Ancestry

My Ancestry Report

Introduction

In 1952 my Great Great Grandfather, Henry Cecil Richardson, migrated to New Zealand on the ‘Captain Cook’. After World War Two, Europe was struggling, they had spent so much money on the war effort that when the war ended they were in extensive debt. This created a few problems for the population such as poverty, hunger and unemployment. The following report will discuss the push and pull factors that contributed to my ancestor’s decision to migrate to New Zealand.

Biography

Henry or “Harry” Richardson was born in Brixham, Devon, England on the 13th of December, 1923. In 1939 he was on a scholarship at Cambridge University when war broke out. He was recruited as a pilot and trained in Arizona, in the United States of America. Later he flew Lancaster Bombers over Germany. He migrated to New Zealand in 1952 to join the Royal New Zealand Airforce where he served for many years and received an MBE from the Queen in 1979. He also wrote two books in New Zealand: Ashburton Borough - The Final Fifty Years and Fatal Success - A Story Of The New Zealand Company.

Push Factor 1

After World War 2, Britain was in a hefty debt. This meant that industries such as mining and farming did not have the funds needed to support them, thus leading to a shortage of jobs and food being scarce. Because of the food shortages, there was food rationing between families. After the war ended, my Great-Grandfather worked for his father-in-law as a carpenter building houses but the pay was terrible and he now had a wife and three young children to support so the rations were stretched thin between the family.

Push Factor 2

As a result of the major debt England was in, income tax was high. This meant that you had to pay a percentage of what you earned to the government. Because of taxes, many families could not afford to pay for food. During the war income taxes in Britain were at an all-time high of 99.25%. This meant that you would give 99.25% of your income to the government. When the war ended the tax rate was lowered to 90%, however this was still unacceptable for a large part of the population.

Discussion of Push Factors

England after the war was a very unforgiving place to live. One in eight houses had been destroyed by bombings and many factories had fallen into disrepair. Famine was beginning to sweep the country as plants had to be regrown and animals had to be bred again. Along with the rationing, taxes had been raised so that you had just enough money to get by, but not enough to thrive. I believe these are the two most likely factors in my ancestor’s decision to leave England.

Pull Factor 1

While training in Arizona, Harry made some deep and lasting friendships with some New Zealand pilots. They told him of a good life in New Zealand and described a beautiful land with long beaches and high mountains. Compared to England at the time New Zealand seemed like a paradise. After the war New Zealand started recruiting young English servicemen and created the Assisted Immigration Scheme which would pay to bring immigrants to New Zealand. My Great-Grandfather thought that this was his opportunity to change his life and see his old friends again. He went to London House, London, and got sworn into the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZA).

Pull Factor 2

In 1950, when England lowered its top income tax rate to 90%, New Zealand’s top rate was around 69%. This difference meant that for every $100 earned you could save an additional $21 in New Zealand at the time. New Zealand continued to lead England in lowering tax rates so that by 1988 New Zealand’s top tax rate was 33% while England’s top rate was 40%! This was really helpful for someone looking to make a new life for his family.

Discussion of Pull Factors

Compared to England, New Zealand was a young country with a small population and still plenty of land to be discovered, farmed and cultivated. While Harry was training to become a pilot in Arizona, he met some New Zealand citizens who told him just these things. And if you looked at the tax rates of these countries, the difference was significant. Because New Zealand was a young country and far from the main war areas, the war had not affected it as critically as England. These factors are the reasons I believe my ancestor chose to migrate to New Zealand.

Conclusion

My Great-Grandfather Harry Richardson had a hard life after the war. But it suddenly seemed to get better when he migrated to New Zealand. And I strongly believe that his choice to come to New Zealand was influenced by these factors. I am glad that he decided to migrate because I can't imagine living anywhere else.

Extension Questions

Question 1

How did the migration of my ancestor contribute to my identity and who I am today?

My Ancestor migrating to New Zealand has made me who I am today. My ancestors decision to migrate to New Zealand has created my life as I know it. He migrated to create a better life for his family. His decision shaped my beliefs and values. If it wasn’t for his decision I wouldn’t have all the privileges I have today and I wouldn’t have the honor of calling myself a ‘kiwi kid’.

Question 2

How has migration contributed to a New Zealand sense of identity?

New Zealand is a place with a strong sense of identity. It is different from all the other countries in the world because of its background and culture. Over 20% of the population of New Zealand this century migrated to New Zealand. The culture in New Zealand has aspects of all life, from Chinese to Indian and English. New Zealand’s difference and range of its people is what shapes it’s identity. Migration is how people of New Zealand all connect. It’s the bridge connecting all of us because we could not have got here without migrating.

References

1979 New Year Honours (New Zealand). (2020, November 05). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_New_Year_Honours_(New_Zealand)#Member_(MBE)

Age of Austerity - Life after war - WJEC - GCSE History Revision - WJEC - BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgmf2nb/revision/1

Assisted immigration resumes after war. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nzhistory.govt.nz/assisted-immigration-resumes-after-war

Assisted immigration, 1947-75. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/assisted-immigration-to-nz-from-the-uk

Britain since 1945. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/United-Kingdom/Britain-since-1945

Burns, P. (1989, January 01). Fatal success : A history of the New Zealand Company / Patricia Burns ; edited by Henry Richardson.: National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved from https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22160249?search[i][collection]=Publications+New+Zealand&search[il][subject]=New+Zealand+--+History+--+To+1840&search[path]=items

Cost of war. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/private-lives/taxation/overview/costofwar/

Henry Cecil Richardson. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C17290

History of taxation in the United Kingdom. (2021, February 26). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_taxation_in_the_United_Kingdom#:~:text=The basic rate was also,40% in the 1988 budget.

History of the British national debt. (2021, February 27). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_national_debt#:~:text=On 31 December 2006, Britain,debt of £21 billion.

New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu Taonga. (2014, December 23). Top income tax rates. Retrieved from https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/21532/top-income-tax-rates

Richardson, Henry Cecil, 1923-1997: National Library of New Zealand. (1923, January 01). Retrieved from https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22366000

Taxation in New Zealand. (2021, January 07). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_New_Zealand