winston Peters' claim that he is also descended from the Chinese is a bit far-fetched, say experts in the origin of the Maori.

If he does have Chinese connections it is only in the same way that all of humankind can claim to have African roots.

But a Wellington scientist is baffled by Mr Peters' claim that he can trace his roots to a single Chinese tribe - the High Mountain Gao Shan Zhu, one of the 55 Chinese minorities.

In a speech at the weekend Mr Peters said Massey University research showed Maori came from the tribe: "That means I have Chinese blood in me."

Fair enough, except Massey University told the Herald it did not produce the research.

Mr Peters says it did. The problem is the source of the information providing firm DNA evidence, Rachel Selby from the university, is on sabbatical and the university would not give Mr Peters a contact for her.

But he is sticking to his guns: "This evidence says the only DNA match there is for the Maori people is here and my evidence is solely DNA ... It's kind of irrefutable evidence."

He also cites a book by archaeologist Nigel Prickett, Maori Origins: From Asia to Aotearoa, published last year, which says 5000 years ago Austronesian speaking ancestors of Polynesian and other Pacific peoples moved from Taiwan and South China into Southeast Asia.

Massey University referred the Herald to molecular biologist Dr Geoff Chambers from Victoria University, who has carried out genetic research on the topic for a decade.

His evidence shows Winston is from Taiwan - although Taiwan, an island off China, was quite possibly settled by peoples living in what is now China.

Dr Chambers was rather surprised to hear of the link to the Gao Shan Zhu of China. He had never heard of the tribe at all, but said he was always pleased to be educated by a politician.

Dr Hugh Laracy, associate professor of history at Auckland University, is an expert in Pacific Islands history.

Mr Peters' claims of being part Chinese were "playful", he said. They would be the same as North American Indians claiming the same thing. They too settled from Asia, but probably would not claim to be Chinese.

People have adapted and evolved over thousands of years and one group evolved out of another. On the other hand, everyone could claim they had African connections if humans originated out of the Great Rift Valley.

Auckland University associate professor Dr Manying Ip, an expert in Chinese and New Zealand relations, is indisputably Chinese.

She puts Mr Peters' claim down to his not wanting to be Chinese so much as his being a consummate politician who wants to be in power.

But he might have more recent roots than he knows. When Chinese men arrived in large numbers in the 1800s they came without women and many married Maori.

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