Asia Savvy

Your chance to learn Indonesian!
Bahasa Indonesia, or the language of Indonesia, is spoken by more than 250 million people in Southeast Asia, primarily Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Historically a trading language that linked people across maritime Southeast Asia, contemporary Indonesian is relatively easy to pick up for basic communication purposes, whether you’re planning a holiday in Bali or a business trip to Jakarta.

The New Zealand Asia Institute is offering a structured series of Indonesian language courses in 2025. Each course runs for eight weeks, with 1.5 hours evening classes held once a week.
Event details – Level 1: For those with no or very little prior exposure to the language
Dates: Thursday, 24 July to Thursday, 11 September (8 Thursday evenings)

Time: 5-6.30pm (possible flexibility to suit instructor and attendees)

Instructor: Meriky Lo
Venue: Room 315, Level 3, The University of Auckland Business School,
12 Grafton Road, Auckland (parking available beneath the building)

Cost: $295 (including textbook); $250 (for those who already have the textbook) incl. GST (Refunds will not be given after the start of the course)
Register here: https://your-change-to-learn-indonesian-2025-level1.eventbrite.co.nz
The courses are designed to provide for progression in language skills, with each on-going level picking up from the point where the previous course ended. If you have already taken our Indonesian classes previously or have some grounding in the language, you may want to skip the first level. Please enquire if you are uncertain which level is right for you.

The courses will be taught by an Indonesian native speaker with more than 20 years of teaching experience.
Ongoing Levels 2, 3, 4 will be offered depending on demand. For further information please email Dinah Towle or call 09 923 1636.
We wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust.

Your change to learn Vietnamese:

Vietnam is a thriving, resilient country in Southeast Asia, home to more than 97 million people with close connections across Pacific and beyond. Many New Zealanders first encounter Vietnam as a tourist destination and as a major exporter of coffee. While it is renowned for beaches and good coffee, Vietnam is also a culturally-rich society that counts its history in the thousands of years. Today, the country has a youthful population and dynamic tech industry and plays an increasingly central role in global value chains in digital technologies and manufacturing.

The New Zealand Asia Institute is offering an introductory 2 Vietnamese language/refresher course for those with no, or very little, prior exposure to the language.
This course will run for eight weeks, with 1.5-hour evening classes held each Thursday, 6-7.30 pm. The class times are flexible dependent on the attendees’ preferences.
The Level 1 course will introduce spoken Vietnamese, with an emphasis on communicating everyday needs and understanding Vietnamese culture. Topics covered include:
• Greetings and introductions
• Telling the time and numbers
• Travel and transport
• Shopping and eating

Further classes will be available according to demand.
The course will be taught by a native Vietnamese speaker, educated in Vietnam and New Zealand. The core course book used will be Learning Vietnamese by Bac Hoai Tran, supplemented by other teaching materials (which are included in the course fee).
Event details
Each course runs for eight weeks, with 1.5 hour evening classes held once a week.
Course duration: 1.5 hours
Date and times: Thursday, 5 June to Thursday, 24 July 2025, 6-7.30pm
(8 x consecutive Thursday evenings)
Instructor: Thy Le
Course cost: $295 (including a textbook).
$250 (excluding a textbook).
Venue: Room 349, Level 3, Sir Owen G Glenn Building,
12 Grafton Road, City Campus, Auckland
Parking is available beneath the building

Register here: https://LearnVietnamese-L1-june-2025.eventbrite.co.nz
Refunds will not be given after the start of the course.
For further information please email Dinah Towle or call 09 923 1636.
We look forward to welcoming you!
We wish to acknowledge the generous support of the Nicholas Tarling Charitable Trust.

www.auckland.ac.nz/nzai

Korea-New Zealand FTA 10th Anniversary International Cultural Event: Discover the elegance of Korean traditional art in Auckland on 28 and 29 May, Auckland Victory Convention Centre, Ponsonby. https://www.victoryconventioncentre.co.nz/

Want to keep up with news in Asia? The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s Asia in Focus keeps you up to date on the developments that affect New Zealand and the wider world. This week’s articles include New Zealand and China’s diplomatic milestones, and the need for more of us to learn about an underinvested partner - Indonesia. Subscribe to the ANZF website for Asia in Focus as well as student opportunities by signing up at the bottom of their page.

Asia in Focus The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is New Zealand's leading authority on Asia. We provide experiences and resources to help New Zealanders build their knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in Asia.

Learn from Prof. D**g Woo Yoo, Ulsan University talking about South Kiorea's economic growth and National Assembly elections: To register scan QR code below or follow this link: https://auckland.zoom.us/meeting/register/XpMHl1tBTpeZKO9BCO4TcA #/registration

The Asia New Zealand Foundation supports contemporary and forward-thinking postgraduate and academic research projects or programmes relating to Asia with grants of up to $5,000.

Check out more below!

Foundation research grants The Foundation’s postgraduate research grants allows New Zealand postgraduate students to undertake research in Asia.

Application for the Asia New Zealand Foundation's Sports Knowledge Exchange close on Monday 18th November!

The Foundation's Sports Knowledge Exchange is a fund for New Zealand sports sector representatives to establish connections and develop relationships with their counterparts in Asia.

The fund is aimed at sports administrators, national sports organisation representatives, event organisers, coaches, umpires and officials to grow a deeper understanding of the delivery of sport in the region.

