The 2010 Chinese Lantern Festival takes place in downtown Albert Park in Auckland from 26 to 28 February and a week later on 6 and 7 March in Christchurch’s Victoria Square. Exciting acts including Mongolian throat singers, dynamic Shanghai ensemble Moon and a Rolling Lantern folk dance group have just been announced. Read more and continue visit our website www.asianz.org.nz for latest news on the festival.

Fourteen New Zealanders based around the Asia-Pacific region jetted into Hanoi for the second Young Leaders Offshore Forum. Participant Georgia Lawrence reports back on what was a hectic programme of business, education, NGO and government briefings, cultural experiences, and team building activities. Read more

The students of the Massey University MBA programme spent ten days in Shanghai, Suzhou and Wuxi in November 2009. The class is a picture of modern New Zealand business, drawn from a range of industry sectors including agriculture, financial services, retailing and utilities. The students see vast opportunity in China. Read more

Asia:NZ contributor Vaughan Yarwood assesses the slow-running process of bringing the remaining Kymer Rouge leaders to justice. "In overseeing the trial process the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia faces a difficult task — bringing justice to a country that has undergone unimaginable suffering and which remains politically and socially fragile," he explains. Read more and check out other stories in our Regional Matters section.

Asia:NZ offers a fantastic professional development opportunity for teachers of Japanese at the beginners level. A total in-country language and cultural immersion programme, to take place between 2 and 17 April 2010 in Osaka, is designed support teaching practice in the classroom. Application deadline approaching: 17 February. Read more and click for other Educating for Asia opportunities.

Asia:NZ Young Leaders are invited to submit photographs of their experiences in order to inspire and showcase the positive ways in which they are engaged or associated with Asia. Forty of the best photographs will be printed for display at a special exhibition at “Our City O-Tautahi” in Christchurch between 24 March to 20 April 2010. Read more