Shenzhen Choir Takes Mid-Autumn Programme to New Zealand and Fiji

Summary

The Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau sent the Shenzhen Xinghui Choir to the South Pacific for three 'A Moon Shared Across the Sea · Harmony of Sea and Sky' choral concerts in Palmerston North and Wellington, New Zealand, and Suva, Fiji. The first performance was held on the evening of 22 September local time at the Palmerston North Boys' High School theatre. Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith, Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter, Education and Culture Counsellor Tang Jun from the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, and Xu Tong, Director of the Wellington Chinese Cultural Centre, attended.

The local Manawatu Overtones choir joined the Xinghui Choir in performing the classic Maori folk song 'Pokarekare Ana', while the Xinghui Choir presented Chinese works rich in Mid-Autumn Festival meaning, including 'Moonlight' and 'Moon in the Mountains'. On the evening of 23 September, the 'A Moon Shared Across the Sea' Mid-Autumn choral concert was staged at the century-old Wellington Opera House. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong attended and delivered remarks.

Renowned Maori singer Kaye-Michelle joined the Xinghui Choir to perform classic Maori works and sang 'The Moon Represents My Heart' in Chinese. On 25 September local time, the choral concert was held at Suva City Council Hall in Fiji, with Fiji's local PRIMANAVIA choir performing on the same stage. Wang Yuan, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Fiji, and Sipiriano Nemani, Director of Fiji's Department of Heritage and Arts, attended and delivered remarks.

The Xinghui Choir performed pieces including 'As You Wish' and 'I Love You, China', and three local Fijian children took to the stage to sing 'As You Wish' together.

Commentary

The Shenzhen Xinghui Choir's tour to New Zealand and Fiji is not only a cultural showcase but also reflects the increasingly close people-to-people ties between China and the South Pacific. New Zealand small and medium-sized business owners can spot potential opportunities in cultural trade and tourism cooperation. The attendance of the Palmerston North mayor and the Massey University vice-chancellor shows that the local level hopes to use cultural exchange to drive linkages in education, tourism and other industries.

The fusion of Maori and Chinese music on the century-old stage of the Wellington Opera House, and the joint performance by Fijian children, highlight the appeal of cross-cultural resonance. For New Zealand businesses, such events help enhance the diversity of local cultural activities, attract Chinese tourists and business delegations, and in turn boost spending in hotels, restaurants and retail. At the same time, stronger interaction between China and South Pacific island countries may prompt New Zealand to play a more important transit or service role in regional supply chains, such as cultural product distribution and event planning.

However, businesses need to assess rationally: a single tour's short-term economic boost is limited, and long-term cooperation must rely on a stable cultural exchange mechanism. Data from Tourism New Zealand show that it will still take time for Chinese visitor numbers to recover to pre-pandemic levels, but demand for high-value cultural experiences is rising. SMEs are advised to watch follow-up China-New Zealand cultural exchange projects, explore cooperation with institutions such as the Wellington Chinese Cultural Centre, and develop customised cultural products for the Chinese community and Chinese tourists.

Keywords: Shenzhen arts troupe, Xinghui Choir, New Zealand, Fiji, A Moon Shared Across the Sea, choral concert, Kaye-Michelle, people-to-people exchange

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

深圳市文化广电旅游体育局组织深圳星辉合唱团远赴南太平洋，先后在新西兰北帕默斯顿、惠灵顿以及斐济苏瓦举办3场“天涯共此时·海天和声”合唱音乐会。当地时间9月22日晚，首场演出在北帕默斯顿男子高中剧场举行，北帕默斯顿市长格兰特·史密斯、梅西大学校长皮埃尔·文特教授、中国驻新西兰大使馆教育文化参赞唐筠、惠灵顿中国文化中心主任徐彤出席；当地Manawatu Overtones合唱团与星辉合唱团联袂演绎毛利经典民歌《河水湍湍》，星辉合唱团献上《月光光》《山中月》等富有中秋意蕴的中国作品。9月23日晚，“天涯共此时”中秋合唱音乐会在拥有百年历史的惠灵顿歌剧院上演，中国驻新西兰大使馆王小龙大使出席并致辞，知名毛利歌唱家凯伊·米歇尔加盟，与星辉合唱团共同演绎毛利经典作品，并以中文演唱《月亮代表我的心》。

当地时间9月25日，合唱音乐会在斐济苏瓦市政厅礼堂举行，斐济本土PRIMANAVIA合唱团同台参演，中国驻斐济大使馆临时代办汪元、斐济文化遗产与艺术局局长西皮里亚诺·内马尼出席并致辞，星辉合唱团演绎《如愿》《我爱你中国》等曲目，3名斐济本地小朋友登台共同演唱《如愿》。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

深圳星辉合唱团赴新西兰及斐济的访演，不仅是一场文化展示，更折射出中国与南太平洋地区日益紧密的人文纽带。新西兰中小企业主可从中捕捉到文化贸易与旅游合作的潜在机遇。北帕默斯顿市长及梅西大学校长的出席，表明地方层面期待通过文化交流带动教育、旅游等产业联动。

惠灵顿歌剧院百年舞台上的毛利与中国音乐融合，以及斐济儿童同台演唱，凸显了跨文化共鸣的感染力。对于新西兰企业而言，此类活动有助于提升本地文化活动的多样性，吸引华人游客及商务考察团，进而带动酒店、餐饮、零售等消费。同时，中国与南太岛国的互动增强，可能促使新西兰在区域供应链中扮演更重要的中转或服务角色，例如文化产品分销、活动策划等。

不过，企业需理性评估：单次访演的短期经济拉动有限，长期合作需依托稳定的文化交流机制。新西兰旅游局数据显示，中国游客恢复至疫情前水平仍需时日，但高价值文化体验需求上升。建议中小企业关注后续中新文化交流项目，探索与惠灵顿中国文化中心等机构合作，开发面向华人社区及中国游客的定制化文化产品。

关键词: 深圳艺术团, 星辉合唱团, 新西兰, 斐济, 天涯共此时, 合唱音乐会, 凯伊·米歇尔, 人文交流

Source: Shenzhen Government Online