Chung King Restaurant Auckland

Greys Avenue Auckland businesses

Twelve Questions: Norman Ng

Twelve Questions: Norman Ng 5:00 AM Thursday Oct 9, 2014 ... Twelve Questions with Sarah Stuart Norman Ng, 82, was a child in the first wave of refugees allowed into New Zealand as Japan invaded China. Seventy-five years later, he is a successful businessman who still goes to the markets each morning. Norman Ng says although he grew up as a Kiwi, his father was strict in ensuring that he stayed true to his Chinese roots. Picture / Dean Purcell 1. You own the skinniest building in K Rd: how did your name end up there? I opened my first fruit and vege shop in 1960 in this building. I worked hard to save every penny and eventually bought it in 1967. This was my first business venture on my own and very sentimental to me. I wanted to share the pride of my success and have my name on it. 2. What do you remember of arriving in New Zealand? It took us six months to get here. I can remember running away from the village through the rice paddies on my bicycle as aeroplanes were flying over us and there were bullets hitting the ground. We had to walk to Hong Kong which took a very long time and we stayed there for a month while my father organised and paid for our passage. He had come to New Zealand in 1919 and saved all his money so we could come too. The ship was a cargo ship that stopped in Papua New Guinea and Darwin and we slept under the decks in dormitories. I remember when we got to Auckland, Queens Wharf, and my father was there. 3.What did your father do? He was a hawker, selling fruit and vegetables to the boarding houses, going door to door. When he started he had a bamboo stick with baskets on the end. We were extremely poor and I distinctly remember shifting around a few times within the first year. Our first place was a small room on Nelson St shared between my mother, father and two older sisters. A few months later we moved to a small house on Cook St and eventually we settled in an upstairs flat above the fruit and vege shop we rented on 244 Hobson St. We didn't have hot water, a bath and our toilet was separate from the property, about 20m down our backyard with no lighting. 4. How hard was life for your parents? As you could imagine, life as a foreigner in any new country is hard enough at the best of times. My mother died in 1941 just two years after arriving in New Zealand. Our father spoke very little English. I remember going to the hospital and how sad we were [when she died]. I missed her so much. When you think of it now you could cry. 5. Did you feel Chinese or Kiwi growing up? There were very few Chinese to connect with back in those days. I started school in Primer One and grew up as a Kiwi but my father was strict in ensuring that I stayed true to my roots and forced me to read and write Chinese every day. He thought we might have to go back to China as we were only temporary residents. But luckily after the war we were granted permanent residency. We were so happy then. 6. Did you experience any racist behaviour? I was picked on a lot during school. The other kids would often call me "Ching Chong" or "Chink". After two decades, more of the Chinese community became educated and forged successful careers in their chosen professions and we became more accepted as Kiwis. Oh, you couldn't get any Chinese food here when I was young. I think there was one restaurant but that was to feed the American soldiers. We made our own soy sauce out of Bovril mixed with water and salt. 7. What did your parents teach you? My father was a hard, strict man with a great emphasis on discipline. He ingrained a hard work ethic into our lives because we had come from a poor background and he made great sacrifices to get our family away from that environment. He taught us to work hard and save everything. We were only allowed to eat ripe fruit that was about to go off to minimise wastage at the shop. I guess we were taught to constantly save for a rainy day and never forget where we came from. I don't gamble. Don't drink. Don't smoke. There's a lot of luxury in the world but you avoid it. I'm not interested in flash cars or flash clothing. I do travel now though. In the last few years my wife and I have been all over the place. 8. What kind of father are you? I have modelled myself on my father. I have the same family values as he did for us as kids, to work hard, stay humble and secure a future for our children. 9. Has business always been a part of your life? Yes, and still is. I haven't stopped going to the produce markets just yet, although I wish they didn't start so early. 4am on cold winter months is not pleasant. I've had the same codename at the auctions - Super - since 1960. It's what they all call me. I live and breathe business though these days I leave the hard stuff to my son, Jason, and I mostly sit here and say hi to everyone. My wife's [still] working though. She works like a horse. 10. Do you think New Zealanders really understand the Chinese community? I've lived in New Zealand for 75 years and watched our generation build respect and understanding. We were in a good place but recent generations have dampened the efforts of the earlier generations by no fault of anyone. Mainly they are from northern China and they all speak Mandarin. It's a big change. I think we'll have to experience a new cycle of acceptance. 11. How has K Rd changed in your time? It was so busy and bustling. I remember 17 fruit shops on K Rd... They were mostly all Chinese. It was the "it" place for shopping with late night trading hours every Thursday night. It was one of the few places with late trading back then. 12.What do you want your legacy to be? I guess I'm a hard-working, humble man who gave everything I could to build a strong foundation for my family and for our future generations. - NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/small-business-sme/news/article.cfm?c_id=85&objectid=11339377

