Asia:NZ Media Newsletter For 2007

Kia ora, annyonghaseyo and welcome to the first Asia:NZ media newsletter for 2007. In this issue, we mark the incoming Year of the Pig with news of our annual Chinese Lantern Festivals in Auckland and Christchurch. It is a sign of the times that these are only two of a myriad of Chinese New Year events planned throughout the country. In other news, there are a flurry of workshops and seminars related to the growing pulling power of Asian markets and we’ll even give you some of the necessary skills to explore their possibilities. Gong xi fa cai! Wishing our readers a happy and prosperous New Year.

1. In this issue:

2. Happier than a pig in mud

3. Asian crime: Arresting statistics

4. Burdon returns to Asia:NZ board

5. Asia:NZ on Asia Forum agenda

6. Asia means business

7. Fairfax aims for diversity

8. ASEAN free trade update

9. Business survival tips for China

10. India seminar at VUW

11. Hello! Japan

12. Danya Levy in Hanoi

Happier than a pig in mud
On February 18, over a billion people around the world will celebrate Chinese New Year and this year it’s all about the pig.

So far we’ve seen pig stamps in New Zealand, a report on a wedding between two pet pigs in Taiwan, pig races in China’s Shandong province and a national ban on pig images on Chinese television so as not to offend the country’s 18 million Muslims.

Yes, 2007 is the Year of the Pig (or the boar as it was when the Chinese zodiac became established) and follows the Dog, a year reputed to be lucky for love and weddings.

And now, the Year of the Fire Pig is supposed to be an especially good year for children because a pig year is associated with fertility and virility.

While Chinese New Year is being celebrated among many Asian communities in New Zealand, the Asia New Zealand Foundation is again bringing international performers and hundreds of Chinese lanterns to light up central Auckland and Christchurch.

Albert Park in Auckland (March 2-4) and Victoria Square in Christchurch (March 10-11) will be scenes of celebration, giving Chinese communities in both centres the chance to share this magical tradition with all families.

The events attracted huge crowds last year with up to 150,000 attending over three nights in Auckland and 35,000 over two nights in Christchurch.

One of the many highlights at this year’s Chinese Lantern Festival will be Beijing’s Red Poppy, an internationally renowned all-women percussion group who will be drumming up a storm.

“Red Poppy unique artistic style combines traditional and contemporary musical influences, maximising the colour and drama of Chinese drumming to create an extravaganza that shakes both the stage and the senses,” said Asia:NZ’s culture director Jennifer King.

“Another highlight will be the Sichuan tea pourer Zhou Xiaofang. Tea pouring at restaurants has developed into a martial art called gong fu cha [kung fu tea] and is highly entertaining.”

This year’s Chinese Lantern Festival will be the eighth in Auckland and the third in Christchurch and both will also feature school lantern-making competitions.

Schools in Auckland and Christchurch are regularly invited to participate with the competitions each year attracting hundreds of entries from children aged 5-17 years of age.

The best entries will be displayed at both festivals with the winners being announced at the conclusion of each event. All lanterns will be judged on creativity, construction and workmanship.

For more information, contact Jennifer King at jking@asianz.org.nz or John Saunders at jsaunders@asianz.org.nz.

Asian crime: Arresting statistics
Kefeng Chu is unmistakably Asian, he speaks Mandarin and English fluently and advises the police on how to work with ethnic communities – in particular Asian communities.

His official title is strategic adviser for Maori Pacific Ethnic Services of the New Zealand Police.

A journalist investigating the issue of crime committed by Asians would have done well to get the perspective of this senior Asian member of the police force.

Mr Chu, who is from China’s Fujian province, is acutely aware of the sensitivity that Asian communities have towards an issue that is gravely misunderstood by many non-Asian New Zealanders.

He is also well versed with New Zealand’s crime statistics but crucially, his comments were not sought for the North & South article on Asian crime entitled Asian Angst: Is it time to send some back?

