Confucius Institute UC

🎉 2026 Chinese Pathway Workshop: Inspiring the Next Step

On 24 July, around 50 Chinese language students from Kaiapoi High School, Lincoln High School Te Kura Tuarua o Waihora, and St Thomas of Canterbury College visited the University of Canterbury(UC) for the 2026 Chinese Pathway Workshop.

The workshop was jointly organised by the UC Chinese Programme and CIUC (Confucius Institute at UC), reflecting a shared commitment to supporting Chinese language education and strengthening pathways between secondary schools and Chinese and Sinophone Studies at UC.

The day began with a warm welcome from Dr. Chia-rong Wu, Nancy Wu, and Dr. Zhifang Song, who encouraged students to keep building their language skills and exploring the opportunities that Chinese learning can create.

Students then heard from Brie Harding-Browne and George Baggott. George, the winner of the 2026 South Island Chinese Bridge Competition, reflected on how his Chinese learning journey—from Year 9 through to university—has opened the door to unforgettable experiences in China. Together, the speakers encouraged students to stay curious, keep practising, and enjoy the journey.

Lunch offered another opportunity to learn, as students introduced themselves in Chinese and connected with peers from other schools. It was wonderful to see conversations begin, confidence grow, and new friendships take shape.

The afternoon was filled with interactive activities, including a Chinese Cultural Knowledge Quiz, discussions about future learning pathways, and a lively Sichuan Opera workshop featuring a live face-changing performance. Students even had the chance to learn a few of the iconic moves themselves!

Language learning is about far more than vocabulary and grammar. It's about the people you meet, the confidence you build, and the opportunities that gradually open along the way. Whether students choose to continue with Chinese at university, travel abroad, or simply keep enjoying the language, we hope this workshop has inspired them to take the next step with confidence and curiosity.

Strengthening Skills, Sharing Ideas, Building Connections 🇳🇿🇨🇳

On 4–5 July 2026, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury hosted its Mid-Year Professional Development Workshops for Mandarin Language Assistants (MLAs), bringing together 18 MLAs, Chinese language teachers, and CIUC staff from Christchurch, Nelson, and Dunedin.

The two-day programme focused on professional development, classroom practice, programme reflection and planning, and intercultural communication. Through presentations, workshops, and peer-learning sessions, participants reflected on their teaching experiences from the first half of the year, shared effective classroom strategies, and explored new approaches to Chinese language education in New Zealand.

We were pleased to welcome Consul General He Ying from Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Christchurch, who joined the workshops and acknowledged the MLAs’ contributions to Chinese language and cultural learning.

The workshops featured a range of expert-led sessions covering classroom management, lesson design for young learners, task-based language teaching, and effective cross-cultural communication. MLAs also shared inspiring practices in task-based teaching, AI-assisted lesson planning, teaching resource development, and differentiated learning strategies.

More than a professional development opportunity, the workshops provided a valuable platform for collaboration, reflection, and mutual support. Together, we continue to strengthen Chinese language education and intercultural learning across New Zealand.

Sincere thanks to all participants, presenters, and partners for making this event such a successful and meaningful occasion.

It’s wonderful to see our Mandarin Language Assistant, Holy Duo, bringing Chinese language and culture to students at Bohally Intermediate School as part of New Zealand Chinese Language Week 2026. 👏

This year also marks the first year of the CIUC Mandarin Language Assistant (MLA) Programme in the Marlborough region. We’re excited to see the programme already creating opportunities for students to experience Mandarin in a fun, engaging and meaningful way.

A huge thank you to Bohally Intermediate School and the Marlborough Chinese Community for your warm welcome and support. We hope this is the beginning of many more collaborations across the region, helping more young people discover the joy of learning Mandarin and connecting with Chinese culture.

Well done, Holy—we're proud to have you representing the MLA Programme! 💜

As part of the New Zealand Chinese Language Week celebrations, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury (CIUC) was delighted to co-host the Chinese Immersion Day & Book Donation Ceremony at Tūranga Christchurch Central Library on Sunday, 28 June 2026, alongside the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Christchurch and Christchurch City Libraries.

During the ceremony, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Christchurch generously donated a collection of Chinese books to Tūranga Christchurch Central Library, supporting wider access to Chinese language learning resources and cultural literature for local communities.

