Choie Sew Hoy was born in Guangdong, China in 1838. At 13 he went to the USA to California to work in the Gold Rush. He returned to China and married having 4 children. He then moved to Melbourne, Australia and became a merchant selling to the miners. Choie then moved to Otago, NZ in 1861 selling rice, peanut oil and other goods to the miners. He became a Dunedin business leader. His mission that he accomplished was ending racism between the Chinese people and New Zealand people by sending notes, letters and newspapers to the government asking if they could treat the Chinese people entering New Zealand fairly and they agreed. He also helped the Dunedin community giving money to hospitals, libraChoie was also involved with transporting the bones of dead Chinese men back to China so they did not become ‘Hungry Ghosts.’ Choie Sew Hoy died in 1901 and body parts where put onto the Ventor. The Ventor sailed north but hit a rock off Taranaki and sank. Body parts, including his, washed up on shore in the Hokianga.
He left a huge family and business behind.