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A show of friendship between Guangzhou and Auckland

Dancers and guests from New Zealand sang the traditional song Turira Mai, which means togetherness. (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)

As the Finale of this year’s Tripartite Economic Summit in Guangzhou, a banquet titled Auckland Showcase, organized by Auckland Government, was held on the evening of November 10th at Guangzhou Mandarin Oriental Hotel, presenting the marvelous Maoritanga to their Cantonese friends.

Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland, Wang Dong, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, John McKinnon, New Zealand Ambassador to China and Rachel Maidment, Consul General of New Zealand in Guangzhou attended the Banquet.

Dancers displaying original Maori tattoos and special Maori clothes performed New Zealand’s unique Kapa haka, a traditional Maori dance literally meaning to form a line (kapa) and dance (haka). A kapa haka performance involves choral singing, dance and movements associated with the hand-to-hand combat mainly practiced by Maori in precolonial times. The performance requires synchronizing sound, posture and footwork.

According to Mayor Goff, these dancers are middle school students who are selected through a national dance competition in New Zealand.

Later, some New Zealand fashion designers exhibited their latest works, which draw their inspiration from Maori culture. Delicate clothes with Maori characteristics in pattern, color and style, were worn by models from Guangzhou University.

At the end of the banquet, all guests from New Zealand were invited to sing a traditional New Zealand song named Turira Mai.

Just before the Banquet, an MoU was signed between New Zealand-based Methven Company and Jiangsu Ruizhishang Construction Engineering Group, witnessed by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff. The agreement aims to integrate the two sides competitive advantages in order to promote the sales of Methven-branded products in China. Methven is a famous brand for its beautifully designed and award winning showers, taps and valves.

It is just one example of the cooperation between New Zealand and Guangdong under the framework of Tripartite Economic Alliance. Just like Mayor Goff indicated in his interview with Newsgd.com, “we can find new markets in each of our countries, we can share ideas and cooperate and develop relationships, and that’s what the tripartite summit has been about”.

Reported by Hu Nan

Edited by Zhang Ying & Simon Haywood


Dancers displaying original Maori tattoos and special Maori clothes performed New Zealand’s unique Kapa haka, a traditional Maori dance literally meaning to form a line (kapa) and dance (haka). (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


Dancers displaying original Maori tattoos and special Maori clothes performed New Zealand’s unique Kapa haka, a traditional Maori dance literally meaning to form a line (kapa) and dance (haka). (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


Dancers displaying original Maori tattoos and special Maori clothes performed New Zealand’s unique Kapa haka, a traditional Maori dance literally meaning to form a line (kapa) and dance (haka). (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


Dancers displaying original Maori tattoos and special Maori clothes performed New Zealand’s unique Kapa haka, a traditional Maori dance literally meaning to form a line (kapa) and dance (haka). (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


New Zealand fashion designers exhibited their latest works, which draw their inspiration from Maori culture. (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


New Zealand fashion designers exhibited their latest works, which draw their inspiration from Maori culture. (Photo by Calvin Chan, from Consulate General of New Zealand in Guangzhou)


An MoU was inked between New Zealand-based Methven Company and Jiangsu Ruizhishang Construction Engineering Group, witnessed by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff. (Photo by Zhong Ruijun, from Southern Metropolis Daily)

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