Cross-talk is an important art culture in China and it has also gradually developed in New Zealand. One of the important promoters is the New Zealand Chinese Cross Talk Club. Last Sunday (December 17), the Chinese Crosstalk Club held their 2017 sealing show at Auckland Metropolis Events Center, attracting many art lovers and the public.

The New Zealand Chinese Cross Talk Club was registered with the government in March this year as an official civil performance group. In order to promote more Crosstalk culture and enrich Chinese life in New Zealand, it is planned to hold a routine performance in the future so that more people can experience the artistic charm of comic dialogue.

Zhang Hongyu, founder of the club was born in Tianjin, grew up in the growing environment and fell in love with the crosstalk art. He said that since its founded, the club has organized many performances to promote the arts and culture. Crosstalk Club launched a total of four special performances this year, and participated in various evening performances. There will be more performance events scheduled to take place next year, not only with comic dialogue but also with other forms of comedy to enrich the entertainment life in Auckland.

Zhang Hongyu said the sealing performance means the final show of this year, aims to provide their best performances to the audience and thanks for their support.

In order to promote Chinese Quintiles, and Chinese excellent culture,  enhance Peking Opera singing skills, the “Summer of Peking Opera” concert was held at Auckland Metropolis Events Center.

The concert organized by the New Zealand Peking Opera Association, Beijing Fellowship Association of New Zealand, and New Zealand Beijing Chamber of Commerce.

The concert was strongly supported by the Auckland Chinese community, all the community friends have responded to the enthusiastic application, the overall selection of nearly 100 fans enrolled for performance, and there are nearly 100 audience come to watch. The Concert run up to 5 hours, nearly 40 aria performed. Actors participating in the performance of the age span of up to 80 years old, down to 9 years old, and all win the cheers.

Fly Via Shenzhen Route & Tourism Seminar was held in Auckland Metropolis Events Centre on December 8, 2017. Nearly 100 people from New Zealand’s Shenzhen Federation of Societies, New Zealand’s Shenzhen Chamber of Commerce, the travel industry and the media were invited to attend the seminar.

The seminar was organized by “Fly via Shenzhen” Industry Promotion Association, Hainan Airlines, China Hong Kong Link, Guangdong Kangda, Shenzhen Airport Guanzhong Island and New Zealand Pioneer Travel.

This seminar aims to strengthen the aviation tourism cooperation and exchanges between Auckland and Shenzhen, so that more New Zealanders, especially the Aucklanders, could understand the aviation resources and preferential policies in Shenzhen, enhance mutual visits and help tourism enterprises cooperate with the tourism sector and exchange activities.

Shenzhen is located in southern China and is a major city in the Guangdong Province, with a population of 18 million people.

“Coloful China”, guided by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission and organized by the Chinese National Museum of Ethnology, is an important cultural exchange programme which builds on years of experience of various cultural projects and focuses on the Chinese ethnic costume culture. It has been exhibited in many countries and has a wide influence. Yesterday, this amazing show took place at Auckland Metropolis Museum,brought a spectacular visual feast for audiences.

In this exhibition and performance, “Colorful China” brought 12 elaborate arts programs, covering various categories such as dance, costume fashion show, traditional instrument performance and so on, presented the Uighur, Hui, Tibetan, Dai and other Chinese ethnic original, colorful characteristics and regional culture.

The Nga Rangatira Mo Apopo Youth Tribal Troupe from Far North also brought two very Maori performances, and it’s  the first time in the form of catwalks with Maori song and dance show, including clothing, handicrafts and Maori weapons and other traditional Maori culture.

Costume is not only an external symbol of an ethnic group, but also a cultural combination of material and the spirit. The costume of each ethnic group has their own characteristics, in the aspects of the category, style, and color. They are also treasures of the world culture and art. “Color China” troupe brings on an all-round exhibition with costume show, dancing and music, in using the modern Acousto-Optic technique.

In a word, “Colorful China” provides a splendid view of the ethnic costume art and the unique ethnic customs, as well as the charm of the 5000 years civilization and the diversified culture, which plays a significant role in inheriting, developing, and disseminating the Chinese traditional ethnic culture.

On the evening of November 28, Mr. Cai Guosheng, a famous Chinese antique collector, gave a lecture on antique appraisal and collection at Auckland Metropolis Museum.

This lecture is hosted by New Zealand Antique Collectors Club, co-organized by China & New Zealand Cultural Arts Association and Auckland Metropolis Museum.

Mr. Zhang Heqing, Culture Consul of Chinese Consulate General in Auckland; Mr. Guo Hong, President ofChina & New Zealand Cultural Arts Association; Mr. He Zhiyun, Chairman of New Zealand Pacific Cultural and Art Association and Mrs. Zhou Xiaowen, executive director of New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe attended the lecture.

