The Chinese community of Dunedin yesterday celebrated the Moon Festival, China National Day and the 15th birthday of Lan Yuan, Dunedin Chinese Garden.
Mr Wong said the gardens were becoming a part of Dunedin’s identity.
"The good thing about gardens is that they get better as they get older.
"When the garden was first opened, obviously the plants were very small and they weren’t as mature as they are now but as the garden grows it takes on its own identity and it looks like it’s always been a part of Dunedin."
He said it was wonderful that the gardens had been accepted by the Dunedin community and so many people had gathered to celebrate them.
"It’s all part of the social cohesion of the Dunedin community that all communities can gather and celebrate their ethnicity.
"I think it’s really heartening for the Chinese community to see how much they're valued in Dunedin."
The celebrations included 10 different performances from five different community groups, including students and seniors from the Chinese community.
"We’ve got lots of Chinese groups here and they all now want to display and celebrate their heritage, which is wonderful," Mr Wong said.
He said the garden had given the Chinese community a Chinese footprint in Dunedin and Otago and a place to call their turangawaewae, a place to stand.
A commemorative pounamu stone given the name Tū Hono, which means connection, had been presented to the garden by mana whenua and gifted by Ngāi Tahu for the garden’s 10th birthday.
However, because of Covid-related disruption, it was finally unveiled yesterday too.
