Croatian New Zealanders Explained
Croatian New Zealanders refers to New Zealand citizens of Croatian descent. It is estimated that over 100,000 New Zealanders have Croatian ancestry. There are 2,550 people who declared their nationality as Croats in the 2006 New Zealand census.[1] The majority of these are located primarily in and around Auckland and Northland with small numbers in and around Canterbury and Southland.[3]
The (generally neutral but sometimes mildly derogatory) term Dally or Dallie (short for Dalmatian) is often used in New Zealand to refer to people of Croatian descent.[4] The term has been wholeheartedly adopted by Croatian New Zealanders, among them the Auckland-based Dalmatian Cultural Society.[5] Founded in 1930, it is New Zealand's longest-surviving Croatian cultural organisation. A further neutral term, Tarara (literally, "fast talkers"), is used to refer to people of mixed Croatian–Māori heritage.[6]
History
The earliest Croatian settlers in New Zealand date from the 1860s, largely arriving as sailors and pioneers, and as gold miners and prospectors during the Otago gold rush. The first person born in New Zealand of Croatian descent was Leander Thomas Pavletich in 1864.[7] After the gold rush many moved to Northland attracted by kauri gum-digging, then a major source of income for Northland Māori and settlers.[8] These early Dalmatian settlers were also responsible in large part for establishing the New Zealand wine industry.[9] Forced off the kauri gumfields many moved into viticulture and winemaking instead, mainly in West Auckland around Kumeu, and in the Hawke's Bay region.[10] [11] Croatian family names such as Selak, Nobilo, Šoljan, Babich and Delegat still feature amongst the names of New Zealand's notable wineries, and two of the largest in New Zealand, Montana Wines (now Brancott Estate) and Villa Maria Estates, were established in the mid-20th century respectively by Croatian New Zealanders Ivan Yukich and Sir George Fistonich.[11] [4]
Croatian settlers have arrived in five main waves:[12]
- 5,000 between 1890 and 1914, prior to World War I.
- 1,600 during the 1920s before the onset of the Great Depression.
- 600 in the 1930s, prior to World War II.
- 3,200 between 1945 and 1970.
- Arrivals during the 1990s, fleeing the conflict in former Yugoslavia.
In July 2008, 800 people attended a celebration of 150 years of Croatian settlement in New Zealand hosted by Prime Minister Helen Clark and Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter.[2]
Notable Croatian New Zealanders
See main article: category.
Academics
Arts
Actors
Architecture
Artists
Comedians
Literature
Musicians
Business
- Richard Chandler (businessman) and Christopher Chandler (businessman) - Investment companies. Croatian mother Ana Tzarev
- Jim and Rosemari Delegat - Delegat Group Ltd - Delegat and Oyster Bay wine labels [16]
- Michael Erceg - Founder of Independent Liquor, now known as Asahi Beverages (NZ) Ltd.
- Sir George Fistonich - Founder of Villa Maria Estates, Čuvar Winery and Obliix label.
- Huljich family - Food manufacturing, property, new business startups, finance and movie-making.
- Steve Jurkovich - Kiwibank CEO [17]
- Nobilo family - Nikola Nobilo the founder of Nobilo wines.
- Peter and Tyler Rakich. Founders of Dynasty Sports - Sports clothing brand. Sponsors of the NZ Rugby league team, NZ Warriors, Auckland City FC and Croatian rugby team. [18]
- Talley family, owners of the Talley's Group.
- Peter Vela Vela family, owners of Vela fishing and Pencarrow stud (thoroughbred racehorse breeding).
- Dr. Kevin Glucina (founder Matakana Super Foods)
Fashion
- Deanna Didovich - Designer
- Jessica Grubisa - Designer
- Tony And Margie Milich - Sabatini clothing label [19]
- Peter Nola - Founder of clothing label "Peppertree Fashions". Prominent in the 1960s to 1980s.[20]
- Valentin Ozich - Founder of clothing label "I Love Ugly" [21]
- Adrienne Winkelmann - Designer/ Fashion label
Journalism
- Tony Ciprian - radio and television presenter
- Simon Mercep - radio and television presenter
- Goran Paladin - radio and television presenter
Law
Politics
Religion
Sports
Cricket
- Anton Devcich - BLACKCAPS representative
- Joseph Yovich
- Ben Lister
- Dusan Hakaraia - also Croatia rugby representative
- Quinn Sunde
- Daniel Marsic - Croatia cricket representative
- John Vujnovich - Croatia cricket representative
- Anthony Govorko - Croatia cricket representative
- Anton Vujcich - Croatia cricket representative
- Paul Vujnovich - Croatia cricket representative
Football
Motor sport
Rugby
Rugby League
Tennis
Other
Winemakers
Fictional Croatian New Zealanders
See also
Literature
- Trupinić, Damir. (2009) New Zealand Croatian Immigrant Press 1899-1916, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, .