NZ astronomer to help pick Chinese planetarium

NZ astronomer to help pick Chinese planetarium WILMA MCCORKINDALE Last updated 18:05 13/03/2014 A Dunedin astronomer will contribute to the development of a planetarium for a science institution in China. Dr Ian Griffin, who recently took up the post of director of the Otago Museum, has been invited to sit on the panel to select the winning tender for the planetarium, which is being developed by the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM). The tender process would lead to a decision on the design plan, with further discussion on exhibition layout and interactive displays for the new planetarium, Griffin said. Griffin, a former chief executive of the Auckland Observatory and Planetarium Trust, headed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Office of Public Outreach and was director of its Origins Education Forum based at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. While at Nasa, Griffin worked on the Hubble telescope programme. Griffin said the Shanghai project was an ambitious one. "At its most basic, a planetarium is a domed room where visitors can discover the night sky," he said. "In the past few decades, planetarium design has experienced a period of renaissance and innovation. "Boasting state of the art technology, modern planetaria use extraordinarily high-resolution video to broaden the minds of visitors to the possibilities of astronomy and other areas of science." It would be constructed in Lingang New City, about 90 minutes from downtown Shanghai. Thirteen companies had tendered to build the structure, seven of which were based in China, Griffin said. "I am honoured to have been chosen to assist our colleagues at the SSTM with such an important decision, strengthening our already close ties with this excellent organisation," he said. "I have long been a believer in the inherent power of planetaria to inspire a passion for the universe around us and for lifelong learning in visitors of all ages." Griffin said the Shanghai experience could help in the possible development of a planetarium at the Otago Museum. "It should provide invaluable information with possible application at the Otago Museum," he said. Griffin will visit Shanghai from March 29 to April 7. - © Fairfax NZ News http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9825266/NZ-astronomer-to-help-pick-Chinese-planetarium

Key: 'Nothing untoward' in citizenship waiver

Key: 'Nothing untoward' in citizenship waiver STACEY KIRK Last updated 14:51 13/03/2014 Collins knocks 'hurtful' rumours Genesis Energy offer priced low One more strike for Collins No more embarrassments, vows Collins Greens back biking to school 'Political' state servant under fire Ministry reviews new school sites New safety rules hit school funds Judith Collins comes clean about dinner Power bill transparency promised Former Labour associate immigration minister Damien O'Connor approved residency for wealthy Chinese businessman Donghua Liu against officials' advice. Liu is at the centre of fresh questions about National's links to rich donors after he was granted citizenship, against official advice, with the help of government ministers lobbying his case. A year later, the Auckland-based property developer donated $22,000 to the National Party through one of his companies. O'Connor said he had been alerted to the fact that he had given Liu residency. "I have no recollection of it – quite likely though." He said there were about 4500 cases a year and many were overriden. "Most of the advice is that they shouldn't go through, otherwise they would have been approved, so it's pretty much standard advice from immigration to say this shouldn't go ahead." That was why people sought ministerial discretion, he said. He made decisions for the right reasons – humanitarianism or good business outcomes. The same reasons may have been applied to Liu's citizenship. The question was around the timing of a payment to the National Party. O'Connor was not aware of any payment from Liu to the Labour Party and was not sure when he approved the residency applicaiton, but 2005 sounded "about right". After Liu gained citizenship, Prime Minister John Key and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson attended the official opening of the first stage of Liu's $70 million construction project. Official party donation returns show a significant donation by Roncon Pacific Hotel Management Holdings Ltd on October 24, 2012. Company Office records show Liu to be a director of the company, along with lawyer Jeremy Goodwin, who supported Liu's bid for citizenship. It is not the first case of citizenship to be granted in return for investment in New Zealand, but it reportedly sparked Department of Internal Affairs concerns that it showed favouritism. The New Zealand Herald reported that Liu's citizenship was not supported because he had not spent enough time in New Zealand and did not have the appropriate English-language skills. One of Liu's business partners approached Williamson and John Banks, who was Auckland's mayor at the time. They wrote to then internal affairs minister Nathan Guy asking him to grant citizenship against the official advice. Guy said today that he had never met Liu and was unaware of any political donations made by him. "As minister, I decided over 800 cases and it was quite common to receive correspondence from family and supporters of applicants," he said. "In every citizenship case, I always carefully considered all of the evidence provided and advice from the Department of Internal Affairs. "In this case, I considered at the time that on balance the potential benefits to New Zealand warranted the granting of citizenship. "I've never met this individual and was unaware of any donation to any political party until today. "The individual in this case was granted permanent residency in 2005." Key said donations were recorded openly, and the media "could see shadows" if they wanted to, but there was nothing there. "We live in a democracy and people are free to give donations to political parties that they want to support," he said. "There's nothing in this particular case. This person actually received residency under a Labour government and citizenship under a National government. "I'm not responsible for donations for the National Party. I don't engage myself in that. "But the party, rightfully so, appropriately recorded that and made sure that was public. There was nothing the party was trying to hide." Key said the donation was made a long time after Liu became a citizen. "I just don't accept the proposition there's anything untoward there." Key said a minister advocating a person for citizenship was "not at all unusual". Liu was a substantial investor in New Zealand and "lots of people get ministerial waivers". "The Government, very recently, gave a whole bunch of ministerial waivers to interpreters who came from Afghanistan," he said. Key said there was no need for a law change to the rules allowing ministers to exercise discretion in citizenship cases. "There are hundreds of examples between this government and the previous government and the ones before it where there's been an override. In fact, it's a very logical thing," he said. "We have to set rules in a pretty strict place, but actually, if people come to New Zealand and want to become either a resident or citizen, they sometimes don't always perfectly fit the rules. "We have language tests at a certain level and the amount of time people spend here is also a test, but actually, there are lots of people who are granted exceptions in that area." A report from the auditor-general last year said that while it was not necessarily improper for a minister to lobby on behalf of an aspiring citizen, it did pose risks to the integrity of the system. The report was looking into a similar case where Labour MP Shane Jones, when he was associate immigration minister, granted citizenship to William Liu, a Chinese national who was under the scrutiny of Interpol, despite an active police investigation being under way and the Department of Internal Affairs telling him not to. The auditor-general found there was "nothing unlawful or improper in ministers considering representations and advocacy by or on behalf of applicants in the course of considering an application for citizenship". "However, advocacy of this kind, in particular where the advocate is a fellow MP or known to the minister, clearly presents risks to the integrity of the decision-making system and to the reputations of those involved, including the minister," he said. - © Fairfax NZ News http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9823387/Key-Nothing-untoward-in-citizenship-waiver

