Writing on the (classroom) wall in Mandarin

Shalom Pinto (10) gets expert tuition in Mandarin from China's acting Consul-General, Mr Li Yong Chuan. Photo / Greg Bowker

Confucius classrooms have opened for learning in New Zealand, thanks to a $250,000 investment by the Chinese Government.

Six schools throughout the country are opening the classrooms - which focus on Mandarin language and culture. The six schools will also act as hosts to 26 other schools and more than 100,000 students.

Holy Cross School in Henderson - where Mandarin has been a popular subject for the past five years - is the latest of the six cluster schools to open its doors, with an official opening yesterday morning.

Principal Kathy Moy-Low said Mandarin was a subject option for the Year 7 and 8 students as part of the school's commitment to teaching other languages.

The students' positive response to Mandarin was part of the impetus to expand the school's Chinese language programme with a Confucius classroom.

"It didn't take long for the senior students to come to me and say, 'I'm using my Mandarin, I can read the writing now at the local Asian shops', which is wonderful," said Mrs Moy-Low.

A Confucius classroom is set up through a local Confucius Institute - a non-profit organisation funded by the Chinese Government. Confucius classrooms already exist in more than 80 countries.

Each of the six cluster schools will receive $30,000 to help with resources for Mandarin learning. The others are Rotorua Boys' High and Auckland schools Parnell District Primary, Willow Park Primary, Henderson Intermediate and Glenfield Intermediate.