The event opened with vibrant cultural performances, including Sichuan face-changing, Chinese martial arts, and traditional Chinese dance, bringing energy and colour to the celebration.

CIUC also curated six hands-on cultural experience zones, featuring lacquer fan making, calligraphy, classic Chinese puzzles, opera mask painting, tea art, and traditional Chinese clothing try-on. Visitors of all ages enjoyed exploring Chinese culture through creative and interactive activities, with the passport stamp collection adding extra fun and engagement throughout the day.

Chinese Immersion Day was a meaningful opportunity for the Canterbury community to experience Chinese language and culture up close. CIUC is proud to have been part of this celebration of cultural diversity and looks forward to continuing to share Chinese language and culture with schools and communities across the region.

Thank you, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), for sharing this.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury is proud to be a UC-based resource centre jointly established by the University of Canterbury and HUST. Through this partnership, we support schools and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand by creating opportunities for meaningful language learning and cultural exchange.

We look forward to continuing this shared commitment together.

As part of the University of Canterbury’s annual Children’s University Day programme, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury was delighted to deliver a Dragon Boat Festival cultural experience for more than 100 students and teachers from local schools.

Through a combination of storytelling, interactive learning, and hands-on activities, participants explored the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival, learned about the story of Qu Yuan, and discovered some of the traditions associated with this important cultural celebration.

A lively quiz session sparked plenty of enthusiasm, while a hands-on craft activity gave students the opportunity to create colourful 3D “zongzi boat race” models. Through colouring, cutting, folding, and assembling, students engaged with Chinese culture in a creative and memorable way.

Children’s University Day provides a valuable opportunity for young learners to explore new ideas, cultures, and perspectives beyond the classroom. We are proud to contribute to this UC initiative and look forward to continuing to share the richness of Chinese language and culture with schools and communities across Canterbury.

On 30 May, the South Island finals of the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Speech Competition were held at the University of Canterbury, bringing together more than 60 contestants from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions across Christchurch, Nelson, Marlborough, Timaru, Dunedin, and Balclutha.

Organised by the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury (CIUC), the competition showcased students’ Chinese language skills and enthusiasm for Chinese culture. Contestants impressed both judges and audience members with their confidence, creativity, and linguistic ability.

This year’s Grand Prize winners across the primary, junior secondary, senior secondary, and tertiary categories were:
• Catherine Gallot - Henley School
• Munotidaishe Saruwaka - Aidanfield Christian School
• Vanessa Banda Lozano - Burnside High School
• George Baggott - UCArts, University of Canterbury

All four winners also received the Best Talent Award in recognition of their outstanding performances.

Their teachers and mentors — Han Liu, Jin Song, Flora Tie, Huili Feng, Mengheng Yan, Yuehe Sun, Yuhang Fan, and Wei Teng — were recognised as Best Coaches for their outstanding guidance.

The event also featured cultural performances by contestants and CIUC Mandarin Language Assistants, including Sichuan opera face-changing, traditional Chinese dance, and Chinese songs.

The awards ceremony was attended by Chinese Consul-General in Christchurch He Ying and Professor Kevin Watson, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Canterbury.

In their remarks, Professor Kevin Watson highlighted the importance of language learning in building genuine cross-cultural understanding and connection. Consul-General He Ying encouraged students to develop their Chinese language skills and intercultural competence to seize future opportunities.

CIUC remains proud to support language learning and cultural exchange as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering global citizenship and international engagement.

🌟 Join us for Chinese Immersion Day!
📅 Sunday 28 June
📍 TSB Space & Activity Room, Tūranga (Christchurch Central Library)
🕝 Cultural activities start at 2:00 PM, following a special book donation ceremony

🌟 Come! Celebrate Chinese culture with us through a fun-filled afternoon featuring:
🎨 Chinese performances, including Face-changing, Taichi, and Chinese traditional dance
🎨 Calligraphy
🎨 Lacquer fan making
🎨 Chinese traditional Puzzles
🎨 Opera mask painting
🎨 Chinese clothing try-on
🎨 Tea Art

All activities are FREE and perfect for the whole whānau! Bring your little ones and immerse yourselves in the rich world of Chinese culture as we gear up for New Zealand Chinese Language Week.

✨Don’t miss it – we can’t wait to see you there!