New Zealanders to send 'singing birthday card' to China

A "singing birthday card" - featuring 600 New Zealanders performing China's best-loved folk song Mo Li Hua, or Jasmine Flower - is being planned as New Zealand's gift to the Chinese for the country's national day on October 1.

About 200 volunteers had a taste of singing the Mandarin song in four "chaotic" training sessions last weekend at the Auckland University-based Confucius Institute.

"There's absolutely no political agenda behind this project, but just an attempt to show how New Zealand is embracing Chinese culture in an open and welcoming way," said producer George Andrews, president of the New Zealand China Friendship Society Auckland branch.

"China's national day just presents itself as an ideal opportunity for us to do this, and show how much Chinese immigrants have transformed Auckland."

The Aotearoa Jasmine project is organised by the society and the Confucius Institute.

Filming would take place over the next two weekends in locations such as the Auckland Museum, Devonport and Mt Eden, and the music video would feature prominent Aucklanders, including Auckland Regional Council chairman Mike Lee and Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey, Mr Andrews said.

"Screening the video on Chinese national television on the country's national day will just have an incredible impact on promoting Auckland and New Zealand as a tourist destination."

Mo Li Hua's origin dates back to the Qianlong Emperor period of the Qing Dynasty, and an adaptation of the melody was performed during the medal ceremonies at last year's Beijing Olympic Games.

Project director Aaron Huang said that the group was in negotiations to screen the video on October 1 over TV3's Campbell Live and SkyCity's Asian cinemas.