{"id":14350,"date":"2013-08-18T16:24:34","date_gmt":"2013-08-18T04:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nzcfs.adminmouse.co.nz\/?p=14350"},"modified":"2017-02-15T11:27:53","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T22:27:53","slug":"nzcfs-wellington-branch-august-2013-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/nzcfs-wellington-branch-august-2013-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"NZCFS Wellington Branch August 2013 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEXT BRANCH MEETING<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wednesday, 21 August 2013, at 5.45 pm<\/address>\n
We shall be showing the historic documentary<\/address>\n
Inside Red China<\/strong> (1957)<\/address>\n
on restricted loan from the New Zealand Film Archive<\/address>\n

\"Inside<\/a>In 1957, the Chinese People\u2019s Association for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries invited NZCFS President and poet RAK Mason and others to visit China.\u00a0 Film makers and Society members Rudall and Ramai Hayward were part of the group, and made the documentary film Inside Red China<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

The distinction of being the first English speaking foreigners to film unfettered in communist China was significant.\u00a0 Rudall, born in England, had a family background in theatre and cinema and his wife Ramai, of Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu and Ngaitahu descent, were pioneer New Zealand film-makers.\u00a0 A spirited, independent woman, Ramai had her own photography studio by the time she was 19 years old.\u00a0 Later, she was a leading actress in Rudall\u2019s early movies and became a talented cinematographer with her husband, producing travel, education and feature films.\u00a0 They filmed in Canton, Shanghai, Peking and Wuhan.\u00a0 It was a small window of opportunity for Westerners to gaze on a country that was largely a mystery to the outside world since 1949.<\/p>\n

In 1958, the documentary screened before Rank feature films in cinemas around the country and was subsequently acquired by the Department of Education for use in schools.<\/p>\n

The 28-minute film includes Ramai presenting a beautiful M\u0101ori feather cloak to Chairman Mao Zedong.\u00a0 The cloak, a precious Maori taonga, is on loan to Te Papa and is on display until 20 October 2013.\u00a0 NZCFS has partnered with Te Papa to bring the cloak to New Zealand.<\/p>\n

After the film President Michael Powles will lead a discussion on the changing aspects in China.<\/p>\n

Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, off Hill Street, Thorndon, Wellington (see map)<\/p>\n

\"map<\/a>
Connolly Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(Car park up Guildford Tce beside Hall)<\/p>\n

An optional Chinese buffet meal, supplied by the Fujiyama Caf\u00e9, 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.\u00a0 If you think you may be arriving late, please let the Secretary know in advance.<\/p>\n

ALSO COMING UP THIS MONTH<\/strong> (see below for details)<\/p>\n

17, 24, 31 August Mandarin Corner, 20 Kelburn Parade<\/em><\/address>\n
20-21 August Conference on Contemporary China, Kelburn Parade<\/em><\/address>\n
20 August NZCCRC discussion paper launch, Kelburn Parade<\/em><\/address>\n
22 August Chinese Film, 101 Wakefield St<\/em><\/address>\n
28 August One Tree Three Lives, Paramount Cinema<\/em><\/address>\n

NEW MEMBERS<\/strong> \u2013 a warm welcome to Jordan King.<\/p>\n

IDIOM OF THE MONTH<\/strong> (from Ellen Yang)<\/p>\n

\u89c1\u5229\u601d\u4e49 ji\u00e0n l\u00ec s\u012b y\u00ec to see profit but remember morality<\/p>\n

REPORT ON LAST MEETING<\/strong> (from Ray Brownrigg)\"Luo<\/a><\/p>\n

After welcoming special guests from the Chinese Embassy and NZCFS National Executive, Branch President Michael Powles introduced Dr Luo Hui, Director of the Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington (CIVUW) to present his talk entitled “Whose Soft Power? Confucius Institutes from Local Perspectives”.\u00a0 Wikipedia defines Soft Power as “the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, use force or give money as a means of persuasion”.\u00a0 While the term is generally used in a political context, Dr Luo was speaking from a local NZ perspective, as the ‘foreign director’ (i.e. the local representative) of CIVUW.<\/p>\n

After describing the relationship between CIs and the Chinese Government, being more closely related to Education than Foreign Affairs, Dr Luo compared CIs with Alliance Fran\u00e7aise and the Goethe Institute, which also exist to promote language and culture. Comparing the numbers of such similar institutes and their inception dates showed that the Confucius Institutes have spread much more widely than most and certainly more rapidly than any of the others.\u00a0 This rapid growth, says Dr Luo, has led to some people to view the CIs as a threat, and by others as a government vehicle. One key fact that should alleviate such worries is that the Institutes, while housed within a university, do not actively participate in academic affairs, except through teaching support.<\/p>\n

While the local presence provides a way for the organisation to engage with local communities, there are several benefits to the host country.\u00a0 These include the availability of a variety of resources to the local community, a say in what the Institute becomes involved with and the visits of Mandarin Language Assistants (MLAs), who visit from China to help schools with their teaching of Mandarin.\u00a0 These MLAs are generally Chinese Masters students who stay with a host family and encounter the local culture and hospitality.<\/p>\n

