New Zealand Chinese Language Week (NZCLW)
The first of its kind in any Western country, NZCLW bridges cultural and language gaps between China and New Zealand helping Kiwis learn Chinese.
Confucius Institute highlights of NZCLW 2026
The Confucius Institute at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington marked New Zealand Chinese Language Week (NZCLW) 2026 with an exciting programme of language and cultural activities across schools, communities, and the university.
The celebrations began on Saturday 27 June with the launch of the Chinese translation of Tū Mau Taiaha – Tū Mau Rākau at Te Wharewaka o Pōneke. As the first published Chinese-language guidebook on Māori martial arts, the publication represents a significant milestone in cultural exchange between Aotearoa New Zealand and China, providing a fitting start to a week dedicated to language, learning, and connection.
As always, the Confucius Institute’s Discover China cultural workshops proved extremely popular during NZCLW, with our Mandarin Language Assistants (MLAs) and cultural advisors holding over 100 workshops in Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Wairarapa, New Plymouth, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatāne, and Ōpōtiki. Highlights included Chinese ethnic dance workshops, making and playing paper guzheng instruments, school-wide Chinese quiz hunts, dragon dancing, and interactive sessions exploring China's Four Great Inventions—papermaking, the compass, gunpowder, and printing.
NZCLW also offered opportunities to strengthen international partnerships. Victoria University of Wellington and the Confucius Institute welcomed representatives from China's Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), reaffirming the value of ongoing educational collaboration and support for Chinese language teaching in New Zealand.
The week concluded with Confucius Institute staff attending the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers (NZALT) Conference. Alongside fellow Confucius Institutes from Auckland and Canterbury, we were proud to co-sponsor the event and engage with language educators from across the country. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to share ideas, celebrate achievements in language education, and discuss current opportunities and challenges facing language learning in New Zealand.
Established in 2014, New Zealand Chinese Language Week aims to promote Chinese language learning and strengthen cross-cultural understanding between New Zealand and China. Each year, it provides an opportunity for New Zealanders to engage with Chinese language and culture and to celebrate the value of multilingualism in our increasingly connected world.
NZCLW 2026 in photos
