NEXT BRANCH MEETING
Wednesday, 17 April 2013, at 5.45 pm
Chris Elder, former NZ Ambassador to China
New Zealand’s China Experience – the book and the background, with special reference to the part played by members of the NZCFS
The book “New Zealand’s China Experience”, edited by Chris Elder, has been published to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China in December 1972. It is a collection of fiction, poetry, personal accounts, historical narrative, anecdotes, transcribed oral narratives, newspaper articles and more, all bearing in one way or another on New Zealand perceptions of China and contacts with China and the Chinese.
Chris Elder has edited two literary anthologies published by Oxford University Press: Old Peking: City of the Ruler of the World and China’s Treaty Ports: Half Love and Half Hate. He has researched extensively New Zealand’s early relations with China, and written a number of articles and research papers on the subject. He has served twice in the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing, most recently as ambassador 1993–97.
Chris will introduce the book to us, provide us with some of the background behind its publication and show how NZCFS members have been involved in the various stories told.
Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, off Hill Street, Thorndon, Wellington (see map)
(Car park up Guildford Tce beside Hall)
An optional Chinese buffet meal, supplied by the Fujiyama Café, will follow the meeting at 7 pm. Orders for the $11.00 meal (please pay at the door) will be taken up till 6 pm. If you think you may be arriving late, please let the Secretary know in advance.
ALSO COMING UP THIS MONTH (see below for details)
6, 13 April, 3:15pm Mandarin Corner, 24 Kelburn Parade
18 April, 7:00pm NZCLA AGM, 101 Wakefield St
20 April, 3:15pm Mandarin Corner, 24 Kelburn Parade
25 April ANZAC Day
IDIOM OF THE MONTH (from Ellen Yang)
高瞻远瞩 gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ
to take a broad and long-term view; to show great foresight; to see far and wide
NEW MEMBERS – a warm welcome to Wainuioru School (East of Masterton).
REPORT ON LAST MEETING (from George Mills)
During our March meeting, which also included the Society’s AGM, and the election of a new Branch President in former Ambassador to China Michael Powles to replace outgoing President Bernie Richmond, we were treated to a very interesting presentation by National Party MP, and former Auckland University lecturer, Dr. Jian Yang. Dr. Yang shared with us his views on NZ-China relations, often comparing and contrasting an academic’s and a politician’s take on this subject, which our speaker was well qualified to do. Throughout his remarks, which included a brief review of NZ-China relations going back to the early 1970s, as well as very useful maps, charts and tables depicting the increase in relations between NZ and China over the past 40 years in various fields (including trade, education and tourism), Dr. Yang sought to explain to his listeners why China had become arguably New Zealand’s most important foreign interlocutor, presently and into the foreseeable future. That said, Dr. Yang also touched on the political differences between the two countries, and acknowledged that some of our differences did not have ready answers, nor were they easily or necessarily reconcilable. Examples of these differences noted by Dr. Yang, included the issue of Human Rights, as well as Tibet. Dr. Yang argued that NZ was well served by taking a realistic, as opposed to presumably an overly idealistic, approach to its relations with China, and suggested that we look at China’s development over the past 40 years from a horizontal, instead of a vertical perspective. Explaining further this point, Dr. Yang noted that China had achieved extraordinary progress over time in multiple fields, and suggested that it would be both unrealistic and unfair to expect China to achieve further change overnight. Dr. Yang concluded his remarks by sharing his assessment that while New Zealand’s governing elite (both the government and the opposition) recognized the significance of NZ-China relations, and by and large were in general agreement regarding the same, the Kiwi public had some way to go before wholeheartedly accepting China as a vital and beneficial partner of New Zealand, not just in two way trade, but also in the more prickly area of foreign direct investment.
