WELLINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Seventeen school students from all over New Zealand gathered in Wellington on Tuesday to participate in the first national Chinese song contest organized by the Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington.

The eight performances include group and solo items chosen from a national online video competition held in July and August.

"From the 52 video entries we chose eight finalists to compete live in front of judges in Wellington," said Acting Confucius Institute Director Adele Bryant.

"We want to celebrate New Zealand Chinese Language Week and introduce Chinese music as a fun and easy way for students to learn Chinese," She added.

Students in junior (years one-eight) and senior categories (years nine-13) performed at Hannah Playhouse for a panel of judges in Wellington.

Josephine Morrison, a year 12 student from Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, won the second prize in senior group. She said it took her several months just to practice the single song.

"I've learnt Chinese for three years, the pronunciation is still so difficult to me though," Morrison said. " But it is so cool to speak Mandarin. It is a language that so far from English."

Luo Hui, senior lecturer of the School of Languages and Cultures and director of the New Zealand Center for Literary Translation at Victoria University of Wellington, is one of the judges.

"Language and culture are intertwined and Chinese music whether it be traditional or contemporary Tik Tok video helps deepen understanding of modern China," said Luo.