Lanterns symbolising beacons that light the path toward prosperity and good fortune drew more than three hundred kaimahi and ākonga to Te Puna for Unitec’s Moon Festival celebrations on Thursday.
The week-long festivities concluded with traditional Chinese performances by current students, alumni, and their whānau in the main atrium, as well as workshops and food served at the Events Kitchen.
During the week students painted lanterns decorating the Koru Pod. A Lacquer Fan and Bookmark DIY Workshop was held on Monday. Moon Festival celebrations also took place at our Waitākere campus on Wednesday.
The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most important traditional celebrations in Chinese culture. It’s usually a time for family reunions, gratitude, and enjoying the beauty of the full moon, which symbolises unity.
Unity was on display on Thursday as the lunchtime crowds poured into Te Puna, many pausing to take in the entertainment, mesmerised by the music and choreography, as well as the grandeur of the costumes.
Pianist, Bowen Liu, a current student from School of Building and Construction, performed three pieces about the moon; a couple of traditional Chinese pieces and a well-known English song, Bart Howard’s 1954 classic, Fly Me To The Moon.
“It was an honour to be included in the programme for the celebrations and play some of my favourite music. I have been playing piano since I was very young,” Bart says.
Bystanders also witnessed a spectacular performance by award-winning singers Lily Jin and Qiu Zhilin who performed the beloved theme song for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, ‘我和你 (You and Me), which celebrates unity and friendship.
There was also a breathtaking face-changing performance by a Unitec alumnus, who goes by the professional name, Mr Mask. This traditional Chinese art form is called Bian Lian from Sichuan Opera. It requires lightning-fast movements, where the performer changes beautifully painted masks right in the blink of an eye.
Some were willing participants in games such as ‘Chinese whispers’ which drew roars of laughter.
Later, there were long queues for the fan painting and bookmark making workshops and delicious mooncakes being served at the Events Kitchen.
Operations Manager Hung Ngo was at his charming best as the MC, ensuring the programme ran smoothly, and on time. He was well supported by our Chinese kaimahi and ākonga from the Unitec Student Council, who helped out.
Unity was the main theme of the week says event organiser and International Coordinator, Melody Hao.
“The aim was to showcase our Chinese culture and provide opportunities for our students to engage with the language,” she explains.
“I was really happy at how everyone responded to help with this event, from students and staff. It really brought everyone together for this Moon Festival to make it a success,” she explains.
Emily Chen from the Chaplaincy Office says seeing so many of our Chinese staff come together to help organise and run this event was the highlight for her.
“The success was a result of good teamwork and this demonstrates the unity that the Moon Festival symbolises,” she says.
The Moon Festival celebrations were led by the Student Success Team, with wonderful support from staff and student volunteers across Unitec — including the Timetabling Team, Industry Partnerships Team, Te Korowai Kahurangi, Unitec Student Council, Chaplaincy and Multi-faith Team, Bridgepoint (Languages School), and the School of Creative Industries.
