2026 March: Chinese language course registrations now OPEN.

Chinese language courses are back in the classroom this year. Enrol now for face-to-face Mandarin language courses delivered by our experienced teachers. Each course runs for six weeks, with weekly 1.5-hour evening classes.

For more information and registration go to Courses.

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‘Free’ (excluding homestay cost contribution) to schools, the language assistant can bring Chinese language and culture into the classroom to provide opportunities for students, teachers and the wider community to learn and engage with a native speaker from China.

For more information about eligibility and expectations of the programme, please go to background information. Hit the ‘Apply Online‘ for Expression of Interest online form.

• Expression of Interest deadline: 5pm, Thursday, 10 September.
• Schools notified by 23 September.
• Anticipated MLA arrival, end January/beginning February 2027.

Please pass this on to clusters/ colleagues who may be interested.

We look forward to your Expression of Interest.

Note: ALL interested schools (including Confucius and Chinese Classrooms) MUST submit an Expression of Interest, regardless if in a cluster or individually.

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This year’s theme is Modern China Through My Eyes. We encourage teachers to support students in using their creativity and Chinese language skills to share what interests, surprises, or inspires them about China today.

Videos could explore contemporary Chinese language and culture, daily life, education, technology, innovation, the environment, the arts, food, communities, or any other aspect of modern China. Students may also explore the connections, similarities, and differences between China and their own country, language or culture. They could reflect on how learning Chinese has helped them better understand China and Chinese culture, while also seeing their own language and culture from a new perspective.

We welcome videos that are original, engaging, culturally meaningful, and closely connected to the theme. Creative storytelling, thoughtful cultural comparisons, humour, and ideas that help others learn more about Chinese language and culture are all encouraged.

***Download the registration form below, complete it, and email the completed form to nzshortvideocompetition@gmail.com.***

Requirements

• Videos must be presented in Chinese.
• Videos must be no longer than five minutes.
• Each school may submit up to five entries. Each video may feature an individual student or a small group of students.
• Entries must include live-action content. AI-generated or animated videos will not be accepted.
• Videos must be filmed in landscape orientation and submitted in MP4 format. No other formats will be accepted.

Categories

• Primary School: Years 1–8
• Secondary School: Years 9–13
• Tertiary Institutions

Within each education level, entries will also be identified in one of the following learner categories: 

• Non-native Chinese Speaker: students who do not have Chinese as a home or heritage language
• Chinese Heritage Speaker: students who have a family or community connection to Chinese and some prior exposure to the language

Students in both learner categories are equally welcome. Judges will consider students’ age, learning experience, and language background when assessing Chinese language use.

Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged primarily on:

• How well the video connects to the theme “Modern China Through My Eyes”
• Creativity, originality, and audience appeal
• Storytelling, performance, and overall presentation
• Cultural content and understanding
• Meaningful exploration of cultural connections and differences, where relevant
• Appropriate and effective use of Chinese

Awards will be presented for:

• Best Video
• Best Language
• Best Performance
• Best Teacher Mentor
• Best Organising School

Timetable

All registration and essay submission to nzshortvideocompetition@gmail.com by 5.00pm on Wednesday, 16 September 2026.

Kindly note – The teacher submitting the entry must ensure that the school has obtained written consent for the use of the image, voice, and video footage of every identifiable person appearing in the video. For participants under the age of 18, consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian. By entering the competition, schools and participants grant the organisers permission to use, reproduce, display, publish, and share the submitted video, including any images, footage, voices, names, and likenesses appearing in it, for educational, research, promotional, and other non-commercial purposes.

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This year’s beginner and intermediate level CTCSOL written tests are scheduled on 19 Sep.

The information about the Sep CTCSOL written tests will soon be announced by CTI. Registration and payment in the region will be available from 11 Aug. For more details, please follow the instructions below:

STEP 1 – Registration: Open from 11 to 20 August. To complete the registration, if you haven’t already, you must visit the CTCSOL website and sign up there first. Then follow the online instruction and register for your test with the official test center – “Confucius Institute in Auckland, New Zealand” （新西兰奥克兰孔子学院）.  

The registration may close early when the test is fully booked.

STEP 2 – Payment: Open from 11 to 20 August. Please go to our payment webpage to pay the exam fee. Please note, an extra processing fee charge and GST are included in each registration.

The PAYMENT page will be open from 2 PM on Tuesday 11 August(New Zealand local time).

Please note: There will be limited spaces available for sitting the test. The PAYMENT will be closed when it is full.

For further information, please visit the Confucius Institute’s CTCSOL webpage or the CTCSOL official website.

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This year’s Competition is sponsored by Industry and Commercial Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited.

***Download the registration form below, complete it, and email the completed form to us.***

Objectives

• To promote and encourage the use of the Chinese among the learners of Chinese in New Zealand;
• To promote the knowledge of Chinese language and culture as an important resource in an increasingly multi-cultural and global environment;
• To provide an opportunity for students of Chinese language to showcase their learning;
• To inspire students to learn Chinese language by sharing their writings with fellow students.

Requirements

• Style of writing: Any format of ORIGINAL work
• Topic: Chinese Connects You and Me – 中文，连接你和我

Categories

• Category I – Secondary School Junior (Year 7-10): minimum 200 characters
• Category II – Secondary School Senior (Year 11-13): minimum 300 characters
• Category III – Tertiary Category: minimum 500 characters

Eligibility

Non-Chinese Heritage Group:
• New Zealand citizens or New Zealand permanent residents, and full-time registered students.
• Mandarin or any Chinese dialect is not the home language spoken by either parent.
Chinese Heritage Group:
• Full-time registered students born in New Zealand.

Judging Criteria

• Content (idea, originality and creativity)
• Language (vocabulary and grammar)
• Structure (organization and style)

* Machine or AI-assisted/generated content/translation is not acceptable and the decision of the judges is final.

Registration

• School Group Registration through your Chinese teacher;
• Individual Registrations are also acceptable;
• Registrations and submit the essays online at Registration Online

Timetable

• All registration and essay submission by 31 August 2026

• Final results and awards will be announced by the end of September 2026

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《国际中文教师证书》面试 CTCSOL Interview Test in Oct at CI in Auckland

The CTCSOL is an international standardised test to assess candidates’ ability as Chinese language teachers. CTCSOL is available in New Zealand at the Confucius Institute in Auckland. Registration for the upcoming interview test is open to all eligible candidates living in the Australasia region. You MUST have first passed the CTCSOL written test within the last two years.

The first CTCSOL interview test (beginner level) in 2026 is scheduled on 17 Oct.

Please note: spaces are limited and in high demand. Registration and payment will close early when places are full.

For further information and registration go Exams – CTCSOL or the CTCSOL official website.

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