Summary
Chinese Consul-General in Auckland Chen Shijie attended the awards ceremony for the 'Modern China in My Eyes' short video competition on 4 November 2026. Nearly 100 people attended, including school principals from the consular district, participating students and their parents. In his speech, Chen congratulated the winners and encouraged students to remain true to their original aspirations, continue to learn Chinese well and understand China, and inject new vitality into China-New Zealand people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
He said the Consulate-General is willing to take next year's 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an important opportunity to work with all sectors in the consular district to advance China-New Zealand friendship. The competition was hosted by the Consulate-General in Auckland and organised by the Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland, the Chinese Language Centre project team at the University of Auckland, and the New Zealand Chinese Language Teachers Association. A total of 131 primary, secondary and tertiary students from 24 schools in the consular district participated, and 11 works won awards.
At the ceremony, winning students performed talents including face-changing, Chinese dance and Chinese singing, drawing rounds of applause from the audience.
Commentary
The 'Modern China in My Eyes' short video competition, hosted by the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland, attracted 131 students from 24 schools — a figure that reflects the growing interest of New Zealand's younger generation in the Chinese language and culture. For local small and medium-sized enterprises, this deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchange could translate into practical business opportunities. With the upgraded China-New Zealand free trade agreement, barriers in services trade and e-commerce are gradually being lowered, and local talent with Chinese language skills and cultural understanding will become a key resource for companies seeking to expand into the Chinese market.
The involvement of the Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland and the Chinese Language Teachers Association shows that the popularity of Chinese language education in New Zealand is rising, providing SMEs with a richer talent pool. On the other hand, such cultural activities may also boost Chinese consumers' awareness of New Zealand brands, especially those that emphasise cultural connections and local characteristics. For example, New Zealand's tourism, education and premium food sectors can leverage this cultural affinity to design more targeted marketing strategies.
From a broader perspective, with the 55th anniversary of China-New Zealand diplomatic relations approaching, the bilateral relationship may enter a new phase of cooperation, and SMEs should watch for accompanying policy developments, such as visa facilitation or trade promotion measures. Notably, competitors such as Australia are also strengthening people-to-people ties with China, and New Zealand businesses need to build differentiated advantages in niche areas, for example by using Māori cultural elements or sustainable production concepts. The face-changing, Chinese dance and other talents showcased in the short video competition not only reflect cultural integration but also suggest potential collaboration space in content creation and digital media.
If local SMEs can work with these young creators, they may develop innovative content marketing solutions for the Chinese market.
Keywords: Consul-General Chen Shijie, short video competition, Modern China in My Eyes, China-New Zealand people-to-people and cultural exchange, Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland, 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Chinese language learning, awards ceremony
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Source: Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Auckland – Consulate-General News
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available sources for general information only. The analysis and commentary are editorial opinions. MiDeer Observer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Readers should seek independent professional advice before relying on this content, or contact us for more information.
