你好 Nǐ hăo,

Welcome to the March 2025 issue of the New Zealand Chinese Language Week newsletter. This is where you get to hear about all the exciting things going on in the world of NZCLW! 

Last year was the 10th anniversary of New Zealand Chinese Language Week, and it was such a great experience re-visiting lots of those events over the years.

All go for 2025

Last year was great, but this year will be even better. We hope you had a good New Year celebration as we settle into the Year of the Snake.

NZCLW will be celebrating the UN International Day of Chinese Language on April 20. It’s a good one to mark in your calendar to get some practice in before NZCLW.

This year, NZCLW will be a bit earlier – running from Sunday August 31 to September 6. Start thinking now about how you want to celebrate New Zealand Chinese Language Week this year – there will be lots happening. Book readings, films, art displays, challenges on social media, prizes to be won, and lots of fun all round New Zealand. 

And don’t forget Dumpling Day on September 26.  There will be some good contests for the country’s best dumpling recipe and favourite dumpling restaurant. 

Call for Language Superstars

A key part of the week is our Chinese Language Superstars – these are people who are sharing their language learning journey to encourage others to give Chinese language learning a go.

Language Superstars don’t have to be fluent in Chinese, but they do have to have enthusiasm for the language, telling their story, and encouraging others. They share their story publicly at events, online through social media, and through television, radio, and newspaper articles. 

If you’d like to be a Language Superstar this year – or you know someone who would be great for the role – contact the NZCLW team through nzclw@nzclw.com or apply below!

What it's all about

New Zealand Chinese Language Week was started 11 years ago by a group concerned about the lack of students studying Chinese in New Zealand. The NZCLW Charitable Trust works to encourage people to start learning Chinese – whether at school, university, or through some other way such as community learning classes, online methods, or something else. 

The Trust distributes a trilingual children’s picture book each year – in English, Chinese, and Te Reo Māori – with an accompanying audio version online in English, Te Reo Māori, and both Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese. 

Schools, libraries, and many other groups around the country offer their own activities during the week.   

NZCLW is a charitable trust. We rely on sponsorship to ensure this annual celebration of Chinese language and culture reaches into communities right across New Zealand. We are so thankful to everyone who has sponsored us over the past 10 years - you have played a very important part in making NZCLW the success it is today. 

We are currently recruiting new sponsors for NZCLW 2025.

If your business or organisation would like to join our valued team of sponsors, we would be happy to send you our sponsorship information pack. We would also welcome meeting with you, in person or online, to discuss opportunities.

Email us at nzclw@nzclw.com for more details about the value attached to sponsoring this amazing initiative. 

Find out more about the richness of New Zealand Chinese Language Week by watching our Highlights Video from 2024, below.