Gov't calls on New Zealanders to learn Chinese at language week

New Zealanders were urged to learn Mandarin or Cantonese on the opening of Chinese Language Week on Monday.

"China is one of New Zealand's largest trading partners. Our trade relationship with China has nearly tripled over the past decade to 23 billion NZ dollars (16.87 billion U.S. dollars) in June 2016," Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga said in a statement.

"In order to build relationships with trading partners, it is important that we better understand the culture and language. It is also important when you are trying to build social and political ties," he said.

"More New Zealanders should learn Mandarin or Cantonese so they can be part of the increasingly important Asian markets we trade with."

More than 172,000 ethnic Chinese now lived in New Zealand, and it was crucial to celebrate their successes and achievements, said Lotu-Iiga.

"When you learn the basics of another language you start to build a relationship with that culture. Chinese Language Week is held to encourage more New Zealanders to have a go at speaking Mandarin or Cantonese."

Co-chair of the New Zealand Chinese Language Trust Jo Coughlan said many New Zealanders would have never considered trying to speak Mandarin.

"It could be that it's perceived as being too difficult or it may be they don't know where to begin," Coughlan said.

"This week is about encouraging people to widen their horizons and showing them where they might find information to take the first step in learning Chinese."

Prime Minister John Key, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Lutong, and New Zealand Ambassador to China John McKinnon have voiced support for the week.

Events during the week include calligraphy workshops, Peking Opera performances and a Chinese Short Film Contest for schools in the largest city of Auckland.

New Zealand's Chinese Language Week runs until Sept. 18. Endit