While the views of two Asians were included in the article, one of them, iBall editor Lincoln Tan, has since expressed his dismay to the publication at the way comments lifted from his weekly NZ Herald column were used to sanction the central hypothesis of the article of a gathering crime wave.

While Mr Tan’s opinions had at least been canvassed by the author, Kefeng Chu’s view (and for that matter those of other Chinese New Zealanders working for the police) on the prevalence of crimes committed by Asians should have been an integral part of a journalistic investigation into a deeply contentious issue.

Mr Chu says the sensitivity that many Asian New Zealanders and visiting Asian students have over the issue of crime centres on their sense of belonging in New Zealand and how they as individuals or as members of an ethnic minority are perceived and judged by the wider public.

As a consequence of the language and cultural barriers that exist between the mainstream and Asian communities, Mr Chu says the police have worked hard to put in place effective ethnic strategies.

As Asian communities have grown, particularly in the Auckland region, the police have responded accordingly. There are now over 50 ethnic Chinese police in the Auckland region. There are also three Asian liaison officers working with new migrant communities.

He also points out that overall crime statistics demonstrate that offences committed by Asians make up significantly fewer than those committed by non-Asian.

For example, in 2005, Asians from the three main geographical categories – North Asian, Southeast Asian and South Asian – made up just 2.58 percent of all national apprehensions for offences despite making up about 9 percent of the population.

In 2001, Asians made up 2.43 percent of all national apprehensions for offences despite being 6.37 percent of the population.

In 1996, Asians made up 1.92 percent of all national apprehensions for offences despite being 4.80 percent of the population.

Due to the publicity that it has attracted in the past, the crime that many New Zealanders associated with new Chinese migrants and students is kidnapping.

Mr Chu notes that there was a sharp increase in Asian/Chinese kidnapping cases in 2002 and 2003 with 24 and 72 arrests respectively but last year that number had plunged to nine cases in 2004 and eight cases in 2005.

He says the decline can be directly attributed to the police working with Asian and Chinese communities to raise awareness of the seriousness of kidnapping as a crime under New Zealand law. Asian liaison officers have been getting the message out through presentations at language schools and in the Asian and Chinese community media.

As the Asia New Zealand Foundation noted in its May 2006 media newsletter, the Asian crime wave is over-rated. Isn’t it about time to stop using crime as a pretext for opposing immigration from Asian countries?

Burdon returns to Asia:NZ board
The role of the Asia New Zealand Foundation is even more important now than when it was established as a key part of the Asia 2000 programme in 1992, says its new chairman and one of its founders.

Mr Burdon, who replaces Sir Dryden Spring, says the foundation has a vital role to play and he is looking forward to contributing to that process.

Convinced of the significance of stronger ties with the Asian region, Mr Burdon, together with then fellow government minister Don McKinnon, founded the Asia New Zealand Foundation in 1994.

“The emergence of Asia makes the significance of the Asia New Zealand Foundation even more crucial now than at the time of its establishment,” Mr Burdon said.

“The reality of our association with Asia is aggressively emphasised by the recent census statistics which help underline that the importance of New Zealand’s engagement with the region is socially and economically essential to our future.

“We are part of the Asia Pacific sphere of involvement and that makes the foundation increasingly relevant in influencing the role that New Zealand can choose to play in the region.”

The foundation was established to improve the understanding of New Zealanders of the Asian region, not just in the business community but in every sector of New Zealand society.

Mr Burdon is a distinguished businessman and former politician. He was a minister in the National government that was elected in 1990, with the responsibilities of Trade Negotiations, Commerce and Industry and State Owned Enterprises before retiring from politics in 1996.

Other Asia:NZ board appointments are; Rob McLeod (NZ Business Roundtable Chairman, 2006 Outstanding Maori Business Leader), Mai Chen (Chen Palmer Barristers and Solicitors), Gavin Ellis (former editor of the New Zealand Herald), Tony Nowell (CEO of Zespri) and Richard Nottage (former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

Asia:NZ on Asia Forum agenda
The Asia Forum meeting in February is to focus on the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s agenda over the next three years. The discussion will be led by Asia:NZ’s Chair, Philip Burdon.

