Chinese New Year comes to town
The first year the Chinese New Year Festival took place, it aimed to cater for a few children, but this year’s event is expected to attract 55,000 people.
Linda Lim, Steph Tims, Jill Ford and Rita Tom organised the Wellington Festival in 2001 to give their children a taste of Chinese culture, however it ‘‘quickly grew to become much more than that’’.
The group saw that the city wanted to embrace it, said Lim.
‘‘It became clear the best way to keep the culture alive and encourage the children to feel proud was by inviting the wider community to respect and understand our culture.’’
As the Wellington festival prepares to celebrate its 19th year this month, Lim said it was now their children helping carry on the tradition alongside more than 50 community groups and 2500 volunteers.
‘‘We offer a programme that’s diverse, interesting and relevant. As a result, people engage with the festival,’’ Lim said. ‘‘It’s a very authentic celebration of Chinese New Year but in a uniquely Kiwi context.’’
From February 9, Wellington city will be alive with Chinese culture and celebration.
This year, a staple of the festival is the East Meets West show; a dynamic, crossculture performance that Lim hopes will bring two cultures together and challenge the perceptions of how people view the Asian arts and culture.
Featured in this show will also be the Jinan Acrobatic Troupe from Shandong Province, China.
The troupe will perform breath-taking feats aimed to inspire and impress audiences with a repertoire that combines Beijing Opera, martial arts and contemporary dance with traditional acrobatics, to present a programme of classical and contemporary performing arts.
Following the East Meets West show, a spectacular fireworks display on the Wellington waterfront will farewell the Dog and welcome in the Pig.
The next day, the festival will offer Chinese cuisine, crafts and cultural entertainment alongside a colourful street parade.
Lim said they were always looking for different ways to engage the wider community.
‘‘Wellington is the arts and culture capital of New Zealand, and I feel our festival contributes to that reputation."