The Taiwan Business Association of New Zealand – South Island (TBANZ South Island) and the New Zealand Youth Department – South Island jointly hosted “CONNECT – Board Games & Business Networking” on 29 August at Dice & Slice in Christchurch. The event brought together TBANZ members and first-time participants in a relaxed and friendly environment, creating an opportunity for people from different industries to meet, introduce themselves and expand their professional networks.
Participants were divided into small groups for board games and took turns introducing themselves and sharing what industries they currently work in. Through games and informal conversations, people gradually became more familiar with one another. What began as a casual afternoon quickly developed into meaningful conversations about businesses, professional experience and common interests, allowing participants who had never met before to find natural opportunities to connect.
TBANZ South Island President Hank Chu also took the opportunity to introduce the association to first-time, non-member participants and explain its purpose and role. He highlighted that the association is not only a platform for Taiwanese business owners to connect with one another, but also provides opportunities for people from different industries to meet, exchange information and share resources. When business or professional needs arise, members can draw on these connections for support, advice and potential collaboration.
President Hank also introduced the association’s regular monthly activities and encouraged both members and new participants to stay involved. By attending different events throughout the year, participants can continue to meet people from a variety of professional backgrounds and gradually build a broader network.
The event also produced tangible networking outcomes. During the introductions and conversations, several participants discovered that they had business needs or resources that could complement one another. They exchanged contact details to explore potential cooperation and provide mutual support. Importantly, some of the non-member guests who attended for the first time decided to join TBANZ as members on the day. One new member also expressed interest in becoming involved with the association’s committee in the future, demonstrating a willingness among newer participants to contribute more actively.
The idea for the event came from Alice Lin, Director of the New Zealand Youth Department – South Island, who has a strong personal interest in board games. She hoped that using board games as a relaxed and accessible way to bring people together would attract more young people and local young entrepreneurs to participate and learn about TBANZ.
Director Alice took part throughout the event, while TBANZ South Island Vice President Richard Wu, committee member LJ Lin and other team members also supported and participated in the gathering. The collaboration between TBANZ South Island and the Youth Department reflects a shared commitment to creating more opportunities for young entrepreneurs, professionals and members of the local Taiwanese communities to meet beyond traditional business settings.
Looking ahead, TBANZ South Island will continue working with the Youth Department to organise monthly activities and encourage participation from local Taiwanese, young professionals and people from different industries. Through these initiatives, the association hopes to foster stronger cross-industry connections and create more opportunities for cooperation throughout the South Island.
