Croatian New Zealanders Explained

Group:Croatian-New Zealanders
Population:2,550[1] – 100,000 (est.)[2]
Langs:New Zealand English, Croatian
Rels:predominantly Roman Catholic

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) was often used in New Zealand to refer to people of Croatian descent before Croatia gained independence in 1991.[4] Most people of Croatian descent are now referred to as Croatians, reflecting Croatia’s independence. The Dalmatian Cultural Society, founded in 1930 and based in Auckland, adopted Dalmatian in its name upon Croatia’s independence. Other Croatian cultural societies in New Zealand, including those in Auckland, Waikato, and Wellington, have recognized "Croatian" as the appropriate name to reflect the country's independence. A further neutral term, Tarara (literally, "fast talkers"), is used to refer to people of mixed Croatian–Māori heritage.[5]

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.[6] After the gold rush many moved to Northland attracted by kauri gum-digging, then a major source of income for Northland Māori and settlers.[7] These early Dalmatian settlers were also responsible in large part for establishing the New Zealand wine industry.[8] 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.[9] [10] 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.[10] [4]

Croatian settlers have arrived in five main waves:[11]

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]

In October 2024, 24 New Zealand's rugby players of Croatian descent, led by Dave Jurlina, are planinng to visit Croatia, following the example of similar visits organized in the 1970s and 1908s.[12] The team will play in Zagreb, Split (two games) and Makarska, with one game against the Croatian national team.[12]

Notable Croatian New Zealanders

See main article: category.

Academics

Arts

Actors

Architecture

Artists

Comedians

Literature

Musicians

Business

Fashion

Journalism

Law

Politics

Religion

Sports

Cricket

Football

Motor sport

Rugby

Rugby League

Tennis

Other

Winemakers

Fictional Croatian New Zealanders

See also

Literature

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Dalmatians – Page 7. Facts & figures . Walrond . Carl . . 8 February 2005 . . 3 January 2020 .
  2. 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.
  3. Book: Jelicich, Stephen . From distant villages: the lives and times of Croatian settlers in New Zealand, 1858-1958 . Auckland . Pharos Publications . 2008 . 9780473130299 .
  4. Web site: Saluting Selaks: Let's drink to the 'Dallies' . Barton . Warren . 6 December 2010 . The Southland Times . . 2018-06-27 .
  5. Encyclopedia: Dalmatians – Page 6. Dalmatian culture . Walrond . Carl . . 1 March 2015 . . 20 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Mrs Thomas Pavletich, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. www.toituosm.com. 2019-01-06.
  7. Encyclopedia: Kauri gum and gum digging – Page 2. The gum diggers . Walrond . Carl . . 24 September 2007 . . 2 January 2020 .
  8. 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 .
  9. Web site: Kumeu Wine Region . . 30 August 2017 . 23 February 2018 .
  10. Encyclopedia: Wine – Page 2. Migrant groups and the wine industry . Dalley . Bronwyn . . 24 November 2008 . . 31 December 2019 .
  11. 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.
  12. Web site: Ragbijaši s Novog Zelanda dolaze u Hrvatsku tražiti pretke. hr. Rugby players from New Zealand come to Croatia to look for their ancestors. glashrvatske.hrt.hr. Glas Hrvatske (HRT). 25 September 2024.
  13. Web site: 12 Questions: Jessie Lawrence . 16 July 2023 .
  14. Web site: Nick Rado - Fun Facts .
  15. Web site: Maria Dallas Profile . Herkt . David . . 21 August 2014 . 3 January 2020 .
  16. Web site: Jim and Rosemari Delegat: Industry architects .
  17. Web site: My Net Worth: Steve Jurkovich, Kiwibank chief executive .
  18. Web site: Dynasty Sport x NZRL . 20 February 2024 .
  19. Web site: The SABATINI Family .
  20. Web site: New Zealand fashion pioneer Peter Nola dies . Stuff . 28 August 2015 . 23 December 2023.
  21. 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.
  22. 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 .
  23. Web site: Champion of the Far North - New Zealand News . 2 October 2009 .
  24. News: Through personal tragedy to a successful career . Novak . Jasna Milić . 11 March 2021 . 12 October 2023 . Croatian Heritage Foundation.
  25. Web site: 'Kia ora lady' made Dame Companion . Stuff . 30 December 2017 . 3 January 2020 .
  26. 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 .
  27. Web site: Famous People with Croatian Heritage – Part 2 . Croatia Week . 6 February 2017 . 3 January 2020 .
  28. Web site: Guardian of New Zealand Wine, Sir George Fistonich Launches Cuvar Winery . 2 November 2023 .

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