The name Wah Lee has been associated with fireworks in Auckland since 1890. Barry's parents, the late Linda and George Wah Lee, first started importing fireworks to NZ from China and selling them from their shop in Greys Ave, then known as Chinatown. From there, George and Linda moved up to Hobson St, Barry and his brother Robert still run the Wah Lee store at 220 Hobson St, Auckland.