The discussion, entitled Reflections on the Asia:NZ agenda 2007-2010, will be held at the Russell McVeagh offices, 157 Lambton Quay, Wellington from 5.30-7pm on Tuesday February 27.

The Asia Forum is a discussion group which meets monthly in Wellington. The objective is to improve understanding of Asian political issues and their impact on trade and investment and to encourage the exchange of views of those with similar interests in different fields.

Details can be found at http://www.apri.ac.nz/Asia_Forum/. Seating is limited. To attend, contact Farib Sos on 04 914 5240 or at farib.sos@apri.ac.nz.

Asia means business
The Asia New Zealand Foundation is to host a major business summit later this year called Action Asia in conjunction with Export Year 2007.

The initiative, in conjunction with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s Export Year 2007 activities, is aimed at enhancing the business community’s awareness, knowledge, skills and confidence in engaging with Asian economies.

The two-day event, modelled on the Seriously Asia conference in 2003, will seek to provide business with access to key market intelligence, case studies and leading international experts on why they should, and how they can, effectively engage with the world’s fastest growing region, Asia.

The Action Asia summit will be held at the Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland on July 9-10. For more information or to be put on a mailing list, contact Asia:NZ media adviser Charles Mabbett at cmabbett@asianz.org.nz.

Fairfax aims for diversity
The first intake of Fairfax Media’s journalism intern scheme has a refreshingly diverse look to it, something which the organisation’s management is keen to build on.

The media organisation has announced after an exhaustive selection process attracting 230 applicants that it has selected 17 potential journalists to enter its new recruitment programme.

The successful candidates will now be enrolled in journalism courses at partner institutions Wintec, Massey University, Aoraki Polytechnic and the University of Canterbury after which they will be employed by Fairfax Media publications.

Editorial development manager Clive Lind says of the current intake, five of the students are Maori, one is Pasifika and one is Asian.

He says an important feature of the recruitment policy is to find aspiring journalists who reflect New Zealand’s evolving society and cultural diversity is one aspect of this.

The Asian candidate is Priyanka Bhonsule who came to New Zealand when she was 12 and who has been selected as an intern by Fairfax’s Central Community Newspapers.

Mr Lind says Fairfax management are on a huge learning curve in developing this programme. Apart from the mainstream media, advertisements about the internship were also placed in ethnic publications such as Tongan, Korean and Chinese.

He says some refinement is still required in promoting the scheme and this means getting across the high level of general knowledge that would be needed, among other things, to make a successful applicant.

An NZJTO survey last year identified the need for more cultural diversity in New Zealand news rooms. The survey revealed that Europeans made up 83 percent of journalists in the industry, with 8.5 percent identifying as Maori or Maori/Pakeha. The only other minorities polling over 1 percent were Chinese and Australians on 1.2 percent.

More information about the Fairfax Media journalism intern scheme can be found at www.fairfaxmedia.co.nz. Applications for next year’s intake will be open from early July 2007. They will close about a month later.

ASEAN free trade update
What issues do New Zealand businesses face in trading with ASEAN countries and what outcomes would they like to see from a free trade agreement with ASEAN?

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce with the ASEAN New Zealand Combined Business Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding a meeting to update businesses on critical ASEAN negotiations.

Next month, New Zealand will host the next round of negotiations, which are now entering the substantive phase of detailed market access.

Martin Harvey, lead negotiator of the Australia/NZ-ASEAN free trade agreement, will outline the current status of negotiations and those attending will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues that directly affect them.

Negotiators need to know and understand the needs and interests of New Zealand businesses and other stakeholders.

