The New Zealand China Friendship Society Wellington Branch wishes all members and friends a Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year! To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dog, the Branch hosted its annual Chinese New Year Banquet On 11 February, at the Grand Century Chinese Restaurant. Close to 200 guests attended the event, including Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, Minister of Finance Hon Grant Robertson, Chargé d’affaires of the PRC Embassy QU Guangzhou, NZCFS Patron Hon Philip Burdon, NZCFS National President Dave Bromwich, NZCFS National Vice President & Wellington Branch President Luke Qin JP, NZCFS Honorary Advisors Michael Powles & Christine Strickland, Director of the Office of Ethnic Communities Wen Powles, Asia NZ Foundation Executive Director Simon Draper & Deputy Executive Director Adele Mason, Victoria University of Wellington Confucius Institute Director Rebecca Needham, NZCFS Wellington Branch member Hon Jim Sutton, and Wellington Xiamen Association President Janet Andrews.
The night started with a traditional Lion Dance performed by the Anglican Chinese Mission, followed by welcoming remarks from Branch President Luke Qin, wishing all guests a Happy Chinese New Year and upholding a Chinese gong as timer for the ensuing speeches by VIP guests! In turn, Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, PRC Embassy Chargé d’affaires QU Guangzhou, NZCFS Patron Hon Philip Burdon, NZCFS National President Dave Bromwich, Minister of Finance Hon Grant Robertson and Asia New Zealand Foundation Executive Director Simon Draper addressed the guests and shared their reflections and best wishes for the NZ-China relationship.
The Branch also hosted the traditional annual quiz, which involved a diverse range of questions about New Zealand, China and the international community. Prizes for the quiz were supplied by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. In addition, we also held a raffle where a number of gifts from the Embassy and Society were given out.
Once again, the Wellington Branch would like to thank everybody who attended the event, as well as the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and Grand Century Chinese Restaurant for your generous support. Our special thanks go to the Wellington Xiamen Association, Taoist Tai Chi Society Wellington Branch, Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington for honouring us with your strong presence. We hope everyone had an enjoyable time and Happy Chinese New Year!
We are grateful to receive the below feedback from guests:
*It was nice meeting a variety of friendly new people. And I enjoyed the quiz.
*Good company, good food, short speeches and a winner of the raffle at the table!!!
*Very delicious food, nice company, exciting speakers, delightful intellectual quiz
