Photograph of Deb Donnelly and siblings Jo and Leo

This is a photograph of siblings Deb Donnelly, Jo Cullen and Leo Donnelly. They are second-generation New Zealanders of mixed Japanese/Pākehā heritage – their parents Mick Donnelly and Setsuko Yotsugi met in Kure, Japan while Mick was stationed there carrying out administrative duties with New Zealand’s Kayforce, part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces (BCOF). Setsuko would eventually travel from her hometown Takehara, near Hiroshima, to New Zealand and marry Mick in Newtown, Wellington in 1956 before settling in Berhampore.

Setsuko was a foundation member of the Japan Society of New Zealand, established in 1959, and was made a Life Member in 1980 for her service to the society. Both her and Mick were often called upon to be Wellington community liaisons to facilitate Japanese trade and diplomatic relations during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Donnelly children, who grew up in Wellington at a time when there were few people of Japanese descent living in Aotearoa, recall how their mother Setsuko instilled in them a sense of pride in their dual heritage. The children were often involved in the public events facilitated by their parents.

Deb, Leo and Jo have all fostered their connection with Japanese language and cultural traditions in different ways. Deb, a textile artist, has represented New Zealand many times at the World Shibori Festival. Lawyer and ombudsman Leo studied kendo and karate through his teenage years, has black belts in both sports, and has been involved with Karate New Zealand for 46 years as a participant, coach, administrator and mentor. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to karate in 2021. Josephine (Jo), a secondary Mathematics, Science and Physical Education teacher, studied Japanese at university and taught Japanese at primary school and college. She has introduced many of her students over the years to origami, calligraphy, Japanese folk tales, sushi and okonomiyaki.

This photograph is part of a set of 24 photographs featuring twelve people who are either Japanese immigrants to New Zealand, their children, or descendants of Japanese New Zealanders. The images were carefully staged for an exhibition in 2016 which was, in turn, the outcome of a project sponsored by the Japan Society of Wellington and organized by Japan Society member Susan Zou and Noriko Murakami in 2016.

*Text based on interview summaries by Susan Zou and Noriko Murakami for the ‘Japanese Immigrants' experiences in New Zealand’ photographic exhibition, 2016.