Confucius Institute students work

Lantern Festival Albert Park CNY 2014

NZCA Auckland CNY 2014

Tung Jung Association Wellington

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING (SGM) A Special General Meeting is being called on Sunday 4 May 2014 at 33 Torrens Terrace, Mt. Cook, begin- ning at 2 pm. Business to be discussed is whether the Tung Jung Association should sell the present premises and buy a smaller building or retain the present one. If you are concerned about the future of the Associa- tion, please attend this SGM to voice your concerns. If you cannot attend but would like to voice your concerns, please use a proxy or write to the Secre- tary, Tung Jung Association, P.O. Box 9058, Welling- ton, before 1st May 2014

Zengcheng City 增城市

Zengcheng City 增城市 As from 12 February 2014, the Chinese Government upgraded Zengcheng City, previously a county level city, to be- come a district under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou. Does this mean that this is another step toward the proposed su- per city of Guangzhou? All mail should be addressed as Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, China. 增城区 , 廣州市 , 中國

Proposed trip to North Queensland

Proposed trip to North Queensland At the time of publication of this newsletter, we are still waiting for the itinerary and arrangements from the travel agent for the proposed trip to be confirmed. Briefly, it is proposed to travel to Cairns, where we will meet the Cairns and Districts Chinese Association who will host us and show us around and have lunch or dinner with them. This will be a good opportunity to meet other over- seas Chinese groups and see what they do. Over a 7 day period, it is proposed to visit Atherton, Chinatown, Cookstown, sugar cane fields and pineapple planta- tions as well as seeing local sites of interest as there was a strong Chinese influence in the area which once had gold- fields The proposed trip will be in the vicinity of $2500 to $3000 and will take place after Easter in late April. If you are interested in this trip, please register your interest to Gordon Wu by email: gordon.wu@xtra.co.nz or tele- phone 027 4875314 and we will keep you posted

Diverse Bananas, Global Dragons" International Conference

Diverse Bananas, Global Dragons" International Conference at Auckland University Business School on 30 May-1 June 2014 By popular demand after a five year hiatus, our iconic and unique conference returns to challenge perceptions of what it means to be Chinese and celebrate the journeys, stories and identities of leading local and overseas born Chinese personalities. This conference is the fifth in the Going Bananas cycle. We offer everyone a fresh way to explore and understand the impact Chinese communities make in N ew Zealand and on the global stage. A flyer is attached for your information. Please register asap for the conference to take advantage of the early bird discount by completing page 12 of this link http://www.goingbananas.org.nz/PDF/2014_BananaConference.pdf or registering online. If you have any queries or need additional information, please contact David Wong on david_d_wong@bnz.co.nz or the undersigned. Thanks & Best Regards Kai Luey Co-Chairman Conference Organising Committee Phone 522 1840 Mobile 021 333 125

