2014年，恰逢工党政府就新西兰历史上针对华社的种族歧视性人头税立法表示正式道歉的12周年纪念。12年前，工党政府的这一道歉使新西兰华人的累累创伤得到抚慰，亦因此强化了新西兰作为一个包容与多元文化社会的良好声誉。
 
中国农历的上一个马年是2002年――那年，总理海伦克拉克代表历届新西兰政府为本国历史上的种族歧视性质的立法向华人社区正式道歉。
 
当人们在2月14日星期五欢聚于奥克兰的元宵灯节，庆贺又一个中国马年新春之际，全国各地的新西兰华裔也在纪念这一历史性的致歉，同时为新西兰社会的多元与包容而额首称庆。
 
工党首位华裔议员霍建强表示，12生肖一轮回，在中国农历的又一个马年里，对人头税历史和新西兰华人社区的持续成长进行一番反思，可谓意义深远。
 
《1881年华人移民法》向华人强征每人10磅的人头税，并限制华人入境新西兰的人数，这是其他任何族裔都不曾遭遇过的条款。这一种族歧视法案令新西兰的华人感到极为屈辱与伤痛。
 
借庆贺马年之机，我们要记住并感谢筚路蓝缕的华人先驱，是他们为后来的华人移民能在新西兰谋生创业铺好了路。
 
霍建强议员还说：我们也要借此机会悼念、缅怀今年1月份仙逝的华人学者、终身教授Kuan Meng Goh。尊敬的Goh教授是促成政府为人头税问题向华社致歉的重要推手，他还为基督城以及全新西兰的华人社区作出了无价的宝贵贡献。
 
霍议员并表示：“与新西兰各族裔共庆中国新年之时，我们不忘中国的一句老话：‘喝水莫忘挖井人’。所以，工党通过整个春节庆祝活动向新西兰早期的移民开拓者们表示感谢与致敬，同时为民众展呈了一个人人有机会、社会公平而多元的美好愿景。”

（本文英文原文如下）

Raymond                                                                                                                                                                                
HUO
Associate spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs

14 February 2014                                                                                     MEDIA STATEMENT

Time to reflect on historic poll tax apology

This year marks the twelfth anniversary of the historic poll tax apology by the Labour Government  which healed many wounds for the Kiwi Chinese community and strengthened New Zealand’s legacy as an inclusive and welcoming multicultural society.

It was during the last Year of the Horse celebrations in 2002 that the then Prime Minister Helen Clark made the official apology to the Chinese community on behalf of all previous New Zealand governments for the racially discriminatory legislation.

While celebrating the Chinese New Year, which will culminate this Friday 14 February with the Lantern Festival in Auckland, Kiwi Chinese people nationwide are remembering the historic apology and celebrating New Zealand’s diverse and inclusive society.

Labour’s first Chinese-born MP Raymond Huo says the turn of the 12-year Chinese lunar calendar is a poignant time for the community to reflect on the history of the poll tax as well as the continued growth of our Kiwi Chinese community in New Zealand. 

“The Chinese Immigrants Act of 1881 imposed a poll-tax of ten pounds per Chinese person and limited the amount of Chinese people who were able to enter New Zealand, something no other ethnic group was subjected to. The racially discriminatory legislation caused Chinese people in New Zealand to feel a sense of grievance.

“Celebrations of the Year of the Horse are also an important opportunity to remember and pay tribute to those early pioneers who paved the way for future Chinese migrants to make a life of opportunity in New Zealand.

“On this occasion it is timely for us to remember and mourn respected Chinese academic Emeritus Professor Kuan Meng Goh who sadly passed away in January this year.

“Professor Goh was instrumental in initiating the historic apology to the Chinese community for the poll tax, as well as offering invaluable service to the Chinese communities both in Christchurch and across New Zealand” says Raymond Huo.

“While celebrating Chinese New Year with local communities across New Zealand, I’ve had people sharing with me the Chinese saying that urges us to remember when drinking water, don’t forget those who dug the well” says Raymond Huo. “Over the Spring Festival Labour is paying tribute to those early settlers and offering a vision of a diverse society that offers fairness and opportunity for all. “