Alistair Kwun: Moving in and out of cultures a natural part of being

Alistair Kwun

It's not easy being Chinese in New Zealand. People assume you're (a) rich; (b) a bad driver; (c) poor in English; (d) out to take over the country.

But, guess what? I'm none of the above, yet a lot of the time I get boxed into one or more of those categories.

Like a lot of my Chinese Diaspora brothers and sisters, I was born in New Zealand, but didn't choose to be. I speak English fluently; it's my Chinese that needs work. By New Zealand-born standards, my Cantonese isn't half-bad, but I wish I could communicate on a deeper level with native Chinese speakers.

I used to think of myself as a Banana, but last year I came across a fantastic term that captured the true spirit of my cultural hybridity: transculturalism*. How am I a transculturalist? Because my level of intercultural contact is high, and is not only a product of globalised pop-culture, but an embracing of my own international heritage and identity.

I adore German films, listen to American hip hop, love Kiwi music videos and travel to Hong Kong every chance I get.

These days I see floating in and out of cultures as a natural and integral part of my existence, and perhaps my birthright.

Exciting opportunities lie ahead for all New Zealanders in this new cultural landscape. This has to be New Zealand's biggest intercultural exercise. Carpe diem.

* Alistair Kwun, a first-generation Chinese New Zealander, works as a cross-cultural promoter and arts publicist in Auckland.