Chinese New Year 2021: Wellington organisers celebrate 20 years
Wednesday, 10 February 2021
This weekend, more than 50,000 people are expected to farewell the rat and welcome the year of the ox at Wellington’s Chinese New Year Festival.
While other parts of the world remain in lockdown due to coronavirus, Wellingtonians will be able to embark on a Chinese Zodiac Art Trail, see a lightbox exhibition, eat market food, watch fireworks and enjoy a street parade.
Run by volunteer organisers Stephannie Tims, Rita Tom and Linda Lim, the event has grown up alongside their children – finding its feet on Courtenay Place before making a move to TSB Arena and the waterfront.
Lim said they “live and breathe” organising the festival. It's on their minds all-year round, and preparing for Covid-19 had been an important part of the plans such as including digital events so people could celebrate the new year regardless of whether lockdown levels changed.
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The trio have been organising the festival for 20 years, with Tims meeting Tom and Lim at the Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre.
Tims said growing up there were not festivals like this in Wellington, and they wanted to start an event that showcased Asian culture and how proud they were to be Chinese.
It had become a family affair with their children taking part in designing the posters and joining the performances.
Their children have also helped shape the event with the trio bouncing ideas off of them leading to performances like a dragon hip-hop dance.
Lim said it was about creating an event that was authentic to their communities in Wellington.
“It's just who we are, and we hope it helps people see a bit of themselves there.'
Chinese New Year was more than just lions, dragons and Chinese opera – it helped people connect and feel at home instead of celebrating their culture behind closed doors, she said.
Coronavirus has become a symbol of racism against Chinese people but the organisers were not deterred by this.
Regardless of Covid-19, Asian people were on the receiving end of racism and having cultural festivals like this was about sharing “the richness of all cultures”, Lim said.
“By having these events, it becomes part of people's lives and different cultures can be appreciated. Things like this are so important.
“Having more people see this event and making it part of their every day lives – just being there creates more awareness.”
The Chinese New Year Festival takes place from February 13 to February 14.
EVENTS
Festival fireworks – February 13
- People will be able to farewell the rat and welcome in the ox with fireworks on Wellington's waterfront
Festival Day – February 14
Asian market from 10am to 5pm at Shed 6 and TSB Arena
Entertainment from 11am to 2pm at TSB Arena and 3pm to 5pm at TSB Arena
Street Parade from Tory St to Wellington waterfront at 2pm to 3pm