[4] Hungarians began to emigrate to New Zealand in the middle of the 19th century, but this was not a permanent settling.
After the Hungarian Revolution in 1848 small groups arrived from Hungary, but also they travelled forward.
Some of their descendants became famous: in 1970 István Kókay's son, Stephen Kokay was chosen as the representative of the Waiau district on the Wallace County Council.
One of his daughters is a biologist, named Dr. Ilona Kokay, who teaches at the Otago University.
[6][better source needed]His son Les Kokay is internationally recognised in music circles for his writings on Bob Dylan in ISIS magazine[7] and other writings on Bob Dylan.
On 20 August 2006, Magyar Millennium Park was opened in Wellington, featuring an original Székely gate.