Test pass leaves driver uninsured

By Mathew Dearnaley 5:30 AM Tuesday Feb 25, 2014 Confusion over licensing laws prompts NZTA to consider clarifying conditions for foreign motorists. Yuanxi (Cindy) Zhang didn't realise she was not allowed to drive unsupervised until she went to make an insurance claim. Photo / Dean Purcell Driver licence application forms are being reviewed after a Chinese woman - unaware she could no longer drive unsupervised after passing a theory test - found herself uninsured in a crash. The Transport Agency says it is looking at whether changes can be made to the forms and the Road Code to ensure overseas drivers are aware of supervisor conditions on new licences issued once they pass theory tests. That follows Herald inquiries into the case of Auckland office worker Yuanxi (Cindy) Zhang, 24, who says she had no idea a pass meant she could no longer use her overseas driving licence and had to be accompanied by a supervisor until she passed a practical test. She found out only after hitting the rear of another car, and discovering her third-party insurance policy would not cover $3200 of damage to that vehicle. Ms Zhang says the crash happened in a line of stationary traffic, after her foot slipped off the brake of her automatic transmission car. She had been driving away from a licensing centre, upset at having failed a first attempt to pass her practical test. Despite the test failure, she thought she still had a week left on her 12-month overseas licence. But it was only when she passed the test on her second attempt, a fortnight later, that her right to drive unsupervised was restored. A friend, Margaret Thompson, who intervened with her insurance company, said Ms Zhang was not told she could no longer use her overseas licence after passing the theory test. She was still unaware of the condition when the testing officer for her practical session allowed her to drive off by herself, after failing her and getting out of her car. Transport Agency spokesman Andy Knackstedt said overseas drivers who passed their theory tests were given full New Zealand licences, but with a "supervisor condition attached". "It's not a restricted licence - technically it's a full licence with conditions - that's where I think she got into trouble," he said. Although the agency produced printed and online material to ensure licence holders were aware of the requirements, it was the responsibility of individuals to understand and comply with those. But as a result of Ms Zhang's case, it would investigate changing driving test application forms and the Road Code to include specific information about the status of overseas documents once New Zealand licences were obtained. Testing officers were not expected to wait with applicants after tests were completed to ensure they did not drive off without a supervisor, Mr Knackstedt said. Mrs Thompson said the law should be changed so international documents remained valid until replaced by unconditional New Zealand licences. "They've gone from allowing her on an international licence to drive as a full-fledged licence holder for a year, and suddenly they don't consider her [Ms Zhang] capable of driving unsupervised." She feared there may be thousands of immigrants in Ms Zhang's situation. But Mrs Thompson said Ms Zhang's insurance company had since proved "very fair and understanding" by reaching an arrangement with her friend which she did not feel at liberty to disclose. - NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11209119

Lantern: An illuminating play

Lantern: An illuminating play John Daly-Peoples Lantern, Light Your Way Home, by Renee Liang Pretty Asian Theatre Production Musgrove Theatre, Auckland University Until February 15 Near the end of Lantern, Renee Liang's new play, Rose gives her two children traditional small red envelopes as recompense and apology for the hurt she has caused them. The envelopes contain cheques for large sums of money. As I left the theatre I was also given one of the same red envelopes. Mine contained a short poem by Sung Dynasty poet Su Shi telling me that “Happiness and sadness comes for us in parts”. The children got the money; I got to be told that life is about love and loss. This is probably a grand metaphor for the play that is essentially a play about love – personal love, love of culture, love of family and love of country. Some people get more of the love and others less. Some people work on getting the love others don’t bother. The play is book-ended by Henry, Rose's 70-year-old husband admitting to her he has yet to understand the Western concept of romantic love yet he is enthralled by traditional Chinese literature. This in a sense contrasts with Rose’s admission early on that she, as a New Zealand-born Chinese, has no knowledge of the language. Lantern is full of the ambiguities one finds in immigrant cultures, whether to hold on to the trappings of a culture or the spirit of that culture. There is much about the nature of being Chinese in New Zealand as well as the changing nature of the relationship with the dominant culture. The son Ken is teased by his friend Gaza about being a boiled egg – white on the outside and yellow inside. Jen the sister resorts to simpering Chinese speech when confronted with the police to get off a ticket. The four main roles of Henry, Rose , Ken and Jen plus another half dozen smaller roles are all played by James Roque and Chye-Ling Huang. They give outstanding performances as they morph from one role to another with superb timing and astute acting. Roque is particularly clever in changing from the 20-year-old Ken to the elderly Henry. With just slight facial expressions and body language he transforms himself. Huang does not capture the physicality of her characters as vividly but she provides them with a rich emotional intensity. The play is being presented only for the few days of the Lantern Festival but deserves a much longer season. See it when it returns. http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/lantern-illuminating-play-jd-151751

