Today there is an opportunity to experience some unique Chinese culture in Te Puke, and make some new friends.

'We are going to show our local people a piece of our Chinese culture,” says Tina Zhang, president of the NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga.

More and more Chinese people are moving to this rural idyll so local leaders decided it was high time they celebrated the fact.

'We'll have some performances, show the art of making Chinese tea, demonstrate Tai chi, and have a traditional Chinese fashion show,” says Tina.

'The Western Bay Council talked to us, because we've run Living in Harmony before in Tauranga and they like us to show people our Chinese culture.

'It's free to come, but we'd like people to bring a plate to share lunch all together. We've also preparing some traditional Chinese food to share.”

Tina has lived in Tauranga for nearly six years and says it is a nice and peaceful place with not too many people around.

'My husband is from a seaside city in China. Tauranga is very much like his home town. Here people are very friendly. People who don't know you say ‘hello' or ‘good morning'.”

Tina says the idea for the event came about because the Western Bay of Plenty Council could see that Chinese immigrants were moving into the Te Puke area, but there weren't many events planned for the Chinese culture.

The Chinese friendship celebration will be held in the Te Puke Memorial Hall, 130 Jellicoe St, Te Puke on Saturday August 3 from 11.30am – 2pm. Anyone is welcome to attend, please bring a plate of food to share for lunch.

For more information go to the NZ China Friendship Society Tauranga Facebook page

Learning to make dumplings at a July meeting