Pot luck New Year dinner for Chinese community

GISBORNE will celebrate Chinese New Year this Sunday with a special get-together at the Chinese Hall on Disraeli Street.

Attendees will bring a dish for a pot luck lunch to the celebration organised by the Gisborne Branch of the Chinese Association.

Mayor Meng Foon said they are expecting about 150 at the annual event.

2018 marks the year of the dog in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Mr Foon said one of typical dishes for the Chinese New Year celebration is vermicelli cooked in special fragrant chicken stock, which promotes long life.

“We dare not cut the noodles as this could shorten one’s life.”

Another popular dish is cooked lettuce with Chinese mushrooms, called dung gu.

“The green is for long life as well.”

The other colours are yellow/gold for prosperity and good fortune and red for good luck and prosperity he said.

Typically they would have had firecrackers on New Year’s, but with the firework ban in place that won't happen.

This year Meng and his wife Ying will attend Chinese New Year celebration at Parliament on February 26, where he will make a speech on behalf of the Chinese people in New Zealand and as the president of the New Zealand Chinese Association.

“It is great that our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford are having their child in the year of the dog," he said.

"Dog is a man’s best friend, obedient and caring and loyal. We also wish Jacinda and Clark all the best for their child."

The Chinese New Year is never on a fixed date as it is based on the lunar calendar. This year it begins on Friday February 16 and celebrations last for two weeks.

It is a tradition for Chinese to clean their houses on New Year’s Day to sweep away bad fortune, and children are given red envelopes stuffed with money and positive wishes.