Lunar New Year celebrations across the country
Tuesday, 17 January 2023
This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations begin on Sunday, January 22, and continue for two weeks, with Sunday, February 5, the last day of celebrations.
Lunar New Year is widely celebrated in Asian countries, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and South Korea. Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with these events across the country.
Auckland
Albany Village Library
Saturday, January 21, 10am-12pm
The Albany Chinese Association and the Mount Roskill Chinese Group will put on a show with a choir, dancing, a fashion show and tai chi demonstrations. Crafts and snacks will be available.
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Festival and Market Day at ASB Showgrounds
Saturday, January 21, 9.30am-4pm
This day-long event will host more than 200 stalls with traditional Chinese food, traditional arts and crafts and advisory services. Folk dancing, traditional instrument performances, lion dancing, and bian lian – an ancient Chinese dramatic art where performers quickly switch between masks to reflect changes of their character – form the entertainment programme, along with martial arts, tai chi and other demonstrations. There will also be games and rides for children.
Activities at SkyCity
Saturday/Sunday, January 21 - 22, 5.30-8pm
The atrium will host traditional Chinese calligraphy demonstrations, guzheng performances and lion dances. Visit the God of Fortune and create your fú (福) to take home for good luck.
Summer celebrations at Takapuna Beach
Enjoy live music, cultural performances, market stalls, food, craft activities, and lucky draws on the beach.
Mount Eden Village Centre
Saturday, January 28, 10am-5pm
Immerse yourself in Chinese arts with demonstrations of Chinese knots, paper cutting, calligraphy, sugar art and teaism. You can also try on han fu (Chinese dress) and taste the food on offer.
New Lynn Community Centre
Saturday, January 28, 2.30-3.30pm
Follow a lion and dragon dance group parading from the New Lynn Community Centre towards New Lynn Library.
Greenhithe Lunar New Year
Saturday, January 28, 4.30-9.30pm
Bring a picnic rug and your whānau to enjoy cultural dancing and music, lanterns, and food trucks.
Lunar New Year at Northcote Shopping Centre
Organisers are encouraging visitors to come in traditional dress and enjoy their lion dance parade, bian lian, art stalls, music and dance performances, and magic show.
Auckland Lantern Festival in Manukau
The Auckland Lantern Festival makes a comeback after pandemic restrictions forced its cancellation in 2022, this time at the Manukau Sports Bowl instead of the Domain. The festival will display hundreds of handmade Chinese lanterns and visitors can enjoy cultural music and dance performances, food stalls, traditional craft demonstrations and a spectacular fireworks display.
Palmerston North
Lunar New Year in The Square
Saturday, January 28, 11am-2pm
Enjoy performances with cultural instruments, food stalls and crafting activities at Te Marae o Hine.
Wellington
Multicultural Gala Performance at Te Papa
Saturday, January 21, 11am-1pm
Enjoy a kaleidoscopic curation of performances from various cultural communities, including dance and music from China, India, Indonesia, Argentina, Bulgaria and the Philippines.
Christchurch
Chinese New Year Concert at The Piano
Register for a free concert integrating Eastern and Western culture and art performed by professional musicians and students from the University of Canterbury School of Music.
Lion Dance workshop at Upper Riccarton Library
From 10am-12 noon, older kids aged from 10 to16 years can participate in a lion dance workshop where they will learn how to make a lion head with recycled materials. The Qiao Yi Lion Dance Team will teach basic movements for a casual lion dance performance. Chinese traditional games, crafts and themed activities will follow.
Performances and activities at Tūranga
Saturday, January 28, 1.30-4pm
Traditional crafts and activities will follow after a show of colours, costume and music.
Dunedin
Lan Yuan Chinese Gardens
Follow the dragon parade from Princes St to the garden from 7pm. Entry to the garden is via gold coin donation and there will be food trucks on site along with a dragon and lion dance and other cultural performances. Stay until 10pm for the grand finale of magnificent fireworks.