It will be a special day on Tuesday, February 5 -- the first day of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig -- and thousands flocked to the Trust Arena in Henderson to celebrate it early at a special festival on Saturday, January 19.
The Chinese New Year Festival was organised by the New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation and World TV Group, together with more than 20 sponsors and supporters.
Lunar New Year is one of the most significant events in the traditional Chinese calendar.
Usually referred to as the Spring Festival in modern China, it is now celebrated around the world, including in New Zealand.
The Auckland event included outdoor markets, food stalls, Chinese traditional singing and dancing performances, lion dance and a spectacular fireworks display. The New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation provided a cultural exhibition stall demonstrating different Chinese traditions, such as paper cutting, drawing scrolls and making lanterns and sculpture.
\New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation chairman Jackson Rao says the foundation is proud to co-organise the Auckland event: "Lunar New Year is one of the biggest traditions in China, and by sharing it with New Zealanders we aim to promote cultural cohesion and unite people from different backgrounds together. It's a great opportunity to promote Chinese cultural heritage and celebrate with different people."
The first day of the Chinese New Year occurs when the new moon appears between 21 January and 20 February; in 2019, this will fall on Tuesday, February 5.
Celebrations begin the night before the first day of the new year when families gather for their annual reunion dinner, and run until the Lantern Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the new year.
It is a time to honour ancestors and gods and, although regional customs vary, it is common for families to spring-clean their homes and decorate their homes with red paper cut-outs and couplets to promote happiness, good luck, longevity and prosperity.
Red is considered the colour of good fortune, so gifts of money are often presented in red paper envelopes. Every year people eat dumplings, buy lanterns and draw scrolls. Fireworks are also popular.
The Chinese zodiac assigns one of 12 animals to each lunar year, and this year is the Year of the Pig, which traditionally means good health, prosperity and good wealth.
The New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation aims to promote cultural exchanges and strengthen friendship between China and New Zealand.
In future, the New Zealand Culture and Arts Foundation will continue to play a leadership role the local community, promoting sports, culture and art, strengthening the friendship and relationship between China and New Zealand, and building bridges that allow ethnic groups in the local community to exchange their cultures.