你好 Nǐ hăo!

Welcome to the April newsletter for New Zealand Chinese Language Week!

The United Nations marks International Chinese Language Day today, on April 20. Chinese is one of the United Nations’ five official languages and each language has an official day. 

It’s a good lead-up to New Zealand Chinese Language Week, which runs from 29 June to 5 July this year. 

Use the day as a chance to get ready for NZCLW! Grab a copy of one of our previous NZCLW tri-lingual books, sit down with friends and family members for a feast of dumplings, and try out some key useful phrases from the resources on our website.

And, get planning for the activities and events you might want to do to celebrate NZCLW in June!

Unfortunately, due to rising costs and a high level of geopolitical uncertainty, we have decided to postpone the NZCLW 10 for 10 trip to China scheduled for May at this time.

We are heartened by the number of amazing applicants who expressed their interest, and we are investigating different initiatives within New Zealand that they can take part in during NZCLW.

Congratulations to NZCLW Trustee Distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley, who was formally invested as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to sociology at an investiture ceremony held at Government House Auckland on 11 April.

This is a richly deserved honour recognising Paul’s outstanding scholarly contribution, public service, and long-standing commitment to helping New Zealand better understand its communities, diversity and social change.

An important part of each and every New Zealand Chinese Language Week is the role of Chinese Language Superstars. These are people aged 16+ who want to share their language learning journey with others. They might not be fluent, but they have a story to tell and are enthusiastic about learning Chinese language. 

As a Chinese Language Superstar, you will be invited to share your story with people at our Opening Ceremony and through social media and traditional media channels.  

Click below to see some of the previous years’ Chinese Language Superstars and find out what’s involved. And if you’re keen, or you know someone who would make a great Chinese Language Superstar, fill in the application form today!

It’s not just people over 18 that get to have all the fun! 

This year we are excited to introduce a new programme, Junior Superstars, to celebrate Kiwis in school under the age of 16 who are also on a Chinese language learning journey.

The programme encourages teachers to nominate a student, and we will send their school a digital certificate of recognition to be presented at a class or school assembly.  Perhaps even follow it up with a book reading of Hauraki Broo, or one of the earlier NZCLW trilingual books!

Each year, NZCLW recognises some of New Zealand’s top young language learners through our Youth Ambassadors programme, celebrating winners of the Chinese Bridge speech competition across social media and the NZCLW Opening Ceremony at parliament. 

The Chinese Bridge Competition is an annual proficiency contest for students to showcase their Chinese language skills and cultural knowledge through speeches, talent performances, and Q&A sessions.

Keep an eye out on our socials for a coming announcement on this year's Youth Ambassadors!

This year’s tri-lingual children’s picture book is on its way – Hauraki Broo! It’s a wonderful story in English, Te Reo Māori, and Chinese about a whale navigating his way in waters around Auckland.

It’s the ninth title that the NZCLW Trust has distributed free of charge to schools and libraries around New Zealand as part of NZCLW celebrations.

This year, we will again have an audio book, recorded in English, Te Reo Māori, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese.

Hauraki Broo is available pre-order now!

We love to hear about what you have planned to celebrate New Zealand Chinese Language Week. Don’t forget to let us know so that we can add them to our website: www.nzclw.com

Make sure you follow and subscribe to our social media. It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening with NZCLW and to see, post, and share your own and others’ events and activities.