Sharing traditional Japanese tales with New Zealand 

Hiroshi Nakatsuji is New Zealand's only performer of rakugo, the traditional Japanese art of storytelling. The Auckland-based entertainer tells the Asia Media Centre how the art form helped him to reconnect with his roots.

READ MORE

March 1st: South Korea marks 100 years of independence movement

On March 1, South Korea will commemorate a key moment in the country’s history. It will mark 100 years since the reading of the 1919 Declaration of Independence, now known as the March 1st Movement, or Sam-il.

READ MORE

Q&A: President Duterte, Maria Ressa, and Philippines-NZ relations

Philippines pundit Aries Arugay was in New Zealand as part of the ASEAN@50 Fellowship Programme. He caught up with the Asia Media Centre to discuss President Duterte, Maria Ressa, and the political future of the Philippines.

READ MORE

Reporting on the Trump-Kim summit this week? Here are some New Zealand-based Korea experts you can approach for comment.

• Changzoo Song, Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies, University of Auckland
• Patrick Flamm, Lecturer in International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington
• Robert Patman, Professor, University of Otago
• Shine Choi, Lecturer of Politics and International Relations, Massey University
• Stephen Epstein, Associate Professor & Director, Asian Languages and Cultures Programme, Victoria University of Wellington
• SungYong Lee, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago
• Van Jackson, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington

What have media in New Zealand been reporting about Asia? Here's a roundup of stories from the past week. 

• Chinese man to translate kapa haka festival's te reo Māori into Mandarin
  NEWSHUB
   
• Chinese ambassador says New Zealand and China must 'firmly hold the rudder'
  STUFF
   
• Kiwi-Asian friends rework Crazy Rich Asians to better reflect personal, cultural experiences
  1NEWS
   
• Japan stuck in past, as future threats grow
  NEWSROOM
   
• The dangers of over-reading the tea leaves on China
  THE SPINOFF
   
• China's Winter Olympics medal hopes could boost New Zealand ski fields
  STUFF

• How much does China love us?
  STUFF

• Media ignore smoking guns in Huawei case
  RADIO NZ

What have media in Asia been reporting about New Zealand? Here’s a roundup of news and views from the region.

• Former New Zealand PM Jenny Shipley distances herself from controversial op-ed in Chinese state media
  SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | HONG KONG
   
• New Zealand and Italy cloud US push to ban Huawei from 5G networks
  SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST | HONG KONG 
   
• New Zealand should desist from undermining China's growing influence 
  GLOBAL TIMES | CHINA 
   
• New Zealand to send minister to Belt and Road forum amid Huawei ban backlash
  GLOBAL TIMES | CHINA
   
• New Zealand marks eighth anniversary of Christchurch quake that killed 185, including 28 Japanese
  THE JAPAN TIMES | JAPAN

• Can IoT help New Zealand maximise agricultural exports?
  TECH WIRE ASIA

Japan: Uniqlo's 'Chairman Mao' fashion fail

Online commentators were quick to point out the similarities between a Uniqlo 'military jacket' (with matching pants) and the uniform of a communist dictator. The Japanese fashion brand said the resemblance was 'purely coincidental'.

Philippines: Miss Universe Catriona Gray's homecoming

A grand homecoming parade was held in Manila last week for Catriona Gray, who was crowned Miss Universe back in December. She is the fourth Filipina to win the beauty pageant, which is followed religiously in the Philippines.

World: Pixar's dumpling film 'Bao' wins an Academy Award 

Bao, the short film about a Chinese dumpling that comes to life, took home this year's Oscar for best animated short film. Canadian-Chinese animator Domee Shi previously made history as the first woman to direct a short film for Pixar.