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Read the stories (and see the photos) of 15 Students, along with two leaders, who went on the 2007 Student Exchange to Kurashiki.
Students of Palmerston North's International Pacific College's Japanese drumming group visited Christchurch in December 07 to perform free concerts at various locations throughout the city including a performance at the Kurashiki Garden at Halswell Quarry Park.
Deputy Mayor Norm Withers is to host a function to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the birth of Rewi Alley on Sunday, 2 December.
A Christchurch Boys' High School old boy who spent 60 years working in China, Rewi Alley became famous in the 1930s and 1940s for his humanitarian work for the Chinese people
Recently historic footage restored by the Christchurch Video Camera Club of Alley shot in Beijing two weeks before his death in 1987, will be given its first public showing.
Guests include His Excellency Zhang Yuanyuan, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, a delegation from Gansu Province (a sister city of Christchurch), relatives of Alley and members of the local Chinese community.
There will also be a performance of songs depicting the life of Alley and Professor Emeritus Bill Willmott will speak on Rewi Alley's life.
Marcia Jones and Scott Hay are currently living in Gansu as part of the Gansu Ambassador Programme. They have had an amazing experience so far and are both very grateful for the warm hospitality the people of Lanzhou have shown them.
Marcia and Scott are attending classes at Lanzhou University and have visited many sites of cultural and historical interest around Gansu Province.
Read more of what Marcia and Scott have been doing in Marcia's blog, which includes some pictures of Gansu.
The NZ Under 19 Schoolboys Soccer Team will play 2 games in Songpa-gu against Boin High School on 3 October and Garak High School on 5 October as part of the first U19 Korean Tour. The games have been organised by Songpa-gu Office through the sister cities programme. One of the team's 5 nights in Songpa-gu will be spent with the Boin Team at Boin High School.
The inaugural Springtime in Japan 14 day Guided Tour will visit Christchurch's sister city Kurashiki and take in a range of sister cities in Honshu and Hokkaido. Using the sister city network, the tour aims to give the general public the opportunity to experience a country and culture not always considered easily accessible to Kiwis.
The 2008 Adelaide Arts Festival will be held from 29th February to 16th March. The Adelaide Bank Festival of Arts will boldly affirm Adelaide as the pre-eminent cultural destination in Australia. It is the place which every two years, artists and audiences from across the country and region, flock to experience examples of the greatest art of our time.
All details of the festival will be released on Thursday 25 October 2007.
Two local young people, Scott Hay and Marcia Jones, have now been chosen to spend four months this year in Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu, from early September to late December as part of an annual training programme, funded by the Gansu provincial government.
During their time there they will attend university, learning Mandarin and being immersed in the culture and history of China, spend time in the Gansu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and visit various sites of cultural and historical interest in the Province.
They will have the opportunity to learn basic Mandarin, be introduced to amazing Chinese history, eat some of the best food in the world and tour sites of interest within Gansu Province. One of last year's participants said "…it really was a once in a lifetime experience, which has given me a much deeper and broader knowledge of China and its people".
Scott intends putting together a blog, which he will update most days. It will have a link to this website, so watch this space!
Students 6-18 years .... enter the Wuhan Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition, August - September '07
In 2006 Wuhan held an international painting competition, and invited entries from all the cities it has sister city and friendship city relationships with. This year, it has expanded this competition to include calligraphy, and is now calling for entries. Read more ...
The three Seattle Scholars have just been chosen for the annual exchange to Seattle. They are Nick Stone of St Bedes, Michaela Jones of Villa Maria and Joanna Thorpe of Burnside. They will go to Seattle in the third week of September. Read more ....
The three Seattle Scholars have just been chosen for the annual exchange to Seattle. They are Nick Stone of St Bedes, Michaela Jones of Villa Maria and Joanna Thorpe of Burnside. They will go to Seattle in the third week of September. Read more ....
Applications are now sought from Christchurch residents for this year's Gansu International Sister City Exchange Programme.
In 2006, in order to further develop and promote exchanges, understanding and co-operation in various fields between Gansu Province and Christchurch City, the Gansu Provincial Government launched this programme, to become an annual project. Gansu Province has 33 sister city relationships. Read more ...
The inaugural Songpa Homestay Exchange will see 10 Songpa students, children of Songpa-gu Office staff, aged 10 to 15, years being home-hosted by students of Chisnallwood and Kirkwood Intermediates from 30 July to 6 August. The group will be led by Songpa-gu International Relations Manager Mr Cho and staff member Mr Kim. Songpa-gu will reciprocate next year, hosting a group of Christchurch children.
