Written by Sally Buck as the committee's entry to the Sister Cities Air New Zealand Awards '06.
| Date | Project |
|---|---|
| 20-26 April | KiaOra sculpture 10th Anniversary gift from Christchurch to Songpa-Gu Unveiling, Songpa 22 April Artist Leah Fraser Henderson & Cr Sally Buck to Songpa |
| 8-16 July | Aranui/Ogum High Schools relationship - Aranui to Songpa |
| 26 September (12 days) |
Merrin to visit /Se Ryun Primary School, Songpa - Merrin to Songpa |
| 29 September -16 October |
Hillmorton High School Kapahaka group will represent Christchurch in performing at
Songpa's Hanseong Baekje Festival and will give performances at sister schools and a formal dinner for the foreign Attaches in Seoul from
approx 25 countries and some senior Korean military, then:
|
| 29 September - 7 October | 'Taste of Korea' 10th Anniversary Tour to Songpa-Gu to coincide with Baekje Festival |
| 17-22 October | Trade delegation (proposed for October 05, postponed to March 06) |
| 17 November | 'The Alchemy of Daily Life' contemporary art exhibition Opening |
| 18 November -26 February '06 | ‘The Alchemy of Daily Life’ exhibition at Christchurch Art Gallery (from Korean National Museum of Contemporary Art) |
| 17-20 November | Official delegation from Songpa to celebrate 10th Anniversary |
| 17-20 November | Cultural group from Jeonju, Korea to perform at gallery opening, Korean Festival and public performances |
| 18 November | 10th Anniversary Dinner at the Christchurch Art Gallery |
| 19 November | Korean Festival, Cathedral Square (proposed) Evening concert at Aurora Centre, Burnside High School featuring visiting Jeonju Cultural Group and one or two local groups. |
| Additional: | New sister school links: (Chisnallwood, CHCH & Gawon Middle School linked. Principal Richard Paton visited Gawon 11.4.05) Sister Cities Gardens projects: - repainting Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge (completed February ’05) - new path Seoul English Language Village, Songpa - favourite New Zealand children’s books delivered January and March - Merrin School group will visit when in Songpa |
| 1 March 06 | Korean Society ‘Korea Day’ celebrations |
Tickets are still available for Christchurch residents to travel as part of an official sister-city tenth anniversary tour 'Taste of Korea' to Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
The Christchurch-Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee is organising the tour for around 15 people. While a number of tickets have been sold, there are still places left on the tour, which leaves on 29 September and arrives back in Christchurch on 7 October.
Expressions of interest should be made as soon as possible to Mary Yoon on 341 0114. Ms Yoon, a Korean born New Zealander and chair of the Christchurch Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee, will lead the tour.
As well as the chance to experience Songpa-Gu’s spectacular Hanseong Baekje Festival, tourists will take in the sights of Seoul; visit a Korean folk village; experience real Korean hospitality by staying with a Korean family for two nights; and have three free days to do a wide variety of activities in and around Seoul.
For further information contact Sue McFarlane, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council (email Sue.McFarlane@ccc.govt.nz or ph. 941 8959).
As well as the 'Taste of Korea tour to Songpa at the time of Songpa-gu's Baekjae Festival, two other Christchurch groups will be visiting Songpa-Gu to help celebrate the tenth anniversary. Hillmorton High School’s Kapahaka group will perform in Songpa-Gu’s Baekje Festival before travelling to Kurashiki, Japan for the city’s International Friendship Day and to Jeonju, Korea’s International Festival. A Merrin School group will also travel to Songpa-Gu to visit its sister school, Se Ryun Primary School, on 26 September.
In November, a number of Korean visitors will make the return trip to Christchurch for the opening of ‘Alchemy of Daily Life’(18 November- 26 February 06), the first contemporary art exhibition from Korea to visit New Zealand.
A tenth anniversary dinner will be held at the Christchurch Art Gallery on 18 November involving an official delegation from Songpa-Gu. The following day, a Korean Festival is planned for Cathedral Square, which will include a performance by a cultural group from Korea.
Other activities planned to mark the tenth anniversary in Christchurch include a trade delegation to Seoul from 17-22 October; a new sister-school link between Chisnallwood Intermediate, Christchurch and Gawon Middle School, Songpa-Gu; and repainting of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge in the Sister Cities Gardens at Halswell Quarry Park. Favourite New Zealand children’s books were also sent to the Seoul English Language Village earlier this year.
For further information about the Christchurch- Songpa-Gu sister city relationship visit www.christchurch.org.nz/sistercities or contact Sue McFarlane, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council (email Sue.McFarlane@ccc.govt.nz or ph. 941 8959).