On January 26, the Taiwanese Business Association of New Zealand and Taiwanese Junior Business Association of New Zealand held a year-end party at Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant in Auckland, hosted by the respective heads of the two associations Maan Lai and Jack Wang. Director-General Chou Chung-hsing of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Auckland, principal of Ignite College, past association presidents and members of the associations attended, the number of attendees exceeding 120. 

The event opened with a performance of the Maori Hakka greeting dance by the directors of the Taiwanese Business Association of New Zealand. Director-General Chou praised the Association for, under the guidance of Maan Lai, holding events that were educational, cultural, charitable and citizen’s diplomacy in nature over the previous year, including New Zealand Film Festival, a Cure Kids thanksgiving dinner, and exchange meetings, highlighting the Association’s active involvement in local society and results of serving members, the results praiseworthy. With the Taiwan government actively promoting the New Southbound policy, Director-General Chou said his office is willing to actively help local chambers of commerce and the members of the Taiwanese Business Association grow their businesses to create a win-win situation. 

The organizers invited an NZ based entrepreneur from Taiwan to share his experiences of developing the first shopping mall in the east of the city, TMARK, and then his move into the fire equipment business and being asked by the local fire department to produce the first instructions for installation of fire equipment in Chinese. The entrepreneur explained that the keys to success are suitable opportunity, full preparation and foresight.

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