Mr. Guosheng Cai was born in Dinghai County, Zhejiang Province in 1944. As a famous antique connoisseur, expert in cultural relics, Chinese calligrapher and writer, Mr. Cai has been involved in many institutes and organizations, acting as member of China Calligrapher’s Committee, a senior researcher in relics and museology, assistant director of Chinese Folk Art and Antique Appraisal Committee, editor of “Folkart and Antique Collecting”, guest expert in “Lucky Heirloom” of Shanghai TV, in “Looking for Treasure” of CCTV and in “Art and Antique Auction” of Tianjin TV as well. Mr. Cai has also been adviser and guest professor of several universities, such as Natural Resources Institute, Beijing University, Shanghai Normal University and Northern China Normal University. Ever since he started working in Shanghai Antique Market in 1962, Mr. Cai has been non-stop actively working in the industry of Antique collecting and appraisal. As a retired man, he has never retired in fact, but always does his bit in enthusiasm to promote and protect Chinese culure and relics.

New Zealand  Painting Pen Art School “Cultural Partners, Work Together- 2017 Exhibition of Teachers and Students Symposium” was held on November 26 at Auckland Metropolis Museum.

This art exhibition is hosted by New Zealand Painting Pen Art School, New Zealand Artists Association, New Zealand Chinese Artists Association and New Zealand Chinese Culture and Art Exchange Association.

There were more than 200 pieces of art works exhibited, and most of works demonstrated the blessings from teachers and students of the Painting Pen Art School for the friendly diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand.

On the morning of November 25,  deputy director of the overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Party Secretary Xu Yousheng, accompanied the delegation of Overseas Chinese Affairs officers came to Auckland Metropolis Museum, visit New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe.

Leaders of the counterparts include: Secretary-General Zhang Yongwen, Secretary for Secretaries of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council; Lei Zhenang, Director of Culture; Wang Ping, Director of Personnel Division; Chen Zetao, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Department; Liu Hongmei, Investigator of Foreign Affairs Department; and Wang Xin, Deputy Chief Investigator of Secretaries Division.

Also accompanying by Chinese Consul General of Auckland Xu Erwen, Song Chenmao, Vice Consul General, Cultural Consul Zhang Heqing, and Consul General of Overseas Chinese Affairs Zhang Yu.

Li Fen, president of the New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe, extended a warm welcome to Secretary Xu Youshen and his entourage, and reported on the work and achievements made by the New Zealand Huaxing Art Troupe since its establishment.

Secretary Xu Yusheng fully affirmed the work of the New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe and put forward requirements and guidance so that all the Huaxing members present at the scene feel more cordial and encouraged.

Guo Hong, executive deputy president of the New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe, Li Yulin, standing director of the New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe, and He Zhi Yun, Zhang Mengmeng, Zhou Xiaowen, the Secretary-General Shi Yanni, and representatives from the Huaxing units attended the meeting.

In order to promote Chinese Culture, the unveiling ceremony of NZ China Buddhist Association & NZ Jue Qun Buddhist Culture (Meditation) Center was held on November 26, at Auckland Metropolis Events Center.

Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple supervisor Changchun Master led a delegation to visit New Zealand, and on behalf of the Chinese Buddhist Association vice president, Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple Zen master abbot Jue Xing monk, and on behalf of the Shanghai Buddha Temple, he blessed and unveiled for the NZ China Buddhist Association & NZ Jue Qun Buddhist Culture (Meditation) Center.

It is reported that Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and New Zealand China Buddhist Association will choose a site at Auckland for the construction of monasteries, in order to carry forward the Chinese Buddhist culture.

Changchun master addressed at the ceremony, he said, overseas Chinese played a very important role in carrying forward the Chinese Buddhist culture. He hoped that the founding of the NZ China Buddhist Association & NZ Jue Qun Buddhist Culture (Meditation) Center could help Chinese Buddhist culture continuously taking root in New Zealand and flourish.

On the morning of the November 24,Mr. Lei Zhenggang, Chinese State Secretary for Cultural Affairs Office led Chinese delegation (art students ) to visit New Zealand’s Huaxing Art Troupe, and carried out exchange activities with New Zeland Huaxing Arts Troup Units at Auckland Metropolis Events Centre. The members of the visiting delegation are mainly from China Nationalities University, China Conservatory of Music, Capital University of Physical Education and other well-known domestic institutions of higher learning.

Ms. Li Fen, president of New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troup, welcomed Mr. Lei and the delegation’s visit. She said, “I warmly welcome all of you to visit our Huaxing Arts Troupe. We hope everyone can exchange and learn from each other, and also hope our guests will leave valuable opinions for us.”

Then, President Li gave a briefing and detailed report about the work accomplished and achievements made by New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe, since it was unveiled by Direcotr Qiu Yuanping in October of 2015.

She said, in the past two years, we have been continuously developing and expanding. Now we have developed into an integrated literary and cultural team composed of 52  units and more than 2,000 members. We have organized, contracted and co-hosted 69 art performances of all sizes. Nowadays, New Zealand Huaxing Arts Troupe has became a beautiful landscape of the world.