Twelve Questions: Dr Renee Liang

Twelve questions Sarah Stuart poses 12 questions to well-known faces Twelve Questions: Dr Renee Liang 5:30 AM Thursday Jan 30, 2014 Twelve Questions with Sarah Stuart Dr Renee Liang is a paediatrician by day, poet and playwright by night. A prominent figure in Auckland's Chinese community, she is the daughter of immigrants, the sister of film-maker Roseanne Liang and is due to have her second child in two months' time. Renee Liang says it is prophetic that her Chinese name, Wen-Wei, means 'literary blossom'. Photo / Brett Phibbs Renee Liang says it is prophetic that her Chinese name, Wen-Wei, means 'literary blossom'. Photo / Brett Phibbs 1. Is medicine and literature an odd mix? I didn't find out until I was midway through medical school that my unique Chinese name, Wen-Wei, means "literary blossom". My grandfather thought there were too many doctors in the family and he wanted his first grandchild to be a writer. I knew it meant flower but it was only when my mother told me that I realised what it really meant - it's a very special character and is quite rare. I didn't become a writer because of that, but it was in essence fulfilling that prophesy. 2. Your life seems incredibly diverse, and busy. How goes the juggle? It can get very complicated! I'm 32 weeks pregnant now and find the best place to leave my brain is inside my iPhone - I try to enter appointments as soon as I make them. I make to-do lists, too, but as these are on paper I often find them months after. I try to focus on medicine when I'm in the hospital, family when I'm home, and the writing/emails once my daughter's gone to bed. The writing often takes place side by side with my husband on the sofa or our king-sized bed (very handy for spreading paper around). I have a study, but it's been taken over by little clearfiles of unfinished things, books from my publishing projects, and empty suitcases waiting for the next time I go on locum. 3. What is the most damaging stereotype about Asian women? Do I have to pick one? I think people resort to stereotypes when they don't know or aren't interested in knowing someone. It's the lazy and ignorant way out, and I've been guilty of it often. I find when you take the time to sit down with someone, mostly you end up being pleasurably surprised. We're all more similar than we think - one of the more important lessons I learned from my era of solo backpacking. So - there's pliant Third World maiden, kung fu warrior, unsexy brainbox, icy temptress ... all of which can be seen at your local cinema multiplex. I've lost track of the times I've had come-ons from slightly unkempt middle-aged men who make sure to tell me they have New Zealand citizenship. Or the dates I've had with lovely university-educated guys who then tell me I'm too "intimidating". 4. How have your parents coped with you and Roseanne telling family stories for public consumption? I'll be honest, it was hard for them to take at first. I mean, we've always written stories, but Roseanne's documentary Banana in a Nutshell threw off the guise of fiction, and (to some parts of the community at least) appeared to criticise my parents for not letting her date a non-Chinese. It was not at all how she intended people to take it, but that's the risk of being a creative - there's two parts to it, the other part is how the audience interprets it. These days, I think they're more comfortable with it. Being Chinese parents, they still worry about the "can they make a living out of it?" part but they see we are starting to get recognised for what we do. Their friends and the community support us, which makes a big difference for them. 5. Your mum was keen for her daughters to keep their heads down when you were growing up. Was that a mistake, do you think? She grew up in the aftermath of war and came to New Zealand in the 1970s, so the cautiousness is just a natural consequence, I think. I don't remember much overt racism when I was growing up in NZ - mostly just curiosity - but in more recent times there's been flareups of racism depending on who's currently immigrating or what's happening, [such as] the Crafar farms, etc. My mum's attitude is very typical of the Chinese, even now. You're encouraged to think twice before you complain, not stand out and always try your best without expecting to be acknowledged. Maybe that's a reason for the "bamboo ceiling" - the fact that Chinese are not represented in high-level leadership positions despite the fact they are often valued workers at the lower tiers. It's also a big reason why Chinese have been until now unrepresented in the arts. 6. You were critical of Bevan Chuang in the wake of the Len Brown affair: do you still feel the same? I wasn't critical, I just felt that her actions didn't help in the everyday battle against stereotypes. She was quick to acknowledge her own foolishness - she's human after all. What I was annoyed about was the way she was portrayed in the media and on blogs and social media (as either a dragon temptress or a helpless victim) when the reality was far more complex, as it usually is. What the whole affair uncovered, more than Len's sexual tastes, was just how ingrained prejudices and stereotypes are in New Zealand society (Asian communities included) and how far we have to go. 7. Do paediatricians make less neurotic mothers? Depends on the paediatrician! I find we come in two flavours - far too laid back and total worry-wart. I used to think I belonged to the former, but my husband quite often points out that I'm worrying too much. Easy to do, I guess, when you are around sick kids all day. My normality doesn't match anyone else's. 8. Does being the child of immigrants affect your personality? I've always been aware that my parents came here and didn't grow up here and that whole understanding of living in two lands. It's like there's this crack running down the middle of the road and you have feet on both sides. Sometimes the gap is very wide, sometimes you forget it's there. 9. Has your view of your parents changed as you've got older? I always thought my parents were stodgy, conservative and boring. But I've been looking at a picture of them when they first came to New Zealand and realising how daring and adventurous they were to come. They knew no one but trusted it would turn out alright. 10. Does spirituality play a role in your life? I'm not religious - never have been. It's the way I was brought up. But creatively - Lorca wrote of the "duende", the earthy, deep passion that infuses true works of art. It's what produces the thrill or shiver when you're sitting in the audience and something really moves you, so much so the feeling might stay with you for days after. That's what I'm hoping to find when I'm sitting there with my computer in the middle of the night - the soul of the work, the reason I'm writing it, the duende. 11. Your first full-length play is about a woman who leaves her family. Is it an Asian story, or a family story, and is there a difference? It's a story about a family which happens to be Kiwi Chinese. Although all of my plays produced to date have Asian characters, I find audiences relate to them as people rather than "Asian characters" - we're all human, after all. My plays deal with love, longing, the search for identity and meaning, and loss - all universal themes. They could just as easily feature Pakeha or Samoan or Maori or Indian characters (and some do) - but it's always easier to start by writing what you know. 12. It also asks questions about belonging: where do you belong? I've travelled quite a bit, even lived in various places for a while, and the place I belong the most is Auckland, New Zealand. Most of my close family are here, and there are lots of places imprinted with memories - you know, the "do you remember when ..." variety. Of course things change all the time, but here still smells the most like home. It's the place where inhabiting my many shifting cultures and identities makes the most sense. • Lantern, by Renee Liang, is on at the Musgrove Studio, Princes St, Auckland, as part of the Lantern Festival February 10-15. - NZ Herald

