Chinese New Year set to take off with a bang

Chinese New Year festivities will begin tomorrow in Auckland with a market festival in Greenlane, firecrackers in Central Auckland in the evening and culminating with fireworks in Manukau at night.

As determined by the lunar calendar, the first day of the Chinese Year of the Tiger falls on Sunday.

To most Chinese, the biggest part of the celebrations will take place on the eve of the big day, with family reunion dinners and performing rituals to dispel evil spirits and bring in good luck.

Without extended family members, the public festivals and markets in the city play a big part for many Chinese and Korean immigrant families in New Zealand.

Auckland University professor of Asian studies Manying Ip says the Lunar New Year is the most important festival for the Chinese and Koreans, and celebrations often last for 15 days. With Chinese New Year falling on a Sunday, this will be the second consecutive year the community in Auckland will be having a holiday to celebrate the occasion. Last year, Chinese New Year coincided with Auckland Anniversary.

"The fairs and festival play an important role not just for the migrant communities, but also in promoting good race relations," said Professor Ip. "The Lantern Festival, for example, has become almost a mainstream event and it has generated understanding and goodwill that not even 1000 campaigns or academic reports can achieve."

Kai Luey, Auckland Chinese Community Centre vice-chairman, says there has been huge interest in the centre's celebrations at the ASB Showgrounds.

"We have been informed that a busload of international students will be coming, and also many from outside of Auckland."

World Television spokeswoman Ling Ling Liang said New Zealand Chinese Idol winners and Chinese New Zealand beauty queens would add glamour to its Manukau event.

The Chinese Embassy will be bringing in the Hunan Acrobatics Troupe, who will perform at both events.

YEAR OF THE TIGER CELEBRATIONS

Chinese New Year Festival and Market: ASB Showgrounds, Green Lane West 9.30am to 4pm, tomorrow.

WTV Year of the Tiger Lunar Festival: TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre, Manukau, 3pm to 10pm, tomorrow.

SkyCity Chinese New Year celebrations: Nightly until Feb 28, starting tomorrow at 6pm.

Chinese and Korean New Year Festival: Northcote centre, from 6pm, Fri Feb 19 to 3pm, Sat 20.

Lantern Festival: Albert Park, from Fri Feb 26 to Sun Feb 28.

Chinese New Year Celebration Concert: ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, 3pm, Feb 28.

Free admission to all events, but tickets required for celebration concert.