Dr Luo did mention how there were some sensitive situations that had arisen in his time as director.\u00a0 These tended to be related to cultural differences which needed understanding and cooperation to resolve.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Dr Luo emphasised that CIs should be understood as vehicles of cultural diplomacy ‘with Chinese characteristics’, that soft power is a process of participation and negotiation, and that local stakeholders can augment their own soft power through the activities of the CIs.<\/p>\n

After answering several questions from the audience, Dr Luo was invited to participate in the official announcement of the Chinese version of the NZCFS website (see next article).<\/p>\n

NZCFS CHINESE LANGUAGE WEBSITE LAUNCHED<\/b><\/p>\n

After the Wellington branch meeting, the Chinese language version cn.nzchinasociety.org.nz\/<\/a> of the Society\u2019s website was officially declared open by Dr Luo Hui.\u00a0 Christine Strickland, Website Administrator, presented on the screen the layout of both website versions.\u00a0 She said that the English website had been running since 2011.\u00a0 At the end of last year the Society\u2019s newly appointed Honorary Patron Simon Deng Li agreed to fund the set-up and maintenance of a Chinese language version.\u00a0<\/p>\n

National President Dave Bromwich said \u201cThe Chinese language version of the website is a significant milestone in enabling the Society to inform Chinese language speakers about our objectives and activities.\u201d\u00a0 He thanked Christine and the website team for the hard work they put in the last few months.<\/p>\n

Read more at nzchinasociety.org.nz\/14029\/nzcfs-chinese-language-website-launched\/<\/a><\/p>\n

MANDARIN CORNER<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are delighted to announce that NZCFS Wellington Branch has reached an agreement with Confucius Institute at VUW for them to take over the management of Mandarin Corner as from 3 August 2013.\u00a0 Confucius Institute has available a team of Mandarin Language Assistants and other resources which will greatly benefit Mandarin Corner. NZCFS Wellington and NZ Chinese Language Association Wellington will remain as partners.<\/p>\n

Members who attended Mandarin Corner in the past will continue to receive notices from the new management.\u00a0 For more information please contact Jingyuan Kong Jingyuan.Kong@vuw.ac.nz<\/a>, phone 04 463 9549.<\/p>\n

Tremendous thanks to our member Ellen Yang who has worked tirelessly as Mandarin Corner co-ordinator for the past four years.<\/p>\n

CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE NEWS\"CIVUW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

On 3 August, Mandarin Corner was re-launched according to an agreement between NZCFS, NZCLA (Wellington branch) and the VUW Confucius Institute.\u00a0 The weekly social gathering for conversational Chinese practice is now managed by a core team of Mandarin Language Assistants at the VUW CI.\u00a0 NZCFS and NZCLA will continue to support Mandarin Corner and promote it amongst their membership.\u00a0 Our new philosophy of creating a friendly, fun and free space for language practice has proven attractive. We have had 20-30 people attending each week.\u00a0 Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, or a native speaker keen to share your language and culture, you are most welcome to join us. Saturdays 3:15pm during school terms.\u00a0 Seminar Room, 20 Kelburn Parade.<\/p>\n

\"Nieh<\/a>A highlight on the CI cultural calendar in August is \u2018Chinese Literature Re-imagined<\/strong>\u2019 \u2013 A literary festival of texts, images and ideas (28-31 Aug), presented by the VUW CI in association with New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation.\u00a0 The programme includes ONE TREE THREE LIVES<\/strong>, a documentary on the acclaimed Chinese writer Nieh Hualing (28 Aug, 6pm, Paramount Cinema), a public lecture by noted scholar and translator Bonnie S. McDougall (29 Aug, 5pm, HMLT001, Kelburn Parade), a book launch of new translations of two Li Bai poems, designed and published by Wai-te-ata Press (31 Aug, 2pm, Te Papa Marae), and a photographic exhibition of new work by two Hong Kong photographers (19 Aug \u2013 15 Sep, Paramount Cinema Foyer).\u00a0 All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit our website: www.victoria.ac.nz\/ci<\/a><\/p>\n

CHINESE FILM \u4e2d\u56fd\u7535\u5f71<\/strong><\/p>\n

Date: Thursday 22 August Time: 7.15pm<\/p>\n

Venue: Committee Room One, Wellington City Council, 101 Wakefield Street. Gold coin donation.<\/p>\n

7.15pm: \u6d77\u6d0b\u5929\u5802<\/strong> Ocean Heaven[2010] 100 minutes<\/p>\n

Director: \u859b\u6653\u7490<\/strong>Xiaolu Xue<\/p>\n

Cast: \u674e\u8fde\u6770<\/strong> Jet Li \u6587\u7ae0<\/strong>Wen Zhang<\/p>\n

Kungfu emperor Jet Li\u2019s first literary film playing a father of an autistic son.\u00a0 It\u2019s also Director and Screenwriter Xue Xiaolu\u2019s first movie to explore true love and affections from the angle of ordinary people.\u00a0 [Xue is the director of 2013\u2019s blockbuster \u201cFinding Mr. Right \u201d \u5317\u4eac\u9047\u4e0a\u897f\u96c5\u56fe<\/strong>].<\/p>\n

