Topic: Ta Phat-Thanh
Topic Type: Person
Mr. Phat is fluent in five languages ( English, Vietnamese, French, Mandarin and Cantonese)
Mr Pat immigrated to New Zealand from Vietnam in 1982 and has spent much of his life in the service of others, particulrly the migrant community. Among his many education and community work certificates is one for food handling. "I took the food hygiene course because as a community interpreter, I was aware many people in the Asian community were taking this course, and Wintec needed someone who could help interpret in that area."
In addition to his studies, Mr Pat is a Justice of the Peace, an intepreter at the Migrant Resource Centre, and president of the Vietnamese Association in Hamilton. (Source: Scoop, Waikato Institute of Technology, Issue 1 2008 p.25)
In 2001 Mr. Pat received a Civic Award for being one of Hamilton's 'unsung heroes'.
The following are excerpts from the article 'Helping me, helping you' appearing in the Waikato Times of May 16, 2001, p.7, in which Ta Phat Thanh tells his story.
"My parents were Chinese but I was born in Vietnam so my name is in Vietnamese."
"After war finished in 1975 a few years were very difficult. I was very lucky to have my sister support me. She was already here in New Zealand. She came here three years before me. When she became citizen she applied for a visa for me under the united family programme. No other country at that time was accepting immigrants. The first time my sister applied for entry visa for me the Government rejected me."
"My sister applied a second time so they accepted me. I came here in 1982."
"When I retire I thought I should learn. I can speak so many languages, English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese. I go to university and joined the interpreting class and got a certificate. What I can do is the people know me especially when I became JP in 1997 so the people know me if they need anything or help. I help people apply for citizenship, certify the papers, help with passport, anything."
