On the evening of September 6th, the 7th Multicultural Festival and Mid-Autumn Banquet was grandly held in Auckland.
The Multicultural Festival is an annual celebration that brings together people from different ethnicities to appreciate New Zealand's rich and diverse cultures.
This year marks the seventh festival.
Additionally, the event also celebrated the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday symbolizing reunion and harmony, perfectly embodying the grand gathering of different ethnic groups!
Many distinguished guests from the government, organizations, and the Chinese community attended the event.
The guest list:
Guests from the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland:
Consul General Chen Shijie
Guests from the China Cultural Center:
Xu Tong, Director of the China Cultural Center in Wellington
Ministers and Members of Parliament:
Hon Paul Goldsmith, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Minister of Justice, Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Hon Jenny Salesa Helen White Dr Parmjeet Parmar Simon Court, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Lawrence Xu-Nan
Auckland City Councillors:
Desley Simpson, Deputy Mayor of Auckland Greg Sayers Lotu Fuli
Local Board Members:
Bo Burns, Deputy Chair of the Howick Local Board George Hawkins Adele White
Former Ministers and Members of Parliament:
Dr Yang Jian (Dr. Jian Yang) Martin Gallagher, former Deputy Mayor of Hamilton
Former National Party and Association Leaders:
Peter Goodfellow, former National Party President Dave Bromwich, former Chair of the New Zealand China Friendship Society
Guests from St John:
Kevin Simpkin, North Island Chair Dr Andrew Zhu Stephen Robinson
Guests from the Auckland Breast Cancer Foundation:
Ah-Leen Rayner, Foundation Chair Tony Hannifin
Minister Paul Goldsmith highly praised the inclusiveness and diversity of the festival.
He said, "New Zealand warmly celebrates the arrival of Chinese settlers in this city and acknowledges the significant contributions they have made to New Zealand by promoting business growth, creating wealth, and generating opportunities."
He also extended his best wishes to the Chinese community on the occasion of this festival.
Mr. Chen Shijie, Consul General of China in Auckland, emphasized that the Chinese have been settling in New Zealand for over a century, and the friendship between the people of China and New Zealand is deep.
He said, "For over 100 years, Chinese immigrants have been an important part of New Zealand society, witnessing the development of China-New Zealand relations and contributing in various fields.
As a result, Chinese culture is becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand, and more young New Zealanders are showing interest in learning Chinese."
Steven Wong, the president of the New Zealand Chinese Association, the event's organizer, mentioned in his speech that New Zealand is a multicultural society where people of different races live in harmony.
He said, "Tonight's celebration aims to bring together people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. May our future generations continue to maintain our friendship and unity."
Wong shared a story about his long-standing relationship with three generations of his friend Katrina Bungard's family, highlighting the racial harmony in New Zealand.
In 1975, Katrina's grandfather, a lawyer, provided financial assistance when he was purchasing his first house.
Later, her father continued to offer legal services. Recently, Wong met Katrina at a community event, where she mentioned that as a child, she often enjoyed chips her father brought home from Wong's factory.
This experience demonstrates the deep friendships between people of different ethnic backgrounds and emphasizes New Zealand’s multicultural and harmonious society.
Wong emphasized that the event was organized to counter some of the discriminatory sentiments against Chinese people.
He stressed the importance of Chinese people engaging deeply with locals, fostering intergenerational friendships, adapting to local customs, and abiding by the rules.
Additionally, he encouraged contributing to the local community and supporting charitable causes to create a positive and admirable image of Chinese people in New Zealand.
The evening featured over a dozen performances from various ethnic groups, showcasing the cultural charm of each community.
Pacific dancers, dressed in vibrant traditional costumes, opened the festival with their passionate dance, captivating the audience.
The Drums of the Pacific New Zealand Cook Islands Maori and Pacific Professional Dance Group attended the event.
Wong pointed out that Maori culture is also very important for immigrants.
Chinese immigrants integrating into New Zealand society can start by engaging with Maori culture, with the Haka （dance）being a prominent feature of it.
The program reflects New Zealand's ethnic diversity.
Wong stated that the event aims to eliminate "racial discrimination," promote social harmony, and help the Chinese community integrate into New Zealand society while embracing its diversity.
The performances were diverse and spectacular, ranging from China's Sichuan Opera "face-changing" to Scottish dancing, from Iranian folk dance to Colombian dance, providing a feast for the eyes.
During the evening, there was also a lucky draw, with the prize being mooncakes symbolizing reunion, allowing local friends to enjoy authentic Chinese delicacies.
The festive atmosphere filled every corner of the venue!
