Good Samaritan heads back to Northcote Town Centre

The Good Samaritan heads back to Northcote Town Centre

Auckland’s Good Samaritan Lucy Knight heads back to the Northcote Town Centre today to accept a Bravery Award, being presented by Safer North Shore at the centre’s annual Chinese & Korean New Year Festival.

It is almost five months since Lucy Knight went to the aid of an elderly Chinese woman who was having her bag snatched outside the Countdown supermarket and suffered a terrible head injury in process. She spent five weeks in hospital and is now back home with her family, and able to attend today’s festivities with her husband – Peter Thomas.

A Givealittle page was set up shortly after the incident by Lucy’s Knight friends, raising $270,000, much of it from the Chinese community.

Lucy Knight will be back amongst the Chinese community today at the “Year of the Sheep” celebrations, on stage for the official proceedings and the bravery award at 1pm.

Several special guests will also be in Northote Central for the official proceedings including Northcote MP – Jonathan Coleman, MP – Dr Jian Yang, Auckland City Councillors Chris Darby and George Wood and Chinese Consul-General – Mr Niu Qing Bao. They will all be on stage at 1pm for the official speeches, lion dance, the bravery award for Lucy Knight and the singing of a special New Year song.

This Chinese & Korean New Year Festival in the Northcote Town Centre will provide a taste of Asian culture and a wide range of Asian entertainment and activities. It features vibrant cultural performances, free children’s activities, and array of Asian cuisine.

A large stage will be set-up near the centre’s town square with performances from a variety of cultures including Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese.

Highlights of the stage programme on Saturday include a Lion Dance from the EPACS Lion Dance Troupe, dance and drumming from the brilliant Macang Dance Company, and the country’s leading Taiko Drumming Group – Haere Mai Taiko performing on the traditional Japanese instrument.

A sports “have a go” is being set up by Harbour Sport ‘ActiveAsian’ programme in Norman King Square. This gives festival patrons a chance to try sports such as badminton, tennis and netball.

The Chinese & Korean New Year Festival features plenty of Asian food stalls. Children will be well catered for at the event with a special amusement area, and face painting.

A Lion Dance will again be a feature of the day, performed by the EPACs Dragon & Lion Dance troupe. The Lion Dance forms part of the official proceedings at 1pm which also include speeches, and the singing of a New Year song.

The colourful Chinese & Korean New Year Festival is presented free to the public with sponsorship coming from the Northcote Town Centre, Kaipatiki Local Board and Creative Communities NZ.

The event takes place in Northcote Central on Saturday, 21 February from 10am – 3:00pm and promises to be a day of culture, cuisine and celebration.

Saturday Stage Programme

10am Northcote Library Performance Northcote Library (10 - 12 mins)

10:20am Chinese Song & Dance North Shore Chinese Society (30 minutes)

- Chorus (2 songs) Xiangyin Choir
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- Nadaam Gala Male Singing Group
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- Tibetian Dance Xiangyin Dance Group
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- Dance Sunshine Dance Group
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- Duo Dance Huilian Sun & Jubo Jiang
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- Yangko Dance Xiangyin Arts Troupe
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11:00am Chinese Drumming Macang Dance Company (12 – 15 mins)

11:15am Chinese Dance Auckland Dong Fang Dance Group (5 mins)

11:25pm Taiwanese Dance Macang Dance Company (5 mins)

11:30am Chinese Dance Auckland Dong Fang Dance Group (5 mins)

11:35am Taiwanese Dance Macang Dance Company (5 mins)

11:40am Chinese Dance Shanshan Multicultural Group (2-3 mins)

11:50am Taiji Miao’s Taiji Studio (7 mins)

12noon SAMUT-SARI Cultural Group Song (2-3 mins)

12:05pm Chinese Dance North Shore Chinese Group (5 mins)

- Cheerful Mood (Meili de Xinqing)
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12:10pm SAMUT-SARI Cultural Group Song (2-3 mins)

12:20pm Chinese Dance Shanshan Multicultural Group (2-3 mins)

12:25pm Chinese Dance NZ International School (15 mins)

12:40pm Chinese Song & Dance North Shore Chinese Assn (10 mins)

- Love Song of New Grassland
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- First Love of the World
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- Chinese Folk Song
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12:55pm Chinese Singing Big Trees Assn (5 mins)

1pm Official Speeches Speeches / Lion Dance / New Year Song

1:45pm Zumba Fitness Dance Public Fitness & Well-Being Trust (10 mins)

2pm Japanese Drumming Haere Mai Taiko (12 - 15 mins)

2:15pm Song & Dance Huaxin Chinese Community School (10 mins)

2:25pm Taiji NZ Taiji & Martial Arts Society (10 mins)

2:35pm Iranian Dance Takapuna Sunshine Iranian Dancers (5 mins)

2:40pm Chinese Music MY Golden Ballards (15 mins)

2:55pm Iranian Dance Takapuna Sunshine Iranian Dancers (5 mins)

3:00pm Finish

Other Activities

• Food Stalls

• Fortune Telling

• Face Painting

• Pre-school activity area

ENDS

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