Group photo

Mme Tan Xiutian （second from left）, Chinese Consul General in Christchurch, Dr. Lin Yong （left）, Dean of CIUC and prize winners

Mme Tan Xiutian （second from left）, Prof. Paul Fleming （ second from right）, Vice Chancellor of UC and prize winners

The 11th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Tertiary Students New Zealand （NZ） National （Excluding Auckland） and the 5th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary Students NZ National were successfully held on the campus of the University of Canterbury on May 26, 2012. This competition was co-organized by three Confucius Institutes and embassies & consulates in NZ. And it was hosted by HUST’s Confucius Institute at University of Canterbury （CIUC）.

Guests and officials who were present at the competition included Mme Tan Xiutian, Consul General of the P. R. China in Christchurch, Mr. Li Yucai, Education Consul of Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, Mr. Zhao Lei, Third Secretary from the Chinese Embassy in Wellington, Prof. Paul Fleming, Vice Chancellor of the University of Canterbury, Ms Wang Yu, NZ National Chinese Language Advisor.

A total of 25 students from NZ universities and schools entered the final round after fierce preliminary competitions. The national final competition was carried out in three categories: the tertiary, the secondary, and the intermediate. In order to test the contestants’ knowledge and understanding of the Chinese language and culture, the competition consists of two sections--prepared speech and talents show. During the speech section, all the contestants presented their speeches closely related to the three topics of “My Chinese Dream”, “My Chinese Study” and “My Chinese Friend”.

After a period of fierce competition, Annelise Posthuma from the University of Canterbury, Asher Stadlin-Robbie from Victoria University of Wellington, Chaer Yoon from Auckland international College and David Tuipulotu from Mt Albert Grammar School won the entrance to the international finals in China. They will represent New Zealand to compete with other contestants from all over the world at the Eleventh “Chinese Bridge” Speech Competition for Tertiary Students in July and the Fifth “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Secondary Students in November. First prizes for the intermediate category were won by Tae Hyouk Kim from Lynfiled College and Ibold Haley from ACG Parnell College.

Both Prof. Paul Fleming and Mme Tan Xiutian delivered speeches at the award ceremony and granted prizes to the winners. In her speech, Mme Tan expressed high evaluation of the competition, stating that the competition would not only help contestants understand Chinese language and culture better, but also stimulate further communication and exchanges between New Zealand and China. The award ceremony was presided over by Dr. Adam Lam, Director of CIUC. Other guests who presented prizes consisted of Ms Wang Yu, NZ National Chinese Language Advisor, Dr Luo Hui, Director of the Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington and Dr Meng Jinrong, Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute in Auckland.