Business School celebrates Chinese achievement

The University of Auckland
Media Release
14 August 2007

Business School celebrates Chinese achievement at Bananas conference

The University of Auckland Business School is proud to host an international gathering examining issues of identity, culture and presence of Chinese in New Zealand and abroad.

The New Zealand Chinese Association's Bananas NZ Going Global Conference will be held at the University's Business School this weekend, August 18 and 19.

"The Business School is enthusiastic about collaborating with the New Zealand Chinese Association to support this conference and the various communities behind it. The Chinese community has played a tremendous role for more than 150 years in contributing to the economic development and success of this country," Business School Dean Professor Barry Spicer says.

Leading academics from across the University will also participate in the conference. They include:

Professor Jilnaught Wong, Head of the Department of Accounting and Finance. He will join a panel of "High Flying Bananas" at 1pm on August 18. The session will celebrate the stories of high achieving Chinese and the significant contribution they have made to local and international communities.

Faculty of Arts academics Associate Professor Manying Ip (School of Asian Studies) and Professor Margaret Mutu (Department of Maori Studies), who will take part in a panel session on 'Reshaping Multiculturalism' at 9am on Sunday, August 19. The discussion will explore our shifting national identity and the complexities of living in a multi-ethnic society without a clear framework.

Manying Ip will also chair a session on "Virtual Communities" exploring how radio, television, cinema and the Internet have brought together a sense of belonging among diasporic Chinese communities, at 11am on August 18.

Bananas NZ Going Global will be held at the The University of Auckland Business School, Fisher and Paykel Appliances Auditorium, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland City. For a full programme of speakers and events see www.goingbananas.org.nz.

ENDS

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