Film sponsored by Cultural Section, Chinese Embassy in NZ \u611f\u8c22\u4e2d\u56fd\u9a7b\u65b0\u897f\u5170\u4f7f\u9986\u6587\u5316\u5904\u63d0\u4f9b\u5f71\u7247<\/strong><\/p>\n

DIVERSE CHINA TOUR – NZCFS PROJECTS, NATURE, CULTURE AND HISTORY, OCTOBER 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another exciting new tour in the highly recommended \u201cProjects\u201d series, led by Dave Bromwich, is being offered this October.\u00a0 It combines a visit to a NZCFS project, where you will meet our project partners and visit rural communities, with a comprehensive itinerary traversing diverse natural, cultural and historical sites.\u00a0 Suitable for reasonably fit people looking for a total China travel experience not normally available, this tour traverses from Yanan, Shaanxi Province, in the North, to Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in the South.<\/p>\n

The itinerary is now up on our Society\u2019s website and it looks superb.<\/p>\n

See: nzchinasociety.org.nz\/12068\/nzcfs-projects-nature-culture-history-china-tour\u00adoctober-2013<\/a><\/p>\n

MEETING DATES FOR 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

The September meeting, Wednesday 18 September, will feature Lynda Chanwai-Earle who will speak about aspects of her work as a writer and broadcaster.\u00a0 Also next month on Sunday September 22nd there will be the usual China National Day Dinner in conjunction with other Wellington China-focussed organisations (more details in next month\u2019s newsletter).\u00a0 Then the last two meetings for 2013 will be on Wednesday 16 October and Wednesday 20 November.<\/p>\n

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE ON CONTEMPORARY CHINA 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

The NZ Contemporary China Research Centre has organised this annual event for 20-21 August in the Hunter Council Chamber, Hunter Building, Kelburn Parade, Victoria University of Wellington.\u00a0 This year the Conference brings international scholars and policy analysts together for a two-day international conference.\u00a0 They will examine the trends and emerging pattern of China\u2019s international trade, investment, and activities in other international economic sectors, analyse and explain how these trends and patterns shape global and regional economic order, and assess what medium and long term impact they have on the national economy, politics and policies of individual countries.<\/p>\n

Minister of Economic Development, Hon Steven Joyce and Professor Xing Houyuan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, will deliver keynote speeches.<\/p>\n

For conference programme, schedule and other information, please go to the conference website:<\/p>\n

www.victoria.ac.nz\/chinaresearchcentre\/programmes-and-projects\/wellington-conference-on-contemporary-china\/2013-chinas-global-course<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Registration costs $75.<\/p>\n

For enquiries and assistance, contact Morag Santini, email: morag.santini@vuw.ac.nz<\/a>, phone: (04) 463-9549<\/p>\n

NZCCRC LAUNCHES A NEW DISCUSSION PAPER<\/strong><\/p>\n

One part of the above Conference is the launch of a new discussion paper entitled China, the World Economy and New Zealand. Date: 20 August 2013, Time: 4.45 pm<\/p>\n

Venue: Hunter Council Chamber, Hunter Building, Victoria University of Wellington.\u00a0 For further details, see www.victoria.ac.nz\/chinaresearchcentre\/about-us\/events\/china,-the-world-economy-and-new-zealand<\/a><\/p>\n

This free event, preceded by a reception, requires RSVP to LaiChing.Tan@vuw.ac.nz<\/a> (04) 463-9549<\/p>\n

CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE IN OCTOBER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Victoria University of Wellington\u2019s Continuing Education is pleased to offer the lecture series Speaking out in China: From Confucius to the Internet \u2013 a 4 week course starts Tuesday 22 October 6:00pm-8:00pm cce.victoria.ac.nz\/courses\/137-speaking-out-in-china-from-confucius-to-the-internet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The course overview and other details are available at cce.victoria.ac.nz\/course-catalogue\/8-current-affairs<\/a>.\u00a0 For further information or enquiries, please contact Darci Thompson, Team Leader Business Support, Continuing Education, Te Ako Taurua, Victoria University of Wellington, Phone 04 463 9967, darci.thompson@vuw.ac.nz<\/a><\/p>\n

CALL FOR HELP<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your Committee is struggling to provide the level of service to which our members have become accustomed.\u00a0 Various commitments that committee members have mean that not enough time is left over to devote to society matters.\u00a0 This is a call for assistance in the roles of Treasurer and Newsletter Editor, both of which are currently vacant, and the role of Secretary, which will become vacant at the AGM next March.\u00a0 What we would like is for volunteers to come forward to assist the current committee in these roles, with a view to perhaps standing for the Committee at the AGM next March.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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NEXT BRANCH MEETING Wednesday, 21 August 2013, at 5.45 pm We shall be showing the historic documentary Inside Red China (1957) on restricted loan from the New Zealand Film Archive In 1957, the Chinese People\u2019s Association for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries invited NZCFS President and poet RAK Mason and others to visit China.\u00a0 Film […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":14355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14350"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}