AGM ELECTION RESULTS
At the AGM last month, the following people were elected to the NZCFS Wellington Branch Committee:
President: Michael Powles Vice President: (vacant) Secretary: Bruce Asher Treasurer: (vacant) Committee: Ray Brownrigg, Bing Fon, Rosemary Jones, Doreen launder, Luke Qin, Ellen Chuan Yang
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE NEWS (from the CIVUW team)
The Confucius Institute at VUW is proud to co-sponsor a piano concert featuring Xiang Zou (Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing) and Jian Liu (Head of Piano Studies, New Zealand School of Music) on Sunday 5 May 2013. This recital offers a rare opportunity to hear the complete Etudes by Ligeti and Debussy. Join us for this wonderful experience of twentieth century piano virtuosity! This concert is a joint venture with NZSM and is part of the 2013 Sunday Concerts Series of Wellington Chamber Music. For more information, see:
www.victoria.ac.nz/ci/news-events/events.aspx#Piano-Zou-Liu
The VUW CI is proud to host the Wellington Regional ‘Chinese Bridge’ Speech Competition for tertiary and year 7-13 students, to be held on Saturday 11 May 2013. First Prize Winners of this regional competition will be offered a complimentary return ticket to attend the National Competition in Auckland where they will compete for a place in the International Final in China! Register before 6 May 2013 by email to [email protected]. Read more at:
www.victoria.ac.nz/ci/news-events/events.aspx#Chinese-Bridge-2013
The HSK tests are just around the corner. Mark 12 May 2013 in your calendar for the HSK Level 1-6 written and oral tests. The deadline for the online application is 15 April 2013. The Confucius Institute is offering a series of training workshops for test candidates in April and May. For more information regarding the HSK tests and CI courses, contact Mr Liu Yaru at [email protected] or visit our website: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/ci/courses-and-programmes/language-proficiency-tests.aspx
MEETING DATES FOR 2013
Your committee has organised the following meeting dates for 2013. Please mark these dates in your diary:
Wed 15 May, Sun 23 June, Sun 21 July, Wed 21 August, Wed 18 September, Wed 16 October, Wed 20 November. Note that the June meeting is on the 4th Sunday in June (rather than the 3rd Sunday).
SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS
Subscriptions for 2013 are now due. We prefer that you fill in all the details on the subscription form each year to confirm that we have your correct details. If you have lost the renewal form that accompanied the last two newsletters, please contact a committee member, or go to the Wellington Branch membership application page at nzchinasociety.org.nz/join-now/wellington-branch-membership-application/. Please note that from this year any subscriptions renewals not received by the end of April will result in cancellation of society membership. This is a result of a remit passed at the 2011 National Society AGM held in Wellington.
SUCCESSFUL RESULT FROM REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (from Graham Gibbs)
Thank you for publishing in the February edition, my request for information about the little church situated at Liang Feng Ya, situated on the hills above Chongqing. Readers may be interested in some outcomes arising from the request.
A fellow kiwi, Sharon Fraser (the General Manager of the Intercontinental Hotel Chongqing), was the first to offer assistance. William Fu (Chief Concierge at the Intercontinental) very kindly visited the area and provided this photograph of the steps leading up to Liang Feng Ya (凉风垭公园) located in Huangjueya Nanshan Mountain (南山黄桷垭). William confirmed that the church and surrounding houses were removed in 1994 and the area is now a park. Thank you Sharon and William.
Thanks also to Professor Bill Willmott CNZM who kindly provided another surprising link. One of Doctor Stewart Allen’s daughters living in Canada has provided a wealth of information about the area and her life in Chongqing in the 1940s. Who was Doctor Allen? It transpires that he delivered me into this world, at the Canadian Mission Hospital in Chongqing.
Thanks again for helping trace some family history through the medium of this newsletter.
NZ CHINESE LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION AGM APRIL 18.
Please note that the AGM of the NZ Chinese Language Association will be held on Thursday April 18 in Committee Room One, Wellington City Council, 101 Wakefield Street starting at 7pm. The guest speakers at this meeting will be Mr Liu Yaru and Ms Jingyuan Kong, both from the Confucius Institute at VUW.
With Support from Confucius Institute, Victoria University of Wellington. http://www.vctoria.ac.nz/ci/
MANDARIN CORNER 汉语角 3.15pm – 4.30pm Saturdays during school terms
Seminar Room, 20 Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington.
Open to all ages, all levels. One to one, or small groups.
