In preparation for this year's national Chinese Bridge speech competition (results above), the Confucius Institute at Victoria University held the regional Wellington speech competition on 14 May.

The competition was jointly organised by the Confucius Institute and the Chinese Embassy (Education Section). Around 50 contestants from the lower North Island participated.

Contestants were divided into three categories: junior (Year 7 - Year 10), senior (Year 11 – Year 13), and tertiary. They each gave a speech on the theme of 'China and Me' and demonstrated Chinese cultural skills and talents.

We congratulate every contestant, as well as their teachers, on their participation. It is the result of a lot of practice, creativity, persistence and confidence in their Chinese language proficiency, and we welcome even more students to compete in Chinese Bridge next year.

2016 Wellington regional winners

Junior group

1^st Prize: Jimah Ruland-Umata, Rotorua Boys' High School

2^nd Prize: Tegan Martin, Samuel Marsden Collegiate

3^rd Prizes: Olivia Morphew, Queen Margaret College, and Peter Lang, Scots College

Senior group

1^st Prize: Joape Nagera, Rotorua Boys' High School

2^nd Prize: Amy Cooper, Samuel Marsden Collegiate

3^rd Prizes: Ryan Beamish, Rotorua Boys' High School, and Gilda Knox Streader, Wellington High School

Tertiary group

1^st Prize: Anuilagi Aukusitino, Victoria University of Wellington

2^nd Prize: Elliot Maddox, Victoria University of Wellington

3^rd Prize: James Hurley, Victoria University of Wellington

Chen Yue, Education Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy was impressed by the achievements gained by all the contestants. "New Zealand contestants are making notable progress due to the efforts of local Chinese teachers and the Mandarin Language Assistants”, Counsellor Chen said. Tony Browne, Chairman of CI VUW, encouraged contestants to work harder to not only contribute to the friendship between China and New Zealand but also for the benefit of their own future careers.

中文版：

5月14日，维多利亚大学孔子学院与使馆教育处共同承办了2016年“汉语桥”惠灵顿地区演讲比赛。北岛南部的近50名选手齐聚维多利亚大学，期待再创佳绩。本次比赛分为初中组（Year7-Year 10）,高中组(Year11-Year13)和大学组。经过一天主题为《我和中国》的演讲和精彩的中华才艺展示，以下选手脱颖而出：

初中组

一等奖：Rotorua Boys' High School--Jimah Ruland-Umata

二等奖：Samuel Marsden Collegiate--Tegan Marti

三等奖：Queen Margaret College--Olivia Morphew

Scots College--Peter Lang

高中组

一等奖：Rotorua Boys' High School--Joape Nagera

二等奖：Samuel Marsden Collegiate--Amy Cooper

三等奖：Rotorua Boys' High School--Ryan Beamish

Wellington High School --Gilda Knox Streader

大学组：

一等奖：惠灵顿维多利亚大学，Anuilagi Aukusitino

二等奖：惠灵顿维多利亚大学，Elliot Maddox

三等奖：惠灵顿维多利亚大学，James Hurley

今年7月，这三名选手将参加在中国举行的“汉语桥——世界大学生中文比赛”。

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