New Zealand family visiting China

Hi, we are a family of 4 - two adults and two children visiting PRC. We are travelling through Europe for three months prior to going to PRC. We will be in Italy before we depart for PRC. My question is, can we get Chinese Visas on our New Zealand passports from a Chinese Embassy in Italy, or do we need to get six month Visas from New Zealand before we leave? thank you.