NZ Police Celebrates the Chinese New Year

On 17th February, NZ Police celebrated the Chine New Year in Wellington. Special guests included Lu Tong Wang; Chinese Ambassador, Wayne Guppy; Upper Hutt Mayor, Mike Bush; Police Commissioner, Wallace Haumaha; Police Superintendent and many representatives from different religious and social groups. The invited Fo Guang Shan delegation included Venerable Abbess Manshin, Venerable Juehao; Minister in Charge, Venerable Zhiming, Stephan Xu; BLIA North Island President, Lee See Shen; BLIA South Island President and 11 BLIA Members. The whole celebration included many traditional Chinese cultural performances such as lion dance.

Commissioner Bush thanked the temple and BLIA for coming to offer everyone New Year’s well wishes as well as always providing the police with the venue for different activities, where he truly experienced Humanistic Buddhism’s spirit of giving. The Commissioner also reminded everyone that this year of the sheep symbolises harmony and peace, so he hopes everyone will work together to create a more peaceful society.

Ambassador Wang talked about the recent close economic, tourism and overseas studies ties between China and New Zealand. So this celebration organised by the police has brought cultures together and brought Chinese community and the police closer.

Then the Commissioner and the Ambassador exchanged New Years greeting and gifts of red packets and New Year’s calligraphy writing of “Auspicious Beginnings for Peace and Harmony” by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. The whole event was under an atmosphere of joy.