- Božić-Vrbančić, Senka. (2008) Tarara: Croats and Maori in New Zealand : memory, belonging, identity, Otago University Press, .
Notes and References
- Encyclopedia: Dalmatians – Page 7. Facts & figures . Walrond . Carl . . 8 February 2005 . . 3 January 2020 .
- Web site: Carter: NZ Celebrates 150 Years Of Kiwi-Croatian Culture. July 30, 2008. Voxy. Digital Advance Limited. 2012-03-20. 2019-12-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20191231174022/http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/carter-nz-celebrates-150-years-kiwi-croatian-culture/5/1618. dead.
- Book: Jelicich, Stephen . From distant villages: the lives and times of Croatian settlers in New Zealand, 1858-1958 . Auckland . Pharos Publications . 2008 . 9780473130299 .
- Web site: Saluting Selaks: Let's drink to the 'Dallies' . Barton . Warren . 6 December 2010 . The Southland Times . . 2018-06-27 .
- https://www.dalmatian.org.nz/ Dalmatian Cultural Society
- Encyclopedia: Dalmatians – Page 6. Dalmatian culture . Walrond . Carl . . 1 March 2015 . . 20 June 2020.
- Web site: Mrs Thomas Pavletich, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. www.toituosm.com. 2019-01-06.
- Encyclopedia: Kauri gum and gum digging – Page 2. The gum diggers . Walrond . Carl . . 24 September 2007 . . 2 January 2020 .
- Mabbett . Jason . The Dalmatian influence on the New Zealand wine industry: 1895–1946 . Journal of Wine Research . April 1998 . 9 . 1 . 15–25 . 0957-1264 . 10.1080/09571269808718130 .
- Web site: Kumeu Wine Region . . 30 August 2017 . 23 February 2018 .
- Encyclopedia: Wine – Page 2. Migrant groups and the wine industry . Dalley . Bronwyn . . 24 November 2008 . . 31 December 2019 .
- Web site: Croatian . Book & Print in New Zealand: A Guide to Print Culture in Aotearoa . Stephen . Jelicich . Andrew . Trlin . . 1997 . Wellington . 2009-08-13 . New Zealand Electronic Text Collection.
- Web site: 12 Questions: Jessie Lawrence . 16 July 2023 .
- Web site: Nick Rado - Fun Facts .
- Web site: Maria Dallas Profile . Herkt . David . . 21 August 2014 . 3 January 2020 .
- https://www.nzwine.com/en/media/our-people/jim-and-rosemari-delegat/
- https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/the-life/my-net-worth-steve-jurkovich-kiwibank-chief-executive
- https://www.dynastysport.co.nz/blogs/news/nzrl-partnership
- Web site: The SABATINI Family .
- Web site: New Zealand fashion pioneer Peter Nola dies . Stuff . 28 August 2015 . 23 December 2023.
- Web site: How I Love Ugly Shaped The Wardrobes Of Millennial Men, From Drop-Crotch Trousers To Printed Shirts . New Zealand Herald . 23 October 2023 . 23 December 2023.
- Web site: Brian Dickey | Meredith Connell . 2022-06-05 . 2022-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206113901/https://www.mc.co.nz/our-people/brian-dickey . dead .
- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/champion-of-the-far-north/6NCWNVCO4QBWRLCSDPINPFHH54/
- News: Through personal tragedy to a successful career . Novak . Jasna Milić . 11 March 2021 . 12 October 2023 . Croatian Heritage Foundation.
- Web site: 'Kia ora lady' made Dame Companion . Stuff . 30 December 2017 . 3 January 2020 .
- Web site: The Story of the Mother of God Brothers . pamphlets.org.au . 3 January 2020 . 21 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170321123320/http://www.pamphlets.org.au/docs/catholic/BrMichael/y.html . dead .
- Web site: Famous People with Croatian Heritage – Part 2 . Croatia Week . 6 February 2017 . 3 January 2020 .
- https://nzwinedirectory.co.nz/guardian-of-new-zealand-wine-sir-george-fistonich-launches-cuvar-winery/