Chinese New Year starts today. This is the Year of the Monkey.
New Zealand has 170,000 Chinese immigrants who will be celebrating here. If they have family in New Zealand, they will celebrate with their family. Chinese students who have no family here usually find other Chinese students to share the celebrations. Many other Asian countries also celebrate the Lunar New Year at this time.
Cities in New Zealand celebrate the Lunar New Year for everybody, not just Asians, to enjoy. Auckland’s Lantern Festival this year is in the Auckland Domain from 18th to 21st February. Christchurch also has a Lantern Festival, this year on 27th February in Hagley Park. Wellington has an East Meets West Celebration Show next Saturday, followed by fireworks on the waterfront, and a Festival Day on Sunday with an Asian market and a street parade. Dunedin held a street parade tonight from the Octagon to the Chinese Garden. Many other events are planned in the Chinese Garden for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, many tourists from China are arriving to spend this holiday time in New Zealand, especially in the South Island. Already hotels and rental cars are fully booked.
Listen to February 16 2015 to hear about Chinese New Year in 2015.
Vocabulary
• lunar (adj) – the moon (solar – the sun)
• waterfront – the harbour
• the Octagon – Like a city square with 8 sides
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