Asia Downunder - Chinese New Year, Year of the Ox Lantern Festival

Television (Full Length Episode) – 2009

The ox and the buffalo are the earliest animals domesticated by human beings. So they were very close to human beings in China, East Asia and Vietnam. They have been helping human beings for a long, long time and they are very special – part of the extended family.
– Manying Ip, Associate Professor of Chinese, University of Auckland

We believe people born in the year of the ox are dependable, persevering, down to earth, extremely hard working… a go-getter.
– Manying Ip, Associate Professor of Chinese, University of Auckland

To see a lantern festival here in New Zealand is such a happy feeling. To be able to celebrate what is Chinese, the Chinese New Year, with many of our friends; it’s a wonderful experience to see this.
– David Wong, a prominent member of one of Auckland's Chinese founding families.

I don’t know what other festival there is in Auckland that is as well supported as this one. It’s not just a Chinese thing, it has captured people’s imaginations.
– Retailer Barry Wah Lee