From left: Thomas Nicholls (judge, Chinese teacher from Queen Margaret College), CHEN Yue (Education Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy), Charles Clayton (Certificate of Distinction), James Hurley (third prize), Elliot Maddox (second prize), Anuilagi Aukusitino (first prize), Min Wu (judge, Chinese teacher), Lauren Stirling (judge, Chinese teacher from Scots College), Tony Browne (Chairman of Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington), Xiaoqing Yang (Deputy director of Confucius Institute at Victoria University).

This year’s tertiary competition was hosted by the Confucius Institute at Victoria University in May for competitors from the lower North Island performing a speech on the theme “China and Me”.

Three Victoria students were first, second and third. The first and second winners are joining two winners from the Auckland and Christchurch regional speech competitions to represent New Zealand in China at the International Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students.

The Chinese Bridge Speech Competition provides a platform for students to develop a better understanding of Chinese culture and improve their Chinese language skills.

Victoria Bachelor of Arts student Lagi Aukusitino came first, and has been awarded a Confucius Institute Scholarship to study at a Chinese university for one term. She says the win was a welcome surprise.

“I got into Chinese studies by accident. I love Korean pop music and wanted to learn more about Korea, so I picked up Asian Studies at Victoria. This led on to some Chinese papers and I found it really interesting so I carried it on.”

Lagi says she feels fortunate to have come first.

“I came to Victoria on a scholarship from the Catholic Foundation Centre, and a Victoria Achiever Scholarship, so I’m working hard at my studies to thank those people who took a chance on me in the first place.”

The second place winner Elliot Maddox was also awarded a Confucius Institute Scholarship to study at a Chinese university for a term. Elliot is a Bachelor of Arts student and he spoke about his personal connection to China including a passion for the game Mahjong.

Lagi, Elliot, and third place student James Hurley—who won’t compete but is attending as an observer—will travel to Beijing and Changsha. Their airfares and accommodation are sponsored by Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters.

The competition will be broadcast on television in China. First prize is a Confucius Institute Scholarship providing financial support to a student to study at Master’s level at a Chinese university for three years.

Victoria University’s Confucius Institute organises Chinese speech competitions annually for university and secondary school students.

“I encourage as many Chinese language students as possible to give the speech competitions a go, no matter what level your proficiency is. It’s fun, will give you a huge sense of achievement, and potentially a trip of a lifetime to China,” says Confucius Institute Director, Wen Powles.

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