Media Advisory - Celebrating Chinese Culture

September offers an opportunity to learn, enjoy and participate in Chinese culture.

Celebrating Chinese Culture is an extensive programme of events and activities organised by six local Chinese groups and organisations. The groups are collaborating to support New Zealand Chinese Language Week (NZCLW) and to celebrate the Chinese Moon Festival - one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture.

Palmerston North City Council’s multi-cultural services coordinator Jeremie Corroenne is facilitating a line-up of family-friendly events which are primarily being held at the Library. These include two Chinese cooking workshops at Youth Space, Chinese language and cultural activities, Chinese film screenings, calligraphy workshops and Tai Chi classes. Usual library activities will also embrace Chinese culture, and there will be an on-going exhibition of Chinese artefacts, Chinese calligraphy poems, and the Chinese language during the three-week programme.

“Our local Chinese community are presenting some fantastic activities and events over the three weeks,” says Jeremie. “We hope people take advantage of this opportunity to embrace the Chinese culture by attending or participating, as there is a wide range of activities.”

The traditional Lion Eye Dotting ceremony will feature at a programme highlight on Saturday 17 September at the Palmerston North City Library. The Manawatu Chinese Association Lion Dance Troupe will open the event with the Palmerston North Chinese School also performing a variety of items including dancing, singing, cross-talking (traditional Chinese comedy) and games.

Outside of the Palmerston North City Library are two other events.

A Chinese cultural variety show Moon Festival Celebration is being held at the Regent Theatre on 10 September and is one of the highlights of theCelebrating Chinese Culture programme. The Moon Festival celebrates three fundamental concepts, which are; family reunion, thanksgiving and prosperity. The Moon Festival Celebration is presented by the PN Chinese Students and Scholars Association, talented artists from Massey University student clubs, and Wellington and Palmerston North Chinese communities. The show will feature; Peking opera, martial art, traditional Chinese instruments and a Chinese rock band. This is promised to be an unforgettable and affordable show for the whole family.

Celebrating Chinese Culture ends with a Discover China Day at the Palmerston North Convention Centre 1- 5pm on 2 October. This event will feature Chinese calligraphy displays, Chinese folk dance, clay figurines and traditional Chinese instruments. A Chinese speech competition is also being held.

Celebrating Chinese Culture activities run from 10 September to 2 October. All events except for the Moon Festival Celebration are free. Tickets for the Moon Festival Celebration can be purchased from the Regent Theatre or Ticket Direct. Tickets are $6 or $10.

The Celebrating Chinese Culture organising group received an $8,000 grant from the Palmerston North City Council Celebrating Communities fund to assist with the cost of delivering the programme.

More details on all the activities can be found on: citylibrary.pncc.govt.nz/celebrating-chinese-culture.

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