The China Cultural Center in Wellington and local institutions organized a party to celebrate Maori New Year, Wellington, New Zealand, July 19, 2020. [Photo by Zhang Jianyong/provided to Chinaculture.org]

As half of 2020 has passed, Maori people on the southern half of the planet have just run into their New Year — Matariki.

In Maori language, Matariki means "the Pleiades", a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand during mid-winter months (or mid-summer in the Northern Hemisphere). According to the Maori calendar, the rise of the Matariki signifies the beginning of a new year. In 2020, the Maori New Year was set on July 15.

The China Cultural Center in Wellington and local institutions organized a party to celebrate the festival on July 19. About a hundred attendees of different races from different parts of the world joined the event, including Maori people, Chinese residents and guests from India, Europe and Africa.

Starting with the haka, a war dance of the Maori people, the celebration featured a series of performances from a variety of cultures. The center set up a "dumpling kitchen" at the party for attendees to see how to make dumplings. Teachers form the center performed folk dances and Chinese traditional musical instruments.

The China Cultural Center in Wellington and local institutions organized a party to celebrate Maori New Year, Wellington, New Zealand, July 19, 2020. [Photo by Zhang Jianyong/provided to Chinaculture.org]

The Finance Minister of New Zealand Grant Robertson attended the event, along with many local government officials.

He said all races are welcome in Wellington, where they can find affection and warmth. The city will embrace a more welcoming and bright future, with help and support from all the people.

According to Center Director Guo Zongguang, since the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the event is the first activity with an attendance of more than 100 people organized by the center.

"The celebration is a window for locals to know more about Chinese culture, which can also enhance friendship and communication between Chinese people and other nations."