The funding can be used to travel to Asia to meet with sports representatives and organisations to learn from them and discuss opportunities for collaboration.

Knowledge Exchange The Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is New Zealand's leading authority on Asia. We provide experiences and resources to help New Zealanders build their knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in Asia.

SEMINAR OPPORTUNITY: Sexual Violence and Gender Inequality in Japan

Raising awareness about the extent of sexual violence in Japan and the damage inflicted on individuals is essential to change the status quo. This presentation draws on quantitative and qualitative data to reveal the reality of sexual violence and victimization, which has been poorly understood and largely ignored in Japanese society. The quantitative data is drawn from a landmark 2022 survey of sexual victims conducted by NHK that collected over 38,000 responses. Raising awareness about the harm caused by sexual violence is necessary, but not enough. It is a scourge that is symptomatic of Japan’s patriarchal social system where attitudes, norms, values, and practices render many people marginal and vulnerable to abuse. This includes the social norms of “masculinity” and “femininity,” the education system, the labour market structure, and a tax and social security system based on a division of labour that reinforces a strict division of gender roles. Due to the harmful consequences of widespread sexual violence on people and the economy, it is incumbent on the government to offer more support for relevant services, especially civil society organizations that have been playing a key role in helping victims. In this pivotal transition from ignoring to addressing sexual violence, it is also essential to engage the police and judicial officials in ways that enhance sensitivity towards victims, and to take actions that increase accountability.

Date: Monday, 13 January 2025

Time: 12-1.30pm

Venue: Decima Glenn Room (310), Level 3, Sir Owen G. Glenn Building, University of Auckland Business School, 12 Grafton Road (pay parking available beneath the building

Register here: https://nzai-sexual-violence-and-gender.eventbrite.co.nz

D. Osawa earned a Ph. D in Economics at Southern Illinois University (1984), was a researcher at Columbia University’s Center for the Social Sciences (1980-84), then received a Hewlett Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago (1984-1986) and from 1986-87 was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. After returning to Japan, Dr Osawa was chief researcher at the Japan Institute of Labour (1987-1990), taught at Asia University (1990-1996), and subsequently became Professor in the Department of Integrated Social Sciences at Japan Women’s University (JWU) where she taught for 25 years until retiring in 2021. During that time, she was the Director of the Research Institute for Women and Careers at JWU. Her area of expertise is labour economics. Some of her major works include Economic Change and Women’s Work: Japan-U.S. Comparison (Nihon Keizai Hyoronsya) 1993, Toward a Work-Life Balance Society (Iwanami 2006) Working Poor in Japan (Iwanami 2010, Why Can't Women Thrive in Japan? (Toyo Keizai Shinposha, 2015), and Towards a Society Where Women Can Ask for Help: Sexual Violence and Gender Inequality (Nishinihon Shuppansha, 2023).

The Japanese Film Festival 2024 is set to deliver another unforgettable cinematic experience! This year's festival will feature a diverse selection of films, ranging from documentary-style human stories to heartwarming narratives. With a carefully curated lineup of six films, the festival promises to cater to a wide range of cinematic tastes.

The festival aims to enhance New Zealanders' understanding of Japan and its rich culture while celebrating the artistry of Japanese cinema. Whether you're a seasoned film enthusiast or simply looking for quality entertainment, the Japanese Film Festival has something for everyone!

All films will be in Japanese with English subtitles.

Bookings open from Thursday 17 October at www.academycinemas.co.nz

Don't miss this month's free Japanese film screening, "A Silent Voice"! This film is a moving coming-of-age drama that depicts the struggles of adolescence through its memorable characters and beautiful hand-drawn animation. Recommended for ages 12+.

Date: Friday 27th September
Time: 6.00pm
Location: Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland CBD

Find out more here: https://www.auckland.nz.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/film_show_e.html

NZ’s Southeast Asian Festival is back in 2024!

An exciting, high-energy event that celebrates Southeast Asia’s vibrant culture and cuisine.

When: Saturday 28th September, 10am - 4pm
Where: Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane Road

AMOUS MALAYSIAN FARE – Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai, Hokkien Mee, Apam Balik, Assam Laksa, Chicken Satay, Kuih Lepas, Onde-Onde, Roti Jala, Teh Tarikh…

FILIPINO FAVOURITES – Mang Joe’s Chicken Inasal, BBQ. Lechon, Kwek Kwek, Laing. Dinuguan. Caldereta. BBQ Pork Skewers, Ube Cake … and of course – Halo Halo...

MUST TRY INDONESIAN DISHES – Nasi Uduk, Ayam Goreng, Otak Otak, Mertabak Manis, Perkedel, Gado Gado …

SAWADEE KAI: Pad Thai, Khao Pad (Fried Rice), Tom Yum Soup, Fish Cakes ….

A TASTE OF VIETNAM: Bahn Mi (sandwiches), Pho (noodle soup), Spicy Beef Noodle Soup …

LOTS MORE: BBQ Squid, Dumplings, Biriyani ….

Enjoy your food while watching the jam-packed program of traditional Southeast Asian dances, performances from New Zealand’s top Asian musicians and unique cultural theatre.

Find out more:

Look East Festival NZ's BIGGEST Southeast Asian Festival 2024