Brightest stars shine the light

Brightest stars shine the light By Dionne Christian 4:02 PM Saturday Feb 1, 2014 Entertainment The Lantern Festival's first play dismantles tired prejudices about Asian-Kiwi culture Lantern features James Roque and Chye-Ling Huang playing 10 characters. Lantern features James Roque and Chye-Ling Huang playing 10 characters. Since the first Lantern Festival in 2000, Chinese New Year celebrations have become one of Auckland's biggest culture events. Now it's expanding to include outdoor movies and theatre. Eric Ngan, event producer for Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed), wants to extend the festival to incorporate more of the contemporary Auckland-Asian experience, programming award-winning writer Renee Liang's debut play, Lantern. It is the first time there has been a full theatre production within the Auckland Lantern Festival, highlighting the growth of New Zealand-Asian playwriting and storytelling. "If I had purposely commissioned a play for the festival, it couldn't have been more perfect than Lantern," he says. "One of our aims in extending the Lantern Festival is to explore deeper into Asian-Kiwi culture, using the talents of our artists and writers. We want to create a festival that celebrates not only Asian culture but does so in a uniquely Kiwi way." First staged in 2010, Lantern is described as equal parts comedy and family drama, fast-paced with an Asian flavour that illuminates aspects of family life for audiences regardless of race. Aptly, it is set in Auckland on the eve of Chinese New Year when cultural values can be thrown into sharp relief. On the one hand, it's a time of family get-togethers and celebrations of harmony and love, but it's also when the house (and mind) is "cleaned out" - old scores are settled and slates wiped clean - ready to start the New Year. For the Chen family, it's more uncertain than usual because one year ago, Rose, the family matriarch, left her husband, Henry, their on-line dating obsessed daughter, Jen, and no-hoper son, Ken. They're wondering if she will return and, if she does, whether family life will ever return to normal. Liang wrote the play because she saw a lack of local theatre addressing contemporary Asian viewpoints. She has welcomed the chance to rewrite for performers James Roque and Chye-Ling Huang who have started their own theatre company, Pretty Asian Theatre (PAT). Roque and Huang play all 10 characters in a story which now focuses more on the relationship between parents Rose and Henry. They asked Liang for more interaction between the characters, saying while it makes the quick-fire transitions more challenging, it adds an extra layer to the story. Like Liang, Roque and Huang want PAT to stage plays which tell relevant, exciting New Zealand-Asian stories and offer more work opportunities to the growing number of Asian creatives. "It's about providing a voice and we think Lantern will speak directly to many in our generation," says Roque, who made an impact in Indian Ink's Kiss the Fish and Fractious Tash's all-male production of Titus at Q Theatre. Of Chinese descent, Huang featured in The Asphalt Kiss, The Dining Room and the sell-out season of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. She also co-devised and starred in Ben Anderson's Fringe show, Just Above the Clouds, and is collaborating on Liang's Paper Boats, which focuses on young Kiwi-Asian women. When she saw Lantern with her sister, she says it was like seeing their own lives on stage. "It was a real highlight for me to see a story I could connect with. It was me on stage, with my family, so the chance to be able to perform it is amazing." Liang says many of the scenes were inspired by her real-life experiences. She recalls being in the midst of writing Lantern when a door-knocking evangelist called. The woman immediately addressed Liang in Mandarin, which Liang doesn't speak; then asked to speak with her parents - Liang was 36 at the time - and promised to return when she had English-language pamphlets. She had them only in Chinese dialects as they were targeting "the Asians". "It highlighted a lot of the assumptions people make about those of us of Asian descent and it made me really angry, but I've always found that taking that anger and using it to create something positive is a better way to deal with those sorts of feelings." It's a sentiment Roque shares. Being of Filipino descent has meant he is constantly pigeonholed, often incorrectly. He's learned to deal with it and, like Liang, writes his worst experiences into his comedy routines. "Why get angry when you can have a good laugh?" says Roque, regarded as an upcoming stand-up comedian. In 2011 he appeared on TV3's AotearoHA: Next Big Things and, in last year's NZ International Comedy Festival, he was nominated for Best Newcomer with his first solo show, James Roque is Chicken. Lantern is directed by Eli Matthewson and Hamish Parkinson. Performance What: Lantern Where and when: Musgrove Studio, Maidment Theatre, February 10-15 - NZ Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/theatre/news/article.cfm?c_id=343&objectid=11195467

