ABOUT US
A home for Wellington’s Chinese community
The Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre (WCSCC), known affectionately as “The Centre,” has been part of Wellington’s Chinese community for almost 50 years.
In the early 1970s, members of the Wellington Chinese community came together with a shared vision: to create a permanent home where people could connect through sport, culture, language and friendship. After years of fundraising, planning and hard work, that vision became a reality with the opening of the Wellington Chinese Sports and Cultural Centre in 1977.
What our forefathers created was more than a building. They created a place for generations of Wellington’s Chinese community to come together, celebrate their heritage, build friendships and pass their traditions on to the next generation.
Today, that vision continues.
Connecting generations through culture
Chinese culture is at the heart of the Centre. We provide opportunities for people of all ages to experience, learn and share traditions that connect us to our Chinese heritage.
Our cultural activities include Chinese lion and dragon dancing, Chinese percussion, traditional Chinese dancing, and other cultural activities. Our lion, dragon and percussion groups regularly perform at Chinese New Year celebrations and community events, sharing these vibrant traditions with audiences throughout Wellington.
Our cultural programmes are particularly important for younger generations. They provide a way for children and young people to learn about traditions that may otherwise become distant from everyday life, while giving older members the opportunity to pass on knowledge, skills and stories.
Keeping language and heritage alive
Language is an important part of cultural identity, and the Centre has long supported the learning and use of Cantonese within our community.
Yau Yih Yun 幼兒園, our Cantonese preschool playgroup, was established in 1987 by a group of parents who wanted their children to have greater exposure to the Cantonese language and culture. Today, it continues to provide a welcoming environment for young children and families to learn through songs, dance, play and social connection.
Our Cantonese language classes for older children build on this foundation, helping young people develop their language skills while creating friendships and connections with other families.
Importantly, these programmes are open to families of all backgrounds who want to learn Cantonese and engage with Chinese culture.
Sport brings us together
Sport has always been a major part of WCSCC's identity.
Our sporting activities provide opportunities for people to participate at all levels, from young children discovering a sport for the first time through to experienced players competing at local, national and Chinese community tournaments.
Our programmes include basketball, volleyball and pickleball, with basketball in particular having a long-standing tradition at the Centre. Our basketball programme caters for players from early childhood through to adult and veteran grades, combining skill development and competition with teamwork, confidence, cultural connection and friendship.
For us, sport is about more than what happens on the court. It is about the relationships built along the way and giving children, young people and adults a place where they feel that they belong.
A place to socialise, celebrate and connect
The Centre is also a place to simply spend time together.
Our social activities include ballroom dancing, and line dancing, providing opportunities for members from different generations and backgrounds to stay active, learn something new and enjoy each other's company. We also have a social group, providing our members an opportunity to gather together and socialise through different events such as mahjong or trips out in the community.
Over the years, the Centre has hosted countless celebrations, gatherings, performances, competitions and community events. Many members have grown up here, made lifelong friendships here, and later brought their own children and grandchildren back to be part of the same community.
That sense of continuity is one of the things that makes WCSCC special.
A community centre for everyone
While WCSCC proudly has its roots in Wellington's Chinese community, everyone is welcome.
You do not need to be Chinese to participate in our activities or become part of the Centre. We welcome people who want to learn about Chinese culture, play sport, learn a language, dance, perform, meet new people or simply become involved in a friendly community.
The Centre is also available for hire by schools, sporting groups, community organisations and other Wellington groups. Our large, flexible facility allows it to serve as a venue for sport, dance, cultural activities, meetings, events and celebrations.
Looking to the future
The world around us has changed considerably since 1977, but the purpose behind the Centre remains remarkably familiar.
We want to provide a place where culture can be celebrated, language can be shared, sport can be enjoyed and friendships can grow.
We are continually looking for new activities, ideas and opportunities that our community can get behind. As Wellington's Chinese community continues to evolve, we want WCSCC to evolve with it while remaining true to the vision of those who worked so hard to create the Centre nearly 50 years ago.
From one generation to the next, WCSCC is a place to connect, participate, belong and call home.
Whether you have been part of the Centre for decades or are walking through our doors for the first time, you are welcome to be part of the WCSCC family.