The meeting is at 4-5.30pm on Tuesday February 20 in Room 204 of the Clock Tower Building, 22 Princes Street, Auckland. The event is supported by the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the New Zealand Asia Institute. It is free and open to all but attendees will need to register by emailing int@chamber.co.nz or nzai@auckland.ac.nz.

Business survival tips for China
Language and etiquette are things that many business people struggle with on business trips. How far in advance should you book your appointments in Korea? Where do you sit during a meeting in Japan? Should you take a gift? How do you get around with little or no knowledge of local languages?

The Asia New Zealand Foundation, in conjunction with AUT University and cross-cultural consultancy BrandWorks, is holding a series of survival workshops for business people wanting to get into Asian markets.

The first workshop on February 28 is about China. The workshop is pitched at a beginners’ level with tips on pronunciation, phrases and business etiquette and will be followed by a networking reception.

The Business Trip Survival Workshop for China will be held in Room WF710 of the Business Building at AUT University on Wednesday February 28 from 5-7.30pm. Places are limited. For more information, contact Asia:NZ’s Auckland manager Sarah Creagh at screagh@asianz.org.nz.

India seminar at VUW
The Asian Studies Institute in Wellington is to hold a seminar later this week on India and New Zealand entitled Migration, Perceptions and Relations.

The day-long seminar at Victoria University on Friday February 16 will focus on the Indians in New Zealand and discuss ethnic and political identity and cultural expression.

Speakers include Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, a professor of Asian history and a key member of the Asia Knowledge Working Group, and Ruth DeSouza, a founding member of the Aotearoa Ethnic Network.

Presentations topics include The Media and Diaspora in New Zealand by Nabeel Zuberi and Not Quite White: Race, Citizenship and South Asian Migration in Early 20th Century New Zealand by Tony Ballantyne.

For more information and a programme of the event, contact Laila Faisal at laila.faisal@vuw.ac.nz.

Hello! Japan
There’s a new Japanese-English educational newspaper that aims to serve as a resource for students of all ages learning Japanese.

The publishers of Hello! Japan say the main purpose is to provide young people in New Zealand with informative and enjoyable study material and the latest topics from Japan.

Editor and project manager, Yuriko Mochinaga, says it’s a totally new type of educational second language newspaper that aims to be “topical, vibrant and informative”.

The 16-page publication will cost $1.50 a copy and be available through educational institutions such as schools, universities and libraries. It will contain lessons for three levels of learning – beginner, junior and senior – as well as sections on J-Pop and J-Comics among other features.

The newspaper will be sent to Japanese language teachers directly by mail and it is hoped to be available in all schools and tertiary institutions where Japanese is studied.

Mr Mochinaga is also negotiating with a number of bookstores about retailing the newspaper and hopes to make it available to others that way.

She says there are about 42,000 students undertaking Japanese courses in New Zealand and, with no common text available in New Zealand for students, Hello! Japan will help connect students and teachers around New Zealand.

Ms Mochinaga, who graduated with a law degree in Japan and then obtained a National Diploma in Journalism while studying in New Zealand, says she has been able to get the support of New Zealand educators in launching this venture.

The first issue of Hello! Japan will be available from February 26. For more information, contact Yuriko Mochinaga by email at yuriko.mochinaga@n3c.co.nz.

Danya Levy in Hanoi
Censorship, e.coli-infected ice and motorcycle madness on the streets of Hanoi could have caused headaches covering the 2006 APEC summit in Vietnam. But as Danya Levy of Radio Live discovered, writing trade stories for commercial radio was a bigger challenge.

For every square kilometre of road in central Hanoi at rush hour there are 4500 motorcycles, and 450 cars, warns the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Affair’s travel information on Vietnam.

The cheap Chinese-made motorbikes - responsible for three-quarters of the capital’s 48 daily fatalities - make the simple act of crossing the road a nightmare for visitors. There are few traffic lights and the helmet-less riders, often carrying their entire families, miraculously weave around each other without slowing down.