Three Songpa-gu sister school groups will visit Christchurch between 23 July and 13 August. Songpa Middle School will formalise a sister school relationship with Casebrook Intermediate and welcome the Principal, Deputy Principal and students; Middleton Grange will host the Principal, 2 teachers and 10 students from sister school Ogum High School and Chisnallwood Intermediate will host the Principal, 2 teachers and students from sister school Gawon Middle School, 25 July to 13 August.
Seeking Christchurch photographers for the 2007 Kurashiki Sister City Photomural Competition, June 2007
Read the article and download the entry form.
The Vice Mayor of Wuhan, China, Mr Hu Xukun, will present a 300kg chime bell to Christchurch at a gift bestowal ceremony on Friday 13 July.
Hosted by the Christchurch City Council, the ceremony is taking place as part of Wuhan's sister city delegation visit to Christchurch from 12 -14 July. Read more and see the chime bell.
The Christchurch-Seattle Sister City committee invites applications from Year 13 students at Christchurch Secondary Schools for an exciting two week homestay, from approximately 22 September to 9 October with American families, in Christchurch's Sister City of Seattle, Washington State. Two students will be selected and a travel subsidy is available.
Read more
The Christchurch – Kurashiki Sister City Committee are looking for volunteers, who work with people with physical disabilities, to home host one or two Japanese people for two nights (10 and 11 November). These visitors are between the ages of 23 and 40 and also work with people with physical disabilities. View the host requirements.
A photography exhibition on the city of Wuhan will opened by Mayor Garry Moore on Tuesday, 19 June at 4pm at Our City O-Tautahi, cnr Worcester Blvd and Oxford Tce. The exhibition is entitled "From the heart of China – images of an ancient city's journey to a modern metropolis" and will include 100 photographs of the old and the new Wuhan.
Mr Chen Jiahua, Deputy Director, Wuhan Popular Art Centre and Mr Zhan Biliu of the Wuhan Photography Association will also be present at the opening.
Read more
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University of Washington Botanic Gardens and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens was officially established at a small signing ceremony on Friday 8 June.
Dr David Mabberley, Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens in Seattle, joined Council Transport and Greenspace Unit Manager Michael Aitken to sign the MOU at the Townsend House in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
The idea of a MOU between the two Botanic Gardens was pursued a few years ago during a Mayoral visit to Seattle - one of Christchurch's seven sister cities. It was suggested there would be real value in formalising the relationship between the sister cities' botanic gardens in order to facilitate academic and scientific exchange as well as establish partnership projects.
Read more.
14 students from 10 Christchurch schools have been selected for the 2007 Kurashiki Student Exchange, many of whom will host students from Kurashiki when they visit the city later this month. At the end of September the students will head to Kurashiki for around 2 weeks, where they will homestay, attend local high schools and experience the sites of and life in Kurashiki.
View further details and photos.
From 23 April - 14 May 2008, 25 Students, 3 teachers and 6 or 7 accompanying adults are to visit Christchurch, England. Read more
Linwood College hosts sister school Twynham College students from Christchurch, Dorset, April 07 Read more
Renowned Christshurch Sculptor and Professor Waturu Hamasaka of Japan are collaborating in a joint exhibition in Kurashiki. Read more
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| Competition Winner Anna McLachlan with her winning entry |
St Margaret's College student Anna McLachlan (right) is the winner of this year's Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competition, organised by International Christchurch Youth (ICY).
Her entry, So Far, Yet So Close, was judged the winner because it "addressed the theme of the competition accurately and showed a mature attention to detail in its execution".
Anna says a computer mouse inspired her art work, leading to the idea of the world being accessible through technology. "To integrate countries of the world I used the words ‘so far, yet so close' in different languages, to represent the mouse cord. My background is a map of the world which also integrates the countries."
Anna's artwork is on display as a part of the Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Exhibition at the Christchurch Art Gallery 20 March to 15 April.
Anna's artwork will be couriered to Washington to enter the 2007 Sister Cities International Young Artists Showcase.
See the media release for more info …
Applications are sought from Year 10 students for the 2007 Christchurch Kurashiki Student Exchange programme. Read more ...
A Seattle husband and wife team, Mike and Donna James, will arrive in Christchurch in early April, and spend six days in the city.
They have been hired by the Seattle Channel for various projects, one of which is making documentaries of several of Seattle's sister cities.
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| Title: Global Citizenship – More than a Badge Artist: Erin Jackson |
Theme: An Open and Accessible World for All
Entry Deadline: Thursday, 15 March