Gold coin donation. 3 sessions in April 2013:
6 April – Storytelling 评书
13 April – Buddist Music 佛教音乐 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7yfrN2dNAA
20 April – World Book and Copyright Day (23 April) 世界图书和版权日
Contact: Ellen Yang (04) 473-7558，[email protected]
AROHA QUARTET
Many of you will remember the Aroha Quartet who told us about their lives and music at our monthly meeting in June 2011. If you are interested in hearing more of their wonderful music, they will be performing on Sunday, April 21 2013, 3:00pm, at St Andrew’s on the Terrace, joined by well-known pianist Catherine McKay for Schumann’s famous and fabulous Piano Quintet. This concert also celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Britten with his superb String Quartet No 3. Beethoven’s exhilarating Sixth String Quartet opens the concert. Tickets from Eventfinda or at the door. See www.arohaquartet.co.nz/concerts/206
SHOREBIRDS: THE MOST DURABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHINA AND AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND (from Joy Bickley Asher)
Shore birds have been using a Flyway between China and New Zealand for thousands of years. Refueling stops in the Yellow Sea are vital for tens of thousands of migratory shore birds. In recent years these have come under threat from the pressure to develop wetlands for the sake of economic growth. An example one such migratory bird is the Red Knot, which recently had its status changed from migrant to New Zealand native but sadly at the same time also declared as endangered. The Red Knot’s food is found in very few places. As a result the birds are found in high concentrations on a very small number of sites and are therefore highly vulnerable if any of those sites disappear. According to an article in the China Daily, Bohai Bay in the Yellow Sea is one of the Red Knot’s precious feeding grounds. It is also one of the areas under most threat from development. Satellite imagery has shown that about eight to ten percent of estuary mudflats is being lost each year in the Yellow Sea along the coasts of China and South Korea. This alarming situation, according to a draft report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will lead to many extinctions and collapses of essential ecological services. Current trends need to be reversed urgently.
Sharing the concerns of the IUCN is the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) to which China and New Zealand both belong. The aim of the EAAFP is to conserve migratory waterbirds and their habitats and to achieve this EAAFP has developed an Implementation Strategy for 2012-2016. In their draft report the IUCN highlighted the need for international cooperation between all 22 countries within the Partnership in order to achieve the key results areas outlined in the strategy. At the World Conservation Congress held in Jeju, South Korea the host government and China both supported a resolution aimed at governments around the Yellow Sea ensuring better conservation of intertidal areas and the threatened waterbirds that depend on them. But the critical question is: will governments act? (from Miranda News, Issues 85 and 86)
Links: www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz www.iucn.org/asian-coastal-wetlands
E-TAILING (AS OPPOSED TO RETAILING) IN CHINA (from George Mills)
By early 2013, China had become the world’s second-largest e-tail market, with estimates as high as US$210 billion for revenues in 2012 and a compound annual growth rate of 120 percent since 2003. China’s retail sector already is among the most wired anywhere — e-tailing commanded about 5 to 6 percent of total retail sales in 2012, compared with 5 percent in the US — while it is distinctly different from that of other countries. Only a small portion of Chinese e-tailing takes place directly between consumers and retailers. Instead, most occurs on digital marketplaces. What’s more, Chinese e-tailing is not just replacing traditional retail transactions but also stimulating consumption that would not otherwise take place. Some 90 percent of Chinese electronic retailing occurs on virtual marketplaces — sprawling e-commerce platforms where manufacturers, large and small retailers, and individuals offer products and services to consumers through online storefronts on megasites analogous to eBay. The megasites include PaiPai, Taobao, and Tmall. This unique e-tailing engine is enabling China’s shift from an investment-oriented society to one that is more consumption driven. Moreover, e-tailing is not simply a replacement channel for purchases that otherwise would have taken place offline. Instead, it appears to be spurring incremental consumption, particularly in less developed regions. By analyzing consumption patterns in 266 Chinese cities accounting for over 70 percent of online retail sales, it was found that a dollar of online consumption replaces roughly 60 cents of sales in offline stores, and generates around 40 cents of incremental consumption. (McKinsey Quarterly, March 2013, edited.)
