Christchurch consulate holds awards for second ‘China in My Eyes’ short video contest

Summary

The Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch held the awards ceremony for the second "China in My Eyes" short video contest on September 5 at the city's old parliament building. Consul General He Ying attended, together with Sir David Carter, former Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament and Honorary President of the New Zealand China Friendship Society; Sarah Stewart, representing the Rewi Alley family; and representatives of the New Zealand-China Chamber of Commerce, the Rewi Alley Chinese School, the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury and other institutions. He Ying said the contest, themed "People Who Have Contributed to China-New Zealand Friendship," drew more than 160 entries.

The entries took novel perspectives and were sincere in feeling, she said, full of remembrance of pioneers such as Rewi Alley and Kathleen Hall (He Mingqing) and of reflection on the China-New Zealand friendship. She hoped students would carry on the Rewi Alley spirit and serve as young ambassadors for the relationship. Sir David Carter set out Rewi Alley's contribution to China-New Zealand relations and encouraged the students to visit the Rewi Alley Memorial Hall, learn his story and carry the friendship forward.

Award-winning students and their parents visited the Rewi Alley Memorial Hall after the ceremony.

Commentary

The "China in My Eyes" short video competition run by the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch looks like a cultural event, but its longer-term bearing on China-New Zealand economic and trade relations warrants the attention of New Zealand SMEs. First, stable bilateral relations are the cornerstone of two-way trade. China has been New Zealand's largest trading partner for many consecutive years; goods trade exceeded NZ$40 billion in 2024, and services trade, education and tourism in particular, is equally significant.

Exchanges of this kind help build trust between the two peoples, reduce political uncertainty and give SMEs a more predictable environment for exports to, and investment in, China. Second, on education exports and digital content, the competition drew more than 160 student entries, pointing to the interest New Zealand's younger generation has in China. Education exports generate about NZ$5 billion a year, and Chinese students account for a significant share of total international students.

Cultural activity of this sort can further consolidate New Zealand's image as a safe and friendly study destination while creating potential demand for local educational institutions, tour operators and content creators targeting the Chinese market. SMEs could consider working with local Chinese-language schools or cultural institutions on brand promotion aimed at the Chinese community, or use short video for digital marketing, drawing on the cultural narrative approaches showcased in the competition. The commercial conversion of such activity takes time, however: businesses should treat it as part of long-term relationship building rather than a direct sales channel.

Keywords: Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, China in My Eyes Short Video Contest, Award Ceremony, Consul General He Ying, Sir David Carter, Rewi Alley, China-New Zealand Friendship, Over 160 Entries, Rewi Alley Memorial Museum, Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury

Source: Consulate-General of China in Christchurch – Consulate-General News