• Posted 16/03/2017 9:23am

December 2017 Commemorations

SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER 2017

  • A half day symposium on recent research into Rewi Alley’s life and work, arranged by the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury.
  • Christchurch City Council civic reception for visiting delegations.
  • City visits to locations with links to Rewi Alley, including Wharenui Primary School, Riccarton, Christchurch, his second primary school and its Memorial Hall.
  • Visit to the Canterbury Museum to inspect a special display of selected items from the recently documented Rewi Alley collection.
  • Visit the Rewi Alley Chinese School at Wharenui, Riccarton, New Zealand’s largest Chinese language school.
  • Leave Christchurch for a country drive to Springfield, Canterbury, to visit the village where Rewi Alley was born; Selwyn District Council and Mayor Sam Broughton welcome and commemoration ceremony at Rewi Alley Memorial and Park. The New Zealand Governor General has been invited to officiate at this ceremony.
  • Leave Springfield for drive along foothills to Amberley, North Canterbury where Rewi Alley spent the early years of his life; unveiling of Rewi Alley Memorial Garden on site of school house where Rewi Alley lived. Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy has been invited to also officiate at this ceremony.
  • Lunch at Amberley followed by a drive by the Main State Highway back to Christchurch City.
  • Join the Christchurch Chinese Consul General reception and planting of a commemorative tree to Rewi Alley in its grounds.
  • Performances or songs from the play on Rewi Alley’s life performed by the National School of Dance and Drama (TBC).
  • Evening banquet for visiting delegations and dignitaries hosted by Christchurch City Council.

SUNDAY 3 RD DECEMBER 2017

  • Visitors and delegations free to tour Christchurch City, including further time to visit the Canterbury Museum to enjoy its extensive displays, plus the Christchurch Art Gallery.
  • General sightseeing around Christchurch, including the former Christchurch Boys' High School at the Christchurch Arts Centre, where Rewi Alley was a pupil.
  • Visit Suffragists memorial which commemorates the work of Canterbury women (including Clara Alley, Rewi Alley’s mother, who was on the first National Council of Women), in gaining votes for women in New Zealand over 100 years ago.
  • Bridge of Remembrance War Memorial for service people who died in World War 1, including Rewi Alley’s brother Eric Alley.
  • Delegations attending the Second New Zealand China Mayoral Forum on Monday 4th December 2017 depart for Wellington for its evening welcome ceremony.
  • Delegations are responsible for their own accommodation, meals and transport.

07 Sep

VISIT TO CHINA FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITIONS WINNERS

The two Rewi Alley secondary school prize winners will experience the trip of a lifetime visiting over a ten day period two regions in China closely connected to Rewi Alley –...

16 Mar

Rewi Alley Biography

In 1997 Philippa Reynolds, daughter of Pip Alley, Rewi’s younger brother, wrote a book as she put it “to make the story of Rewi Alley known to the younger generation...

Latest Posts

  • VISIT TO CHINA FOR SCHOOLS COMPETITIONS WINNERS

    07 Thursday, 2017
    The two Rewi Alley secondary school prize winners will experience the trip of a lifetime visiting over a ten day period two regions in China closely connected to Rewi Alley –...
  • Rewi Alley biography republished for the next generation, May 2017

    06 Thursday, 2017
    Thirty years after Rewi Alley’s death, a new biography has been printed to introduce his achievements to younger generations of New Zealanders.
  • Rewi Alley Biography

    16 Thursday, 2017
    In 1997 Philippa Reynolds, daughter of Pip Alley, Rewi’s younger brother, wrote a book as she put it “to make the story of Rewi Alley known to the younger generation...
  • School Competition

    16 Thursday, 2017
    Rewi Alley was raised and educated in Canterbury, fought in the First World War in France, farmed in the Taranaki in the 1920s and spent 60 years in China, where...