Lions and dragons welcome Year of the Ox

Excited youngsters reach out to lions at the start of a lion dance at the Dunedin Chinese Garden last night to welcome the start of the Chinese New Year. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH

Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins and Otakou Marae upoko (head) Edward Ellison were among those leading a colourful dragon procession from the Octagon to the Chinese garden.

At the garden, colourful lions and other cultural performers celebrated the new year and the Year of the Ox, and many of the participants were youngsters.

A fireworks display at 10pm completed the celebrations with a big flourish of further noise and colourful lights.

Dunedin City Council community events adviser cultural Vicki Lenihan said New Zealanders were in the happy position of being able to celebrate the Chinese New Year, while in many other countries worries about the Covid-19 pandemic meant people could not gather in large numbers in the usual way.

The absence of overseas tourists had meant a somewhat smaller crowd than the estimated 8000 who had attended last year, but the latest celebrations had been relaxed and successful, she said.

The celebrations included entertainment and food stalls at the garden from 6.30pm, the dragon parade from the Octagon at 7.15pm, and later official speeches. The garden was also open to the public.

Mr Ellison said he had enjoyed taking part in his first Dunedin Chinese New Year celebration, and said the event raised awareness and was "more about the culture".