Photo: Pupils from Te Kura o Manunui school, Brookfield with their art pieces and John Hodgson of the Friendship Society. Credit: Brydie Thompson.
Brookfield’s Te Kura o Manunui pupils have been diving deep into Chinese culture. Students like Devon, Ryley, Caleb, and Chanel have discovered that colours, especially red, have special meanings in China. They’ve also learnt about Chinese New Year traditions, such as the Year of the Rat.
The students told The Weekend Sun, “Chinese people love dumplings. And so do we.” They have even started learning Mandarin and can now speak some words.
Helping to strengthen this bond, the New Zealand China Friendship Society has organised a primary school art exchange. A drawing from Jiangxi Province in China shows children from both nations sitting over their flags, surrounded by symbols from both cultures.
Te Kura o Manunui will also participate, sending their own art to China. The best pieces will be displayed in the Chinese school.
Additionally, the Friendship Society is launching a Tauranga secondary school art contest with five different categories. One category is a portrait of Rewi Alley, an important figure in New Zealand-China relations.
John Hodgson from the Friendship Society explained one of the categories as a four-word poem. The students must write in English, explain their poem’s meaning, and why they chose it. Another category invites art that represents the friendship between New Zealand and China.
Plans for a student exchange trip to China are also in the works. The idea is to introduce traditional Maori culture to the Chinese. Hodgson also suggests including a touch rugby game with mixed teams from both nations.
Te Kura o Manunui students are eager to learn more about China, hoping to visit one day. They’ve learnt about China’s vast product range, their Olympic success, and vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations.
For schools interested in joining or seeking more information, contact John Hodgson at 027 284 9738.
