25 years of CCET

From Miranda to Maungawhau

On a quiet corner of Carmen Avenue, volunteers gather around bikes with flat tyres, squeaky brakes and chains that have seen better days. Some visitors come for a puncture repair. Others come for advice, a chat in Mandarin, or simply the confidence to get back on a bike. 

It's called the Love Cycling Centre. But the story began long before the first bike rolled through its doors. 

For 25 years, the Chinese Conservation Education Trust (CCET) has worked alongside Auckland's Chinese communities to inspire practical environmental action—from tree planting and coastal clean-ups to repair cafés, composting workshops and, more recently, free bilingual cycling support.

From conservation to climate action 

CCET's story began in 2000 when the Department of Conservation recognised an opportunity to help Auckland's growing Chinese and Taiwanese communities build stronger connections with our natural environment. 

Rather than simply explaining why places like the Hauraki Gulf mattered, DOC invited community leaders to experience them first-hand. One of the first visits was to the wetlands at Miranda, where tens of thousands of migratory birds stop each summer on their journey between New Zealand, Yalu Jiang China, Siberia and Alaska. 

The response was so positive that, in 2002, the Chinese Conservation Education Trust was established to continue that work. 

Over the next two decades, CCET expanded well beyond conservation walks and tree planting. The Trust has delivered repair cafés, composting workshops, waste minimisation programmes, home energy advice, gardening sessions, eco-art competitions and environmental education designed specifically for Auckland's Chinese communities. 

 Estella Hin Ling Lee, CCET Founder, reflects on those early days:

"When facing such a big issue as climate change, we felt powerless 25 years ago. Our belief was to sow the seed. Some seeds may eventually flourish."

 More than two decades later, that purpose remains the same: helping Chinese people living in New Zealand become guardians of the environment in their everyday lives. 

A new home in Maungawhau 

For most of its history, CCET operated out of borrowed halls and hired venues across Auckland. That changed in July 2025, when the Trust opened a community hub on Telford Avenue, Maungawhau. The Love Cycling Centre followed not long after, in a converted shipping container just around the corner. 

What started as monthly pop-up repair sessions has grown into a regular weekly service where people can receive free bike repairs, learn basic maintenance skills and get cycling advice in both English and Mandarin. 

The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. While volunteers repair bikes, visitors often stay to chat, ask questions and build confidence before heading back onto Auckland's streets. 

More than bike repairs 

For many people who come through the door, cycling isn't something new to learn. In many Chinese cities, it's simply part of everyday life. After moving to Auckland, however, some people assume the city's hills, roads or traffic mean cycling is no longer a realistic option. 

The Love Cycling Centre helps change that. Free repairs, practical advice and support in both English and Mandarin give people the confidence to get back on a bike. It's a place where people can ask questions, build confidence and reconnect with a familiar way of getting around. 

That people-first approach has shaped CCET's work for more than 25 years. Whether it's repairing bikes, running composting workshops or planting trees, the aim is the same: helping people take practical action that benefits both their community and the environment. 

It starts with people  

Supporting a growing and increasingly diverse city means climate action can't rely on one-size-fits-all programmes. Community organisations like CCET play an important role in helping more Aucklanders take climate action.  

The Love Cycling Centre is supported through Auckland Council’s Community Climate Catalyst Programme, which funds community led climate action across Tāmaki Makaurau. The centre also receives support from the Albert Eden Local Board. 

CCET is also part of the Tāmaki Makaurau Community Climate Action Network, or CCAN, which brings organisations together to share ideas, learn from one another and strengthen local climate action. 

This support is helping CCET build on the approach it began 25 years ago. From the wetlands at Miranda to a bike repair centre in Maungawhau, the activities may have changed, but the purpose has remained consistent. Whether planting trees, repairing bikes or helping someone feel confident enough to ride again, CCET continues to help Chinese people living in New Zealand become guardians of the environment in their everyday lives. 

Get involved 

The Love Cycling Centre is open: 

Mondays: 10am–1pm  

Saturdays: 1.30pm–4.30pm  

Location: Blue container beside 23 Carmen Avenue, Mount Eden  

Parking: 27 Telford Avenue 

Visit the Chinese Conservation Education Trust website to learn more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved. 

Looking for support closer to home? Explore the Auckland Climate Action Community Groups Map to find local bike hubs, repair cafés, community cycling groups and workshops happening across Tāmaki Makaurau.