On October 22 (local time), the "2025 Chinese Language Teaching and Learning Prize Giving Ceremony in Canterbury Area, New Zealand", hosted by the Confucius Institute at Huazhong University of Science and Technology - University of Canterbury, successfully concluded at Burnside High School in Christchurch. He Ying, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, Shen Jian, Education Consul, Scott Haines, Principal of Burnside High School, Professor Kevin Watson, Dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Canterbury and Chair of the Confucius Institute Council, Song Zhifang, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury, Huang Dong, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, and other relevant guests attended the grand ceremony. The event attracted more than 500 participants, including teacher representatives, Chinese language learners and their families from various schools offering Chinese courses in Christchurch.

Scott Haines, Principal of Burnside High School, delivered a warm welcome speech and extended sincere congratulations to all the award-winning schools, teachers and students. Meanwhile, Principal Scott promised that Burnside High School would continue to support the development of Chinese courses on campus and further promote Chinese language learning and cultural exchanges between China and New Zealand.

Subsequently, He Ying, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch, delivered a speech. She warmly congratulated the award-winning teachers, students and schools, and also expressed special thanks to the Confucius Institute for its organization and arrangement. She hoped that more New Zealand students would fall in love with Chinese, learn it well, inherit the spirit of Rewi Alley, and become civil envoys for friendship between China and New Zealand.

As the last guest speaker, Professor Kevin Watson, Dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Canterbury and Chair of the Confucius Institute Council, shared the importance of language learning, thanked all institutions that provided support for this ceremony, and expressed sincere congratulations to all the award winners.

At this award ceremony, the "2025 Canterbury Area Outstanding Chinese Language Learner Awards" (covering primary school, middle school and university categories) and the "16th New Zealand Chinese Calligraphy Competition Awards" were presented. More than 100 representatives and outstanding students from various schools took the stage to receive awards, creating a lively atmosphere. Pete Fuller, Deputy Principal of Cobham Intermediate School, Shen Jian, Education Consul, Scott Haines, Principal of Burnside High School, Kevin Watson, Dean of the College of Humanities at the University of Canterbury, Song Zhifang, Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute, Huang Dong, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, and Consul General He Ying respectively presented certificates of honor and prizes to the students, teachers and schools that won awards in Chinese language learning and the Chinese Calligraphy Competition this year.

The award ceremony also specially invited Viktor Telford, a student from Burnside High School, to share his insights on learning Chinese; it also invited Teacher Will Kirk from Casebrook Intermediate School to share his experience of participating in the "South Island Educators Delegation Visit to China" activity this year. Their speeches inspired all Chinese language learners present and won rounds of applause.

The award ceremony also featured wonderful cultural performances. Students from Burnside High School performed the Chinese lion dance and the traditional dance "The Land of Etiquette". Volunteer teachers from the Confucius Institute presented " Essence of Rivers and Mountains", a performance full of the artistic conception of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River. Finally, with the singing of "Let me say thank you" led by the winners of this year's Chinese Bridge Competition, the whole event reached its climax. All the award winners took the stage to receive their awards, and the ceremony concluded successfully.

Chinese teachers and volunteers involved in organizing the event said that they felt extremely proud and honored to see their students take the stage to receive awards. This moment not only strengthened their belief in the cause of international Chinese education, but also inspired them to continue promoting the spread and development of Chinese education overseas. This award ceremony not only recognized outstanding Chinese language learners, but also further promoted in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and New Zealand in the fields of education and culture.

This award ceremony is the last major language and cultural event held by the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch in 2025. The Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury will continue to be committed to promoting Chinese education and facilitating cultural exchanges between China and New Zealand.