Ethnic Auckland: Spicy lamb feet a delicacy that melts in mouth

By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Saturday Jan 11, 2014 Camel meat and horse milk are considered to be among the delicacies in the part of the world where Rizaydn Reyim comes from, and lamb trotters rank among the favourites. Mr Reyim, 31, is a Uyghur (pronounced "weega" or "weecour"). He hails from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, and he is eager to share his food with those in his adopted homeland. "Not many Kiwis will ever get a chance to travel to Xinjiang, so by starting a restaurant serving Uyghur food I think it will be the only way they will get a chance to experience our food," Mr Reyim said. Uyghurs are a Turkic ethnic group whose cuisine is characterised mainly by lamb, beef, camel, goose, carrot, tomatoes, onions, pepper and various dairy food and fruits. They are mainly Muslim and the food is predominantly halal. "There is no seafood, and all the vegetable and meat we get are from what we farm and grow," Mr Reyim said. "So we know very well how not to waste any part of the animal, and eat everything from the lungs, tail and even eyes." Mr Reyim said lamb trotters, with their gelatinous textures, were a favourite because Uyghur men believed them to be an aphrodisiac and the women believe eating them helps beautify their skin. In Xinjiang, speciality "lamb feet restaurants" have sprouted in recent years because of the food's growing popularity. "Lamb feet don't really have too much meat, but the best part is eating the tendons and sucking the bone marrow," said Mr Reyim. "It is also the tendons and tissue around the leg that also naturally adds to the flavour and thicken the sauce." The spice in the koy pachak kormisy dish comes mainly from the cloves, which are considered to have anti-oxidant properties and other health benefits. Mr Reyim said the meal was best accompanied with an Uyghur-style milk tea, which is flavoured with salt instead of sugar. Lamb trotters are available at the butchery section of Asian supermarkets such as Tai Ping. Koy pachak kormisy Ingredients • 8 lamb feet, cut into pieces • 1 onion, chopped • 4 cloves of garlic, chopped • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp pepper • 1 each red and green capsicum • 1 tsp dried cloves • 1/2 cup tomato paste • 1 Tbsp soya sauce • Vegetable cooking oil Method • Wash and clean the feet carefully and discard hooves, then immerse the feet in water. • Put the feet in a deep pressure cooker with some salt, pepper and oil. • Cook for 1 hours with medium pressure, remove and leave to cool. • Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a separate wok and add the feet. • Add chopped garlic, cloves and onions and fry together with the feet for about 2 minutes. • Add half cup of lamb broth (from the pressure cooker), soya sauce, tomato paste and fry for a further 5 minutes. • Finally add the red and green capsicum, and after a quick fry it is ready to serve. • Add salt and pepper to serve. Where to try Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine, upstairs 12 Wyndham St, Ph: (09) 379 5299 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lincoln-tan/news/article.cfm?a_id=308&objectid=11184566