Heeding its own warnings, MFAT organised a van for the New Zealand media contingent.

Six of us from various news organisations were in Vietnam for six days to cover the annual talk fest being attended by Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Trade Minister Phil Goff and culminating in a two-day meeting of leaders from the 21 member nations. Seated alphabetically around the table, Prime Minister Helen Clark would be nestled between Mexico and Papua New Guinea.

We were greeted at the airport by Ngan, a Ho Chi Minh local working for NZTE who had been recruited as our media liaison, and Hai, a Vietnamese government employee tasked with keeping an eye on us.

We had been warned we would have a state-appointed liaison, but any concerns of being forced to tow the socialist line were quickly dispelled. Hai accompanied us to pick up our media passes at the newly finished and purpose-built APEC stadium on the outskirts of town. But by our second day the young bureaucrat was more interested in the multitude of pretty young women working at the stadium, their traditional turquoise and gold dresses sashaying as they walked.

APEC was something of a coming of age for Vietnam. A chance for the government to showcase its rapidly developing country with an economy boasting 7.5 percent growth, second only to China. Market reforms in the past decade had created a booming private sector. And just days before APEC commenced, Vietnam was granted membership to the World Trade Organisation.

It was also a chance for Vietnam to lure lucrative foreign investment.

In preparation for the summit, authorities cleaned up the streets by rounding up street children and vagrants, an operation that sparked condemnation from the US-based Human Rights Watch. Well-known dissidents were placed under house arrest.

As 1000 international journalists descended on Hanoi, traffic police also took control.

While being ferried around in a hired van with other journalists is akin to sheep herding, it has its advantages.

Policemen with whistles and gloves held hundreds of motorcycles at bay while 250 shiny new black Mercedes ferried ministers and leaders unhindered through city streets to the stadium.

Hundreds of white vans were also purchased to transport delegates and media. It soon became apparent that the quickest way to travel was to join a passing motorcade, any motorcade. It was a fun game which our driver soon began to enjoy.

While trade and foreign affairs aren’t subjects traditionally covered by commercial radio, recent altercations between Winston Peters and the media had overshadowed his trips to Malta and Washington.

But the foreign minister was on his best behaviour. His meeting with U.S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was a triumph and he wanted the people back home to know about it.

While gaining the ear of the world’s most powerful woman generated some interest, I was struggling. Our trade minister had done his best to push for a resumption of the WTO’s Doha round of global trade talks, but that wasn’t going to have listeners at home turning up the radio.

I was failing to get Martin Devlin’s breakfast show interested, and just making the drive show with James Coleman.

But thousands of kilometres away, violence erupted in Tonga. It destroyed most of the capital Nuku’alofa and left six dead.

Helen Clark arrived in Hanoi and put New Zealand on the map with a pertinent speech to fellow leaders on climate change. But at home, all people wanted to hear about was Tonga. With the foreign minister, the defence minister (Phil Goff’s other hat) and the prime minister in Vietnam, any official comment from the New Zealand government had to come from Hanoi. So as the summit wound up, a small Pacific island became our biggest story.

I filed my last audio clips from the media centre, surrounded by hundreds of reporters from all over the world. A shy journalist from the Vietnamese Women’s Newspaper approached me and asked me awkwardly if I would answer a couple of questions about my experience covering APEC in Vietnam. I didn’t feel I could say no.

Her questions centred on whether I enjoyed my time in Vietnam and what memories I would be taking home. As we were talking other reporters came up and before I knew it there were more cameras and microphones pointed at me!

I smiled, and smiled some more. The tables had been turned and I didn't like being on the other side!

The next Asia:NZ media newsletter will be available in March. The views expressed by various contributors to the newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Asia New Zealand Foundation. If you are interested in contributing to the newsletter, please contact Asia:NZ’s media adviser Charles Mabbett at cmabbett@asianz.org.nz

Toitu he kianga; whatungarongaro he tangata - people are transient things but the land endures.

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