Bridging Friendship Through Wushu

The Bay of Plenty–Jiangxi relationship, formalized in 2019, is a partnership focused on fostering cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and youth development. Over the years, this relationship has supported initiatives such as trade and investment promotion, student exchanges, cultural performances, and most recently, the success of the Jiangxi Volunteer Program. These efforts have strengthened ties between the two regions and provided meaningful opportunities for communities on both sides. Learn more about this programme here.

Rangiatea Buchanan, a New Zealand native with a deep passion for Wushu, has formed an inseparable bond with China. During her volunteer service in Jiangxi, she sought guidance on Wushu techniques and built strong friendships with the locals, using the principles of Wushu as a bridge. Her story exemplifies how cultural exchange can foster closeness, demonstrating that people grow closer through mutual respect and understanding.

Rangi mentioned that upon returning to New Zealand she would continue practicing and promoting Wushu while serving as a bridge to present a more authentic image of China.

Rangi’s story not only highlights how people can enhance understanding and deepen friendship through sincere dialogue but it also shines as a beacon illuminating the path towards making the planet Earth a peaceful, friendly and harmonious home for all.

Full Video Transcript

Hello everyone My name is Rangiatea Buchanan Right now I’m at Yujiang No. 4 Middle School I’m an English assistant teacher

85 days before Rangi came to China beginning her life as an volunteer in Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province

Bridging Friendship Through Wushu: A Delightful Journey for Rangi

Hello? Hello! You coming to class? Yes

As a volunteer, I’m an English assistant teacher I’ve been taking the English corner classes where I help students with their spoken English really encouraging them to be able to practice their English that they’ve already learnt

I feel like I get along really well with the students in my class and they are very willing to learn so that makes me really happy

Lu Xinyao Jiang Xiaotong Student in the spoken English class

Do you like the foreign teacher? (like her very much) Very much, she’s very interesting and gets along very well with students She makes us very happy and we’ve also learned a lot

Usually I like to have a bit of a walk around even just by myself because I want to see if the students will approach me If I see some students I’ll say hello or they’ll say hello to me and then I ask how are you or I’ll try and have conversations or make conversations

Are you having the sports meet tomorrow? Yes!

I really want to help any way that I can to improve their English or actually put the English into practice

Random Interview Students at Yujiang No.4 Middle School

How do you feel communicating with her? Very friendly/Very difficult Friendly but also difficult I now realize how my English is well, let’s leave it here

For Rangi This is definitely been the longest time that I’ve been in China

BUT！ This is not her first connection with China

When I was around about 7 years old I started doing Wushu I started doing it because my dad watched the Lantern festival performance in Auckland and he thought it would be something really interesting for me to try So I tried the first lesson at New Zealand Jingwu and I didn’t like it at the start But as I kept on going and I made new friends I really enjoyed going to the classes and I enjoyed more so the culture of the sport as well

My best friend Jenny She’s born in New Zealand but she’s from Guangdong province And we met doing Wushu together and learning alongside my Wushu teacher we really became more involved within the Chinese community in New Zealand

Because I’ve been doing wushu specifically Jingwu for a very long time There are underpinning things that I’m constantly reminded of even on a daily basis The discipline, the perseverance having respect for myself and treating people how you’d like to be treated These are things that are very key to who I am and that are very important to how I’ve built myself as a person

I’ve always wanted to learn Chinese Kungfu here in China And being here in the home of Wushu I feel very grateful and very happy I thought that I might learn some Wushu I didn’t expect that I would train almost every day so that is a very pleasant surprise and I’m very happy with what I’ve been able to do so far and what I’ve been able to learn

Zhao Yasheng Wushu teacher at Yujiang No.4 Middle School She has been learning Wushu for a long time in her home country so it’s not very hard teaching her In order to promote the traditional Wushu I taught her Xingyi Quan (a traditional Chinese fist techniques) Other than the language barriers Everything is OK

My room

Here I have my certificate and my medals from doing the Jiangxi Province Wushu Competition I think for me it’s not necessarily about the medals I think it’s the experience and being able to participate in a competition here in China I think that was really cool

This is the video my teacher showed me When I studied in martial arts school

I think when I first arrived I was quite shy because I have never been to Yujiang before I think what’s really helped me become more open with myself and with others is the support that I’m able to get from the teachers around me my host teacher my host teacher’s family the principal my Lao shi (teacher) They’ve all been really kind to me and have really made me feel at home even though I’m so far from home as well

I think that having come on this volunteer program it’s definitely given me a better insight as to how Chinese culture and Chinese communities are in China

Cheers! Happy everyday Beautiful forever

Ai Huiyan English teacher at Yujiang No.4 Middle School

I treat her like my younger sister caring about her life here I think I’ve spent more time with her recently than with my own child

I hope that after she returns to her country we can still keep in touch and stay updated on each other’s lives That would be a blessing for me to have a dear foreign friend

We (my family and I) really appreciated the fact that we were able to learn more about Chinese culture through doing Wushu and getting more of understanding and seeing that actually there are some similarities between us being Māori and also with Chinese culture like being selfless and caring for others and having respect and honor as well those are some things that are really important to us so we all really love China