On April 12th, Wellington Chinese Garden Society held the launch the fundraising campaign for building the Chinese Garden in Wellington. Over 200 people attended the ceremony, including Wellington Mayor, Justin Leicester; Wellington Chinese Garden Society Chairman, Wu Yiyuan; MPs Yang Jian and Grant Robertson; Wellington City Councillor David Lee; and representatives from Wellington’s overseas Chinese community and charity groups. The Chinese Embassy’s Political Counsellor, Qu Guangzhou, was invited to attend the ceremony and delivered a speech.

On behalf of Ambassador Wang Lutong, Counsellor Qu Guangzhou expressed his gratitude to the Wellington City Council, the Wellington Chinese Garden Society and representatives from the wider community for their support of the Chinese Garden project. Counsellor Qu noted that the Chinese Garden will not only become a landmark structure in Wellington, but also a symbol of Wellington's multicultural society. It also symbolizes the close relationship between the two countries and the friendship between the two peoples. Counsellor Qu hoped the construction of the Chinese Garden could be completed in Wellington at an early date.

Wellington Chinese Garden Society Chairman, Wu Yiyuan reviewed the project planning and progress of the Chinese Garden. Wellington Mayor, Justin Leicester noted in his speech that the construction of a Chinese garden in Wellington is for the commemoration of the great contribution made by the Chinese people towards the development and urban diversity of New Zealand, and of Wellington in particular. The Secretary-General of the Wellington Chinese Garden Society, Esther Fung, briefed the participants on the design plans and ideas of the Garden.

At the end of the ceremony, a number of institutions and individuals, including Wellington City Councillor David Lee, generously donated NZ$80,000 for the project.