Story: Ethnic and religious intolerance

'Enemy alien'

During the Second World War people of German, Italian and Japanese descent were interned on Matiu (Somes Island) in Wellington Harbour. As German internee Charles Klinginstein explains, conditions at first were tough. However, in the last years of the war things improved and the internees were able to grow vegetables and earn pocket money by making small objects for sale. The man shown here is making pāua-shell jewellery.

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (Charles Klingenstein interview/Reference number T4974)

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: W. Wynne Mason, Prisoners of war. Wellington: War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs, 1954, plate facing, p. 339.

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How to cite this page:

Paul Spoonley, 'Ethnic and religious intolerance - Intolerance towards European immigrants', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/28169/enemy-alien (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Paul Spoonley, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 7 Jun 2018