“My greatest regret in business is I don’t have the skills to speak the Chinese language, due to the significant amount of time and impact the Chinese creative industries have had on my career. We are intimately linked to China and a good understanding of each other’s language can only further advance this already rich relationship.”
Sir Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop
“[Chinese Language Week] sounds like a worthy initiative that builds on successful bilateral relations between New Zealand and China, and acknowledges the important role of Chinese language in this growing relationship. On behalf of Wellington City Council I would like to express my support for the New Zealand Chinese Language Week initiative”
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown
“Chinese Language Week is an excellent initiative that we would be happy to endorse as we strongly believe that improving the depth and breadth of engagement and understanding is critically important to the long term relationships between China and New Zealand.”
PricewaterhouseCoopers
“This is an idea coming at the right time, and the Council and Mayor Len Brown are very supportive of such an initiative coming to life nationally.”
Auckland City Council
“We would welcome the establishment of a Chinese Language Week in New Zealand.”
New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
“Thank you for your letter with respect to NZ Chinese Language Week and Weta Workshop would be interested in supporting this initiative.”
Weta Workshop
“Immigration New Zealand is supportive of the establishment of this initiative, and we would be happy to assist with its promotion through our wide networks”
Immigration NZ
“Our Society has a long term goal to promote Mandarin throughout New Zealand and we are very interested to work with your people in this regard.”
New Zealand China Friendship Society
“The Foundation would be pleased to support and promote this event.”
asia:nz – The Asia New Zealand Foundation
“We’d be supportive of a language week, to encourage a shared understanding and promote the benefits of a growing closer relationship between New Zealand and China.”
Christchurch International Airport
“We are very keen to support the idea. [The Albany-based Asia Dialogues group] would welcome an opportunity to host a meeting with you and the others involved in this initiative.”
Massey University
“The University of Canterbury, its College of Arts (where degree level Chinese courses are offered) and the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury applaud your proposal and would like to provide our full support.”
University of Canterbury
“Victoria University of Wellington, in particular the Confucius Institute and the Contemporary China Research Centre, are very keen to support this in whatever way we can.”
Victoria University
“The relationship between New Zealand and China should never be under estimated and while we tend to focus on the economic and trade aspects, we need to invest more heavily into culture and language. The New Zealand Chinese Language Week will make a difference to how we engage and work with China in the years and generations to come.”
Sir Don McKinnon, Chair New Zealand China Council