Welcoming the community for Moon Festival celebrations

Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Reunion Festival, the Moon Festival is one of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar. It is a time for family, gratitude and togetherness, symbolised by the full moon.

Traditionally observed on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, it is marked officially in Aotearoa New Zealand on Friday, 25 September.

Students and kaimahi took part in bookmark and zine making, crafts, calligraphy, cultural activities and entertainment throughout the week, building towards a main celebration in the main atrium in Te Puna, Mt Albert on Thursday hosted by our Chinese kaimahi and support services.

Kaimahi from the International Success, Student Central and AskMe teams performed a lively opening dance to kick off Thursday’s Moon Festival celebration.

The celebration opened with a dance sequence from International Success, Student Central and AskMe kaimahi, followed by a solo singing performance by Bachelor of Nursing student, Shulin Chen. This was followed by a musical performance by guests Harmong GuZheng Studio. Closing out the entertainment programme was a classical performance by Joyee Hanfu Chinese Dance Group.

An interactive photo-post challenge led by Student Central Advisor Yifei Cheng, who was the event’s MC, proved popular with students and staff who joined in the fun.

The celebration concluded with traditional Chinese snacks, mooncakes, and tea being served at the Events Kitchen which also had a Hanfu costume experience.

Manager International Student Support Jeffrey Wu says the celebration has meaning for International students who are living away from their families.

“It’s a time centred on family, togetherness and gratitude, with the full moon symbolising wholeness and closeness with the people you love,” Mr Wu explains.

For students far from home, Jeffrey says cultural celebrations can provide a sense of familiarity and belonging while also giving the wider community an opportunity to learn.

“Marking the Moon Festival on our campuses gives Chinese students and staff a chance to celebrate something meaningful from their culture and feel a bit more at home,” he says.

Around 200 staff and students attended and took part in the Moon Festival celebrations at the main atrium in Te Puna, Mt Albert Campus.

“But this celebration isn’t only for International students. It’s for anyone in our community who identifies as Chinese or is of Chinese descent, as well as everyone who wants to come along, enjoy the celebration and learn more about Chinese culture and traditions.”

Our organisation first celebrated the Moon Festival last year, attracting hundreds of students and staff. A similarly strong turnout this year of around 200 people reflected the growing role of cultural events in bringing our diverse communities together.

Mr Wu says the celebrations showcase our organisation’s diversity and inclusiveness.

“Seeing people from so many different backgrounds celebrating together showed us that events like this can do much more than recognise one culture. They can bring our whole community together,” he remarks.

“Ultimately, the Moon Festival is about connection and belonging, and that’s exactly what we want across all our campuses: places where people can celebrate who they are, learn from each other and feel that they are part of one community.”

The festival also provided an opportunity for Chinese kaimahi to share what the occasion means to them personally – from family reunions and cultural heritage to food, memories and connection.

Grace Zhang – International Student Advisor

Grace says the Moon Festival is closely connected to family and her childhood in Beijing. She grew up with her grandparents, while her family originally comes from Tianjin in northern China.

She describes the festival as a special time for family reunions, gratitude, harmony and togetherness. Last year, her family returned to China during the festival, and she was able to celebrate with her extended family in their hometown.

“It was a meaningful opportunity for us to celebrate our traditions, enjoy food and happiness together, and appreciate the love and connection we share as a family,” Grace says.

Having lived in New Zealand for many years, she also values the opportunity to see people from different cultural backgrounds come together to celebrate.

“I am very grateful and pleased to see people from different backgrounds coming together to share and celebrate one another’s cultures.”

Craft and Calligraphy workshops took place on Tuesday and Wednesday at our Waitākere and Mt Albert Campuses.

Vicky Sun – Product Marketing Manager

The festival is a personal reminder of Vicky’s family, cultural heritage and the importance of making time for the people who matter.

Living and working in New Zealand has also given her a greater appreciation for sharing cultural traditions with colleagues and learning about celebrations from other communities.

“Professionally, I think the values of connection, appreciation and togetherness are also relevant to the workplace,” Vicky says.

“It’s a nice reminder to appreciate the people we work with and the relationships we build as a team.”

This year, Vicky planned to return to China to spend time with her family, although she would miss celebrating the festival itself on the day.

Student Central Advisor Yifei Cheng was the MC for this year’s Moon Festival Celebration on Thursday.

Yifei Cheng – Student Central Advisor

Yifei, who helped to MC yesterday’s event, says the Moon Festival brings back vivid memories of autumn in China – cooler weather, the scent of osmanthus flowers and fresh crab coming into season.

This year, she planned to invite friends over for dinner, share mooncakes and treats, and call her parents in China to wish them a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Her connection to the festival also extends into her work at MIT and Unitec. Having been an International student herself, Yifei has played a leading role in organising the campus celebrations and says she is particularly grateful for the support of student volunteers.

“I hope that working together as part of our Chinese community gives them a familiar sense of connection and a little comfort while they’re far from home,” she says.

The celebration is also an opportunity for Yifei to share Chinese traditions with people beyond the Chinese community.

A performance by the Harmong GuZheng Studio. The guzheng is a traditional Chinese plucked zither with a history of over 2,500 years.

Joe Wang – International Student Advisor

Joe describes the Moon Festival as a meaningful occasion that represents family reunion, gratitude and staying connected to his cultural roots.

Growing up with the tradition, he associates the festival with spending time with family, enjoying mooncakes, appreciating the full moon and wishing loved ones happiness and good health.

His role supporting international students has given the festival another dimension.

“Working in the international support team, the festival reminds me of the importance of cultural diversity, understanding, and connection,” Joe says.

With students from many different backgrounds represented across MIT and Unitec, he sees cultural celebrations as a practical way to create a more welcoming study and work environment.

For Joe, the most important part of the festival is not simply the food or traditions, but taking time to appreciate what people have and connect with those who matter most.

Staff and students got to taste traditional Chinese snacks and mooncakes.

Sara Wang – Customer Services Team Leader

Sara comes from Zhengzhou City in Henan Province in central China and has lived in New Zealand for more than 23 years.

She describes the full moon at the heart of the festival as a symbol of tuányuán (团圆) – family reunion and togetherness.

Traditionally, families celebrate by sharing food and mooncakes and spending quality time together.

Celebrating the Moon Festival in Aotearoa also carries a deeper personal meaning for her.

“As a migrant who has lived in New Zealand for over 23 years, I am especially pleased that our International Team is organising this event for both students and staff,” she says.

“It reminds me that although I live far from my birthplace, I have never lost my cultural identity and have found a strong sense of belonging here.”

Sara also connects the festival with Ngākau Māhaki (Respect) and MIT and Unitec’s commitment to recognising the heritage and customs of its diverse community.

“It provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to celebrate their own culture while sharing them with others, helping to build understanding, inclusion, and connection across our diverse community.”

Together, our kaimahi reflections show that the Moon Festival is not only about preserving cultural traditions but creating opportunities for people to connect and feel a sense of belonging. That is particularly important within our organisation as we bring together ākonga and kaimahi from many cultures, including a growing international student community.

Bachelor of Nursing student, Shulin Chen sings a solo song ‘May We Live Long’

The Joyee Hanfu Dance Group.