New Zealand Chinese Language Week is being celebrated across the motu from 31 August to 6 September 2025.
It was launched in 2014 to increase Chinese language learning in Aotearoa by delivering fun and practical initiatives that assist Kiwis to learn Chinese.
We are proud of our many Chinese kaimahi who work across the institution at both campuses. While many of them now call Aotearoa home, they maintain a strong connection to their culture and language.
Four of our kaimahi opened up about being Chinese in Aotearoa and why their culture and language is important to them in our Q&A at the end of this story.
There is also an active Unitec Chinese Student Association (UCSA) run by our Chinese ākonga.
Our Chinese whānau are planning a celebration of their culture and language during the upcoming Moon Festival on 6 Oct 2025.
The Moon Festival is a time for families to gather, express gratitude for the harvest, and enjoy the full, bright moon, which symbolises reunion.
“We plan to combine a Chinese culture showcase with language promotion during that week,” says Melody Hao from our International Student Support Team.
Find out more about Chinese culture and learn some new phrases at a special display set up at The Pod across from the AskMe Desk on Level 1 in Te Puna (see below).
Facts about Chinese in New Zealand
There are 279,039 Chinese in New Zealand (Stats NZ, 2023) or 5.3% of New Zealand’s population. 132,906 were born in mainland China.
Auckland is the city with the largest Chinese population (171,309).
Chinese New Zealanders are the largest Asian ethnic group in New Zealand, accounting for 36.3% of Asian New Zealanders
While the first Chinese immigrants came to New Zealand during the 1860s gold rush, most Chinese New Zealanders are of more recent migrant heritage.
Mandarin is New Zealand’s fourth-most-spoken language, while various dialects of Chinese make up the second-most spoken group of languages in New Zealand.
Meet our Unitec Chinese kaimahi
Photo caption (L-R): Melody Hao, Sara Wang, Grace Zhang, and Joe Wang
Melody Hao
Position: International Coordinator
How long have you been at Unitec? Almost eight years.
What do you enjoy the most about working here? Definitely the people. People here are so kind, friendly, and supportive. I always feel surrounded by a warm and welcoming atmosphere, which creates a truly inclusive culture.
Where are you from in China and what is this region known for? I’m from Guangzhou (also known as Canton), a beautiful city in southern China. Guangzhou is famous for Cantonese food, especially dim sum, as well as its rich history, Lingnan culture, and its role as an international trading hub. It’s a modern city that continues to preserve its traditional charm.
What’s an interesting fact about Chinese culture? In China, we have 56 ethnic groups, each with its own traditions, languages/dialects. At the same time, we all share Mandarin as our common language through the use of unified Chinese characters. This diversity makes our culture rich, allowing us to keep our unique local characteristics while still being able to communicate and understand each other. It reflects the spirit of unity in diversity.
What is your favourite Chinese food? To be honest, I love all Chinese food—it’s so diverse and delicious that I can’t pick just one favourite! Every dish tells a story about where it comes from. Food is also a big part of how we connect with family and friends.
Where is the best Chinese food in Auckland? Tong Xin Wang (The Yacht Restaurant) is one of my recommendations. It’s a Yum Cha restaurant where you can enjoy traditional Cantonese dim sum.
Why is New Zealand Chinese Language Week important to you? Language is more than just communication—it carries culture, traditions, and identity. The Chinese Language Week helps make our language more visible, heard, and taught in New Zealand, creating greater understanding between communities.
Sara Wang
Position: Customer Service Team leader (Ask Me, Student Services and Library)
How long have you been at Unitec? 18 years!
What do you enjoy most about working here? the working environment and culture.
Where are you from in China and what is this region known for? I am from Henan Province, China. It is famous for the Yellow River, often referred to as the “Mother of China.” Henan is located at the heart of the Yellow River Basin and is often called “Where China Began” because it was the fertile land where Chinese civilization first took root.
What’s an interesting fact about Chinese culture? Family plays a central role in Chinese culture. Strong family bonds, respect for elders, and close-knit relationships are deeply valued in most Chinese families.
What is your favourite Chinese food? Chinese hotpot and all Chinese noodles.
Where’s the best Chinese food in Auckland? Sichuan Noodles
Why is Chinese Language Week important to you? It represents my identity, my mother tongue, and my culture. Every Chinese character carries its own spirit and meaning. Once you start learning Chinese, I believe you’ll fall in love with it. My children were born and raised in New Zealand, and they can read, write, and speak Chinese fluently.
