The Star: August 11, 2016

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Thursday August 11 2016 19
Ella Gowith, of
Riccarton, paint
colour specialist:
“I haven’t used it
but I would like to
get an account. I
think it’s cheaper
than a taxi. I
wouldn’t go on
my own – I would
definitely go with
friends if I was
using it [due to not
knowing the driver’s
background].”
Nick Pacey, of
Ilam, student:
“I’ve used Uber
several times.
I’ve found it very
good and a lot
cheaper than a
taxi – especially
in Christchurch. I
suppose for a taxi
driver it’s another
business which
is competition,
which no one is
ever super-friendly
about.”
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Anthony de Goldi,
of Woolston,
labourer:
“I’ve used Uber in
Melbourne and it
was really good
– real cheap, fast.
I think the taxis
are just scared of
them taking their
business.”
HAVE
YOUR SAY:
What do
you think
of Uber?
Email your
views
to tom.
doudney@
starmedia.
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Kia ora, Christchurch
Kia ora, readers of The Star. I am Jin Zhijian, Consul General of the People’s Republic
of China in Christchurch. I am pleased to inform you that from this month on, the
Chinese Consulate General will open a column in The Star on the second Thursday
every month, releasing news about the Consulate General, important events hosted
by the Consulate General and the local Chinese communities, introducing Chinese
traditional culture, and expressing views on issues of common concerns.
In this first article of the column, I would give a brief introduction of the Chinese
Consulate General in Christchurch.
In June 2010, the Chinese government reached consensus with the New Zealand
government on opening the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch. The
process of establishing the Consulate General was scheduled to start in May 2011.
However, a heavy earthquake hit Christchurch on February 22, 2011, and 185
people including 24 Chinese students lost their lives in the disaster. The Chinese
government and people stood side by side with the New Zealand government and
people at this difficult moment. The Chinese government sent a rescue team and
provided humanitarian assistance to Christchurch immediately. The establishment
of the Chinese Consulate General was accelerated rather than delayed. The advance
team arrived in Christchurch in the week after the earthquake, taking an active
part in the rescue and relief work. It was very difficult at the beginning, as the staff
even had trouble with food and accommodation. With the help of people from
all walks of life, the Chinese Consulate General officially opened on December 2,
2011 after more than half a year of hard work. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
I would like to express sincere gratitude for the support from the city council and
people of Christchurch.
Our consular district covers the whole South Island, Steward Island and Chatham
Islands. The Consulate General comprises of Policy, Consular & Visa, Commercial,
Educational and Cultural Sections. The Policy Section deals with exchanges
between China and the South Island on the local level and handles media affairs.
The Consular & Visa Section is responsible for passport and visa services, and also
provides consular protection for Chinese citizens. The Commercial Section focuses
on promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the South
Island, as well as giving some guidance and assistance to the Chinese enterprises
in our consular district. The Educational Section concentrates on the educational
exchanges and cooperation at different levels between our two countries, promoting
Chinese language teaching and serving Chinese students. The Cultural Section is
responsible for the cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and the
South Island. For further information, please visit our website: http://christchurch.
chineseconsulate.org/eng/.
Since its opening, the Consulate General has been actively engaged in promoting
exchanges and cooperation between China and various places in our consular
district, and strives to provide quality and convenient service to all circles of life in
New Zealand, thus becoming a new bridge connecting China and the South Island.
I took my post in Christchurch in September 2014. For nearly two years, I have
witnessed the rapidly developing relations between China and New Zealand,
especially with the South Island. I have made many Kiwi friends, all of whom have
taken great interest in China, and expressed enthusiasm and high expectation for
developing Sino-New Zealand relationship, which is a great aspiration to me.
The cooperation between China and New Zealand has reached an unprecedented
extent at present. China has become the largest trading partner, the largest origin
of overseas students and the second largest origin of overseas tourists of New
Zealand. Thanks to the vigorous development of Sino-New Zealand relationship,
the cooperation between China and the South Island has kept growing in fields like
economic and trade, education, tourism, culture, local exchanges and Antarctica
cooperation, marking an active phase of friendship between China and the South
Island. I am confident that the cooperation between China and the South Island,
especially Christchurch, would keep yielding new outcome with the joint efforts
of both sides.
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Besides setting up a column in The Star, the Chinese Consulate General will also
broadcast documentaries about China on Canterbury Television (CTV). Roof of
the World as the first run would be on show from August 13 (Saturday).
The documentary has six episodes (repeated Tuesday 9:30am and Thursday
2:30pm) and is trying to depict the relationship between people living in Tibetan
Plateau and the nature. It will focus on the incredible and unique nature state,
continuous and erect snow mountains, rich and productive land steps, cyclical and
round stream, soil and nature, animals, plants and men coexisting and surviving
together on earth. I believe you will enjoy it.