Kiwi acrobat shows off her skills this Chinese New Year

Kiwi acrobat shows off her skills this Chinese New Year By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Saturday Jan 18, 2014 She grew up in Whangarei as a ballerina and a vegetarian, but 23-year-old Emma Phillips is back as a Mandarin-speaking acrobat who loves eating duck heads. For 20 months, the 23-year-old has trained as the sole European student with 180 young Chinese acrobats at the Wuqiao Acrobatics School in Wuqiao, Hebei, China. Specialising in foot-juggling a solid wooden table, Chinese parasols and spinning carpets combined with contortion, she has been performing alongside Chinese acrobatic troupes at circuses and stadium shows across China. But she is "extremely excited" to be back in New Zealand for her first Chinese New Year performance at the ASB Showgrounds today. "In China, Chinese New Year celebrations is a really full-on thing with fireworks and firecrackers going on 24/7 for the entire 15-day duration," she said. "It'll be really interesting to see what the celebrations are like in Auckland." Her love for the performing arts began when she joined a ballet school as a child, but she dreamed of becoming an acrobat after her dad took her to watch Cirque Du Soleil in Auckland when she was 15. "To be an acrobat, China's the place to be if you want to train with the best," she said. Training was intensive, more than eight hours daily over six-day weeks, and free time was used for visits to fabric markets and sewing her own costumes. She considers herself lucky to have trained in Wuqiao, which was the birthplace of Chinese acrobatics more than 2000 years ago. Miss Phillips will take centre stage at 11.35am with two foot-juggling acts performed to traditional Chinese music. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lincoln-tan/news/article.cfm?a_id=308&objectid=11188362

Year of the Horse will bring love, marriage and babies

Year of the Horse will bring love, marriage and babies By Lincoln Tan 5:30 AM Saturday Jan 18, 2014 Month of Chinese New Year celebrations will begin once PM has ceremonially 'dotted the lion's eyes' Janet and Charles Chan keep alive the tradition of celebrating Chinese New Year. This year they will be among those welcoming the Year of the Horse. Photo / Brett Phibbs Janet and Charles Chan keep alive the tradition of celebrating Chinese New Year. This year they will be among those welcoming the Year of the Horse. Photo / Brett Phibbs A month-long series of festive events to welcome the Year of the Horse will follow the Prime Minister's dotting of the lion's eyes today. Chinese New Year is still two weeks away, but celebrations start this morning with the Chinese New Year Festival and Market at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. At 10am, Prime Minister John Key will officiate at an eye-dotting ceremony, also known as "dian jing", giving "life" to Chinese lions who will perform a dance to ward off evil and bring in good luck. Under the 12-year-cycle Chinese calendar, or sheng xiao, the Year of the Snake will give way to the Wooden Horse on January 31. Auckland feng shui master James Dong is predicting the year to be a challenging one for New Zealand, with possible natural upheaval and political changes. But the presence of shung chun or "double spring" also promises more romance, marriages and babies. "For some Kiwis, this will be the year to marry, move into new homes and have babies," Mr Dong said. It is also extremely rare for the Chinese lantern festival - observed on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and known as the Chinese Valentine's Day - to fall on the same day as Valentine's Day on February 14. A highlight at today's market day is a "face changing" performance by a cultural group from China's Jilin province. Next Saturday, Chinese Yu Opera will take centre stage with Chinese acrobats, traditional musicians and New Zealand's Got Talent finalist magician Andre Vegas at Lunar Fest 2014. The event at Trusts Arena in Henderson, organised by a local Asian media company, World TV, will end with a traditional fireworks display. The Year of the Horse will be welcomed with a bang in downtown Auckland CBD as firecrackers are set off at the base of the Sky Tower at 7pm on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Chinese God of Fortune, Cai Shen, is also to make a spectacular appearance at SkyCity on January 31. The Korean community, which also observes the Lunar New Year, is organising an event held to honour those aged 65 and over at Takapuna Grammar School on February 1. "In our culture, New Year is a time to remember our seniors and thank them for their contributions," said spokeswoman Diane Lee. The Lunar New Year is traditionally observed for 15 days, and the four-day Auckland Lantern Festival returns to Albert Park on February 13 to mark the end of the cultural festivities. Tang Dynasty, one of China's oldest and best known heavy metal band, and the Shanghai Jiangzhou Drum Troupe will be headline acts at this year's event. The festivities will close with a fireworks display from the Sky Tower at 10.30pm on February 16. What's on Welcoming the Year of the Wooden Horse Chinese New Year Festival • Today, 9.30am to 4pm, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. • Market and food stalls, dragon and lion dances. Lunar Fest 2014 • January 25, 3pm -11pm Trusts Arena, Henderson. • Cultural performances, stalls and fireworks. Firecrackers • January 30 and January 31, SkyCity. God of Fortune • January 31, Sky City. Meet Cai Shen, the Chinese God of Fortune. Acrobats, drumming and lion dance • Every weekend from January 30 to February 16, at SkyCity. Auckland Lantern Festival • February 13 to 16, Albert Park, Auckland City. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11188363