“2025 Chinese Dragon Boat Festival Family Day” was grandly held in Auckland

【Auckland, June 1, 2025】 The gongs and drums are loud, and the dragons are soaring and lions are leaping. The “2025 Chinese Dragon Boat Festival Family Day” celebration, co-organized by the New Auckland Chinese Association, the Auckland West Chinese Association and the Henderson Cultural and Art Center, was grandly held in Henderson (2 Mt Lebanon Lane) in the West Auckland West Auckland on June 1. The event attracted thousands of people of all ethnic groups to participate enthusiastically, becoming one of the most large and influential cultural events in the Chinese New Zealand society during the Dragon Boat Festival.

The event was co-organized by the New China Friendship Association, the Pacific Culture and Art Association, the New China-Maoli Cultural and Tourism Promotion Association, the New Zealand Hundred Flowers Art Troupe, the New Zealand Qingdao Association, the New Zealand Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, the Onehunga Chinese Association and other groups. It was warmly opened by the New Zealand Central Government, the Auckland Municipal Government, the West District Local Council and many community funds. It opened the audience with a warm opening of the gongs and drums!

The event kicked off with a grand folk parade. Wearing traditional costumes, the “Fu Lu Shou” style, walked at the front of the team, the two lions are majestic and the long dragon is churning, symbolizing good luck and good luck; the gongs and drums such as dry boats, yangko, square dances are loud and colorful silks are flying, and they are slowly moving along the main venue to create a strong festive atmosphere. The audience cheered and applauded along the way, and the scene was filled with a warm atmosphere of “young and young people have fun together and reunion”, fully demonstrating the love and inheritance of Chinese traditional festival culture.

The finishing ceremony was solemn and warm, and the guests opened auspicious signs together:

The main stage held a grand “finishing ceremony”. After the host briefly introduced the cultural meaning of “finishing the touch”, the political and business guests jointly gave the highlight of the light:

• Zhu Rende: President of the New Ao Chinese Association and the Auckland West District Chinese Association

• Luana: Director of the Henderson Center for Culture and Arts

• Wang Junchao: Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland

• Wang Jianwen: Director of Auckland Chinese Cultural Center

• Nancy Lu, Shane Henderson, Ken Turner, Chris Carter, Kay Thomas, Mike Dawson, Jessica Phuang, Sunil Kaushal, David Tai, Jevon and other members of Congress, city councillors and community representatives

The finishing touch is carried out in three steps according to the traditional ritual: “One point of heaven, good fortune, longevity and health; two points of eyes, brightness and good wishes; three points of mouth and nose, full of gold and jade.” With the sudden sound of drums, the auspicious lion “wakes up”. The subsequent staged “Lion Driving the Dragon Boat Festival” pushed the atmosphere to a climax and won applause from the whole hall.

The guests delivered speeches to celebrate the festival together to demonstrate the unity of the Chinese community:

The organizer’s representative and President Zhu Rende delivered a speech: “The Dragon Boat Festival is not only an important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, but also an important platform to show the charm of Chinese culture and promote ethnic integration.” On behalf of the organizer, he thanked all support units, performance teams and volunteers for their hard work.

Deputy Consul General Wang Junchao of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Auckland and many members of Congress and city council members also delivered speeches, praising the positive contributions of the Chinese community to the development of diverse cultures and extending holiday greetings to the general public.

The double dance art performance is colorful and diverse and diverse cultures complement each other:

The main venue has two stages: main and deputy stages, gathering more than 30 performance teams. The program covers various forms such as dance, folk music, opera, martial arts, singing, catwalks, instrumental music, etc., with rich content and wonderful content.

Key programs include:

• Dragon and lion dance, Tai Chi martial arts “Chinese Martial Soul”
• Mongolian dance “Rushing”, classical dance “The West Tower Full of the Moon”, Yangge, Square dance
• Folk music ensemble “Tea Picking Dance”, “New Year’s Day”, “Fisherman’s Song”, “War Horse”

• Peking Opera, Face Change, Erhu, Flute, Yangqin, Male and Female Solo
• Russian “Singing Nation” Performance Team
• Talent display of local schools, communities, and parent-child teams

The entire performance combines cultural elements such as Chinese and Russian, demonstrating the cultural diversity and inclusiveness of New Zealand society.

Children’s Day warm interactive parent-child sharing happy time:

On June 1st International Children’s Day, the event specially opened a “Parent-child interactive zone”, which is very popular among families:

• Enjoy projects such as winning prizes, painting experience, amusement castles, etc.
• Children’s stage performances, parent-child talent displays
• All children and families present receive holiday commemorative gift packages

Through the interactive method of “three generations of old, middle-aged and young people participate together”, families can spend a good time together in traditional festivals and enhance their sense of belonging and cultural identity.

The food market brings together all the flavors of the world to regain the “taste of home”:

The food stalls are very popular, with a wide range of Chinese delicacies such as salty rice dumplings, buns, fried rice, marshmallows, and lamb skewers. There are also Western desserts and meals of various ethnic groups, reflecting the beautiful scene of the integration and coexistence of diverse cultures.

The modern interpretation of traditional festivals is carried out in the inheritance and integration of cultural heritage:

“Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and Family Day” is not only a festival event, but also a display and dissemination of Chinese culture. Through government-civilian interaction, ethnic exchanges, and community participation, this event demonstrates the cohesion and openness of the Chinese community, and also injects warm and powerful cultural energy into the construction of a diverse, inclusive and harmonious New Zealand society.

Organizer:
• Xinao Chinese Society Federation
• Auckland West Chinese Association
• Henderson Culture and Arts

Co-organizer:

New China Friendship Association, Pacific Culture and Art Association, New China Maori Cultural and Tourism Promotion Association, New Zealand Hundred Flowers Art Troupe, New Zealand Qingdao Association, New Zealand Chinese Entrepreneurs Association, Onehunga Chinese Association, etc.

Media support:
TV33, New Zealand newspaper, “The Mu Ren” studio, New Zealand broadcast, Overseas Chinese Network, Xinhua News Agency, Zhang Kai Studio, Daqu Studio, Chinese Herald, New Zealand Tianwei.com, New Zealand International Media, Chinatown.com, going to New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand, New Zealand Culture and Art, Chinese Pages, and Check out New Zealand and other platforms.