Needles are on display in glass jars. The one in the middle weighs about 14 kg and contains about 100,000 needles.Peter Meecham / The Press

The TCM practitioner has launched a nationwide initiative to collect one million acupuncture needles as a cultural gift to Canterbury Museum, creating the first collection of its kind in New Zealand.

“For nearly 30 years, acupuncture needles have been part of my daily life,” said Lin, who has run his Riccarton Rd clinic since 1996.

“This project isn’t just about collecting needles — it’s about preserving the memory of healing, migration and community connection.”

Lin says a typical acupuncture session lasts 30 to 60 minutes and may include massage, tuina, and moxibustion — the burning of mugwort on or near acupuncture points — to improve the flow of qi (energy) and circulation.Peter Meecham / The Press

With more than 1200 registered TCM practitioners nationwide, most of them acupuncturists, the project quickly gained momentum since its conception in June. Needles have been contributed from across the country, including Auckland, Tauranga and Invercargill.

All needles will be sterilised and safely sealed in a custom-made vessel, accompanied by a wall display on the history of acupuncture in New Zealand.

“The vessel will need to be custom-made, and we don’t yet know its final weight, but reaching a total of one million needles should not be a problem,” Lin said.

Canterbury Museum director Anthony Wright said the collection is expected to be on display in the museum pop-up next year, but its place in the redeveloped museum — set to open in 2029 with 50% more exhibition space — has not yet been confirmed.

A concept image of what the ‘One Million Silver Needles’ cultural display will look like.Supplied

“Acupuncture is one of the treasures of traditional Chinese medicine,” Lin, a third-generation TCM practitioner from Qingyuan, Canton, said.

“A needle inserted at an acupuncture point generates heat and helps improve the flow of qi, or energy, in the body and balance yin and yang.”

Acupuncture dates back over 2000 years, with ancient Chinese medical text Huangdi Neijing describing nine types of needles that form the foundation of modern practice.

Chinese immigrants brought these traditions to New Zealand during the 1850s gold rush, likely using herbs like ginseng, cinnamon, and ginger to cope with harsh winters in Central Otago.

A concept image of the ‘One Million Silver Needles’ exhibition and display wall at Canterbury Museum.Supplied

The New Zealand Register of Acupuncturists was founded in 1977 and grew from eight members to over 800 at its peak.

Modern needles are mostly made from stainless steel, with only some using gold or silver needles, said Lin. A typical acupuncture session lasts 30 to 60 minutes and uses two to eight filiform needles, which are single-use and come in sets of varying sizes depending on the treatment.

A full-time acupuncturist could take a year to use 10,000 needles.

“Each needle represents a story and a life touched,” said Lin. “I hope this donation becomes a bridge between cultures and a symbol of appreciation for the place we now call home.”

Lin lights a moxa stick to hold on or near an acupuncture point on a patient’s back.Iain McGregor / The Press