Family Reunites Across Continents After Decades of Separation

A family in Palmerston North, New Zealand, has reconnected with long-lost relatives in China after decades of separation. Ai Kwong Chiew recently established contact with family members in China, stemming from an unbroken bond initiated by her father, Wu Long Shan, who left China for Singapore in the 1920s.

Wu Long Shan, born in 1903, faced profound loss when his wife passed away, prompting his move to Singapore. He left behind his son with relatives, determined to maintain a connection despite the miles. After relocating to Malaysia and eventually moving to New Zealand in 1991, Shan relied on Ai Kwong to reach out to family in China, as he was unable to write.

The communication persisted until 2005, when a house move disconnected their landline, severing the link with family members in China. Despite this, Ai Kwong never forgot her relatives. Recently, she felt compelled to reconnect with her nephew, Wu Lian Ming, having last communicated over 20 years ago.

Efforts to Reconnect Yield Results

Ai Kwong’s daughter, Peggy Chiew, who works as an international student administrator at the English Teaching College in Palmerston North, took the initiative to help her mother reach out. She enlisted the assistance of students from Shandong province in northern China. One of the students even visited a police station to check household registration records.

Tragically, they discovered that Wu Lian Ming had passed away three months prior. Nevertheless, they managed to video call his son, Wu Jie, marking a poignant moment for Ai Kwong. “The most touching part of it was when we were on Facetime and we couldn’t talk, we were both just crying saying ‘I miss you’,” Ai Kwong recounted.

The family in China had also been attempting to reach their relatives in New Zealand but faced challenges after losing contact. Now, with a renewed connection, they are communicating regularly.

A Bittersweet Reunion

Peggy expressed her mixed emotions regarding the situation. “It was heartbreaking that my mum didn’t get the chance to reconnect with her nephew while he was alive, but we’re deeply grateful that we were able to get in touch with his son.” She described the reunion as a “full-circle moment,” noting it was a “bitter-sweet but beautiful ending to a decades-long story of separation, longing, and love.”

Plans are already underway for Wu Jie and his family to visit Ai Kwong’s family at the end of the year in Sibu, Malaysia, where her grandfather is laid to rest.

Ai Kwong, one of the last members of her family to move to New Zealand, contributed significantly to the family’s textile importing and exporting business before retiring last year. Other relatives had migrated to New Zealand during the 1960s and 1980s, primarily for educational opportunities. They hail from a small farming village near Yantai, China.

Having spent a significant portion of her life in New Zealand, Ai Kwong remarked, “I’m a Kiwi now. I’ve been here too long.” Her story highlights the enduring nature of familial ties, transcending geographical barriers and decades of separation.