Te Papa is open. Te Papa Covid-19 information
Kei te tuwhera a Te Papa. He mōhiohio nā Te Papa mō Covid-19

  1. Home
  2. Discover the collections
  3. Read, watch, play
  4. Chinese Languages in Aotearoa

Chinese Languages in Aotearoa

Watch: Mandarin, with poet Ya-Wen Ho

Ya-Wen Ho is a 1.5 generation Taiwanese Hakka New Zealander, a poet, and type researcher at Wai-te-ata Press in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. Here she discusses her complicated relationship with Mandarin and how it became her ‘mother tongue’.

Subtitles in English, Hokkien (Min Nan Chinese), Chinese (Standardised), and Chinese (Traditional) are available for this video. Turn them on in the settings area (the cog icon) after pressing play.

You might also like

  • Jack stand with his hands on a fence that is out of shot, staring at the camera. Behind him is the crest of St Mark’s School
    Watch: Cantonese, with publisher and typeface designer Jack Yan

    Watch: Cantonese, with publisher and typeface designer Jack Yan

    Jak Yan was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Wellington. Here he discusses how he has remained connected to his mother tongue, Cantonese.

  • A woman is seen from behind putting noodles into a wok in a busy kitchen
    Watch: Penang Hokkien, with restaurateur Tee Phee

    Watch: Penang Hokkien, with restaurateur Tee Phee

    Tee Phee, owner of Wellington’s Little Penang restaurants, is a fluent speaker of Penang Hokkien and was always determined to ensure that her local-born children grew up speaking the language. Here she discusses her relationship with the language.

  • Close up on rubber stamps with Chinese lettering on them
    Chinese languages resources list

    Chinese languages resources list

    Are you keen to improve or teach yourself a Chinese language but unsure where to start? This list is for you.