Whakatū Nelson Chinese Culture & Arts

27/03/2026

When we talk about climate change 🌏, we often look for big solutions…
But sometimes, the answers are already quietly living in ancient cultures 🌿✨

In Southwest China, where I grew up 🇨🇳, food was wrapped in banana/bamboo leaves 🍃, tied with straw 🌾, carried home in simple, natural ways. These are photos my sister took last week , in the spring time.
No plastic bags 🚫🛍️
No labels 🚫🏷️
No waste ♻️

Here in Aotearoa, Māori traditions hold the same wisdom — working with nature, not against it 🌱🤍

Maybe the future isn’t about inventing more…
Maybe it’s about remembering what we once knew 🌾💭

What’s one natural practice you grew up with, that we should bring back today? 💬🌍✨

22/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YDKEwsis/

22/03/2026

March 20 marks multiple meanings.
celebrates the Festival (Dragon Head Raising Day), welcoming spring and new beginnings. It also coincides with the , the 4th solar term. Globally, it’s the UN’s — a reminder that happiness is a shared human goal.

13/03/2026

🌿

An afternoon of Qi Gong, Chinese traditional wisdom, and the healing plants of Aotearoa.

A gentle space for healing movement, oral stories, and heart-felt connection across cultures.

Hosted by Cultural Conversations Nelson✨

Limited spaces — please RSVP early. 🌱

https://www.culturalconversations.co.nz/event-details/seasonal-self-care-chinese-qi-gong-aotearoa-plants-wisdom

06/03/2026

After February’s cancellation next Wednesday’s Women’s Multicultural Lunch of 2026 will be the first of 2026. We’re excited about partnering with the Nelson Women's Centre and our friends will host this meal at 44 Trafalgar Street from 12noon. These meals are a shared group lunch for women to share kai (food) they enjoy and meet new people.

Bring some food you love to share with the group but please don’t worry if you’re unable to take anything along, just join us! You are welcome!

Cultural Conversations Nelson Whakatū Nelson Chinese Culture & Arts Multicultural Nelson Tasman Inc English Language Partners Nelson

03/03/2026

🏮✨ Happy Lantern Festival! 元宵节快乐! ✨🏮

Tonight, lanterns glow like stars along the streets, and families share sweet tangyuan (汤圆), a symbol of unity and joy. The moon rises gently above, whispering blessings of light, love, and reunion. We will also see the blood moon!🌕💛

From the classic verse:

月上柳梢头，人约黄昏后。

Translation:
The moon rises above the willow tips,
People meet, promises made after dusk.

May your heart be as bright as the lanterns tonight! 🏮🌙

28/02/2026

Learning Chinese 😂

28/02/2026

28/02/2026

We had a wonderful afternoon celebrating the end of Chinese New Year at Cultural conversations. Thank you for everyone's presence. Wish you good luck in the year of fire horse! 🐴🔥

27/02/2026

沙琪瑪 (shāchímă), from the cuisine of the Manchus – one of China's five main ethnic groupings alongside the Han, Mongolian, Muslims and Tibetans. There are two challenges when making this cake: don't overcook the pastry, and don't overheat the syrup.

26/02/2026

柱 (zhù) — a pillar. 🌳

Made from 木 (wood) and 主 (master).
The ancient 主 looks like a lampstand 🏮 — upright, steady, quietly shining.

In old times, pillars were hewn from wood,
so this character came to mean that which supports. 🏯

A pillar does not speak.
It simply stands — rooted, present, reliable.

This is the strength we cultivate. 🌿