In brief
In Auckland, New Zealand, the 2026 “Modern China Through My Eyes” short‑video competition concluded with an award ceremony attended by 130 students from 24 schools, the Chinese Consul General, and local academic leaders. The event highlighted the growing role of Chinese language learning and cultural exchange on the North Island’s Gold Coast. The competition represents the third consecutive year of this initiative, which has become a platform for New Zealand youth to present Chinese culture through their own perspectives.
The award ceremony for the 2026 “Modern China Through My Eyes” short‑video competition took place on Wednesday in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, where 130 students from 24 schools and universities in the Auckland consular district presented 45 videos that depicted modern China from their own viewpoints.
Chinese Consul General in Auckland Chen Shijie spoke during the ceremony, arguing that the competition provides a platform for students in New Zealand to demonstrate their Chinese language learning achievements and to tell stories about China through their own perspectives. He also said the event offers an opening for people in New Zealand to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture and to encourage more young New Zealanders to learn Chinese and understand China, becoming ambassadors for China‑New Zealand friendship.
Professor Lawrence Zhang of the University of Auckland praised the students for their Chinese language skills, creativity, and enthusiasm for exploration. He noted that activities such as this help enhance cultural understanding and connections between New Zealand and China.
New Zealand director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Auckland, Xuelin Zhou, commented that the students’ video entries presented the changes in Chinese society through concrete images of everyday life. He added that the videos preserved moments that may become meaningful records to look back on in the future.
The competition has been run for the third consecutive year, building a growing tradition of student‑led cultural exchange between the two countries. At the award ceremony, the students performed Chinese dances and songs, and delivered speeches in Chinese about China as they see it.
While the ceremony focused on the short‑video competition, Auckland was also slated to host other Chinese‑culture events around the same time. On November 4, the 13th China Film Festival opened in Wellington and featured screens in Auckland from November 6‑8, offering a broader context for cultural engagement in the region.
In a broader trend, Auckland has been becoming a hub for Chinese cultural events in New Zealand. The city’s frequent hosting of Chinese film festivals, cultural performances, and language workshops has reinforced a growing interest among New Zealand students and residents to learn Chinese and understand the ongoing transformation of modern China.
Local media reports that the competition’s establishment began in 2024, organized by the Auckland Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China and supported by the Confucius Institute. By 2026, the competition had expanded to include 24 educational institutions, with submissions that showcased new media formats, storytelling techniques, and unfamiliar geographic regions of China.
The award ceremony was a vivid illustration of ongoing cross‑cultural collaboration. It highlighted how digital media can serve as a conduit for cultural education, providing a platform for young people to present their perspectives and for host nations to gain a deeper insight into China’s cultural fabric.
Observing the event, both local and overseas delegates noted that the competition had broadened the range of narratives about China presented in New Zealand. While some earlier attempts had leaned heavily on classic tourist imagery, this year’s videos were noted for capturing everyday moments in cities and rural areas, thus offering a subtler view of contemporary Chinese life.
In the momentum that followed the ceremony, the Auckland community has announced plans to launch a scholarship for students who wish to pursue higher education in China. The scholarship will be awarded to participants who exhibited outstanding language proficiency and a compelling vision of cross‑cultural communication through the competition’s short videos.
Meanwhile, Chinese officials in New Zealand have pledged to continue supporting language and cultural initiatives, citing the competition’s success as evidence of the positive impact of the Consulate’s outreach programs. The Consulate’s engagement is expected to expand further with a prospective course offering in the Confucius Institute, targeting senior students interested in specializing in Chinese media production.
As the forward‑looking “Modern China Through My Eyes” competition concludes, the event opens a window for new generations of New Zealand students to deepen their understanding of China. It also affirms the role of cultural exchanges in strengthening diplomatic ties and cosmopolitan knowledge across the Pacific basin.