Grace Zhang
Position: International Student Advisor
How long have you been at Unitec? 24 years
What do you enjoy most about working here? The incredible sense of community and diversity. Being surrounded by people from different cultures makes every day feel enriched and inspiring. I feel truly privileged to work with such an amazing team—and across wider teams—where the collaborative spirit and their commitment makes my work rewarding and enjoyable.
Where are you from in China and what is this region known for? I’m originally from Tianjin, a vibrant port city in northern China known for its rich blend of Chinese and European architecture. Tianjin is famous for its seafood cuisine, handcrafted clay figurines, and the iconic Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel that overlooks the Haihe River. It’s also a major hub for industry and innovation in the northern part of China.
Although I was born in Tianjin, I grew up with my grandparents in Beijing, the capital city of China. Beijing is rich in history and culture, the home to world-renowned landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven, where I cherished my childhood.
What’s an interesting fact about Chinese culture? One uniquely Chinese cultural tradition I hold dear and close is the concept of “family reunion” during festivals, especially the Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival in the western. It’s a unique time when families gather to share Chinse mooncakes, admire the full moon, and express love and longing for those far away. The moon is seen as a symbol of unity and harmony, and this deep-rooted value of togetherness and unity is something I treasure.
What is your favourite Chinese food? One of my favourite dishes has to be authentic Peking Duck made through the proper way—crispy skin, tender meat, and those delicate pancakes with special sauce and spring onions. The way it’s carved and served feels like a ceremony in a restaurant.
Another comfort food I love is jiaozi (dumplings), especially during Lunar New Year. Making them with family is a tradition that brings everyone together, and each bite carries warmth, history, and a little bit of good luck for the year ahead. For staff gatherings, I often bring some dumplings for my colleagues to have a taste.
While living in New Zealand for so many years, I try to maintain these cultural values with the family, friends and colleagues who are interested in the Chinse culture. I enjoy sharing these with them.
Where’s the best Chinese food in Auckland? Our family and friends sometimes go to this restaurant Cypress Restaurant for gathering as it is very handy to friends and families. It’s famous for its yum cha gathering. It is always crowded in the weekends.
Why is Chinese Language Week important to you?
- Chinese Language Week is important to me and my family because it provides a meaningful occasion to showcase Chinese culture and advocate for cultural diversity in Aotearoa.
- The language week/s for different cultures help raise awareness about the value of embracing all cultures and encourages deeper understanding and create the harmony among communities.
- I also encourage my granddaughter, Selena to continue learning Chinese so she can stay connected to her cultural identity. To me, language is more than communication. It’s a bridge to heritage, values, belonging, and identify where I am from, and bring the uniqueness to the community.
Joe Wang
Position: International Student Advisor
How long have you been at Unitec? 3 years
What do you enjoy most about working here? Lovely colleagues and inclusive culture.
Where are you from in China and what is this region known for? Jilin City is famous for its ski resorts.
What’s an interesting fact about Chinese culture? Definitely our tea culture, we love drinking teas, green tea, jasmine tea, and black tea.
What is your favourite Chinese food? Guo Bao Rou, you must try.
Where’s the best Chinese food in Auckland? Wan Fu Yuan is a northeast cuisine.
Why is Chinese Language Week important to you? It is a good opportunity to let people know and learn about Chinese culture.
Talking about food makes me hungry already. More about food – Overseas-born Chinese also have a great smorgasbord of Chinese-influenced fusion food as well. We have integrated traditional Chinese recipes with the local cooking styles and tastes of the host country, making Chinese food tasting an extended culinary adventure!
I believe mooncakes with durian filling is now available, and that in itself is a mystery flavour.
It’s wonderful to see we are celebrating cultural diversity on campus, what a pleasure to read these beautiful photos and messages, that we honor our heritage while integrating with the local culture. Sure will take the note from the Chinese Language week, to encourage my son to learn some more Chinese characters 🙂
Very dedicated kaimahi. Good to see you all in one frame.
Kia ora Kaimahi – Finished teaching late and found myself captured by the NZ Chinese Language Week pod in which I lounged for a moment when your book on Chinese Characters in their ancestral forms grabbed my attention and then I found myself reading both Ni Hao’s followed by riffing through the bilingual chinese english visual dictionary – each very cleverly illustrated. So thank you Kaimahi for your wonderful books and my respite, thats an A+
Amazing cultural representation!
You all are truly amazing. The way you showcased your culture so beautifully reflects its core values and principles. It’s a powerful contribution to the community.
Thank you for sharing your insights and helping us become more familiar with your culture.
Incredible mahi