Visit of Minister Shyh-kwei, Chen to Christchurch
On 5 Jan 2014, Minister of Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), The Republic of China, Minister Shyh-kwei, Chen visited Christchurch as part of his tour of New Zealand. Minister Chen was warmly welcome by Taiwan’s Ambassador to New Zealand Ambassador Elliott Y L Chang, Committee Member of OCAC Mr. Alex fu President of Hua-Shin Association Mr. Andy Fu, and many representatives from Taiwanese Commerce Association in NZ and other Taiwanese Societies in New Zealand. A welcoming dinner at Dose Café was thrown for Minister Chen. About 50 people attended the dinner. Among the guests of honor were Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Abbess Manshin and President of Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island See Shen Lee.
The dinner was organized to allow for close interaction between Minister Chen and the people attending the function. Minister Chen praised the Taiwanese organizations in New Zealand for their outstanding performance, especially during the 2011 earthquake. The effort and help rendered by Taiwanese at this critical moment were widely acclaimed by the locals. Minister Chen also praised Ambassador Elliott Chang for his fast action in immediately getting rescue teams from Taiwan to come over to New Zealand to participated in the rescue operations.
In his speech, Minister Chen thanked members of BLIA, from New Zealand and World-wide, for their help and contributions rendered to all disasters, NZ earthquake inclusive. Minister Chen recalled that during the great 8th August flood of 2009 in Taiwan, help and aids came in from everywhere in a very disorganized manner. Secretary General of BLIA Taiwan ROC, Venerable Jue Pei, proposed to the authority that all the efforts be organized and coordinated to avoid chaos and duplication. After the idea was adopted, the rescue operation became fast and smooth. Minister Chen praised the Venerable for their wit and efficiency in dealing with the matter.
Addressing the dinner later, Abbess Manshin informed that apart from rendering help in the earthquake, BLIA NZ has been offering monastic and other beneficial services to the people. Recently, FGS and BLIA new Zealand has collaborated with NZ Police in activities that will bring happiness and harmony to the society.
After the dinner, led by Abbess Manshin, a group consisting of the Minister Chen, the Ambassador Chang, Committee member Mr. Alex Fu, President of Hua-Shin Andy Fu and wife Heidi Lee, visited the FGS South Island Temple. They were briefed by Abbess Manshin on the architecture design of the building and on the various types of services rendered. Before their departure, Minister Chen thanked FGS and BLIA members for their kind reception, and in-depth briefing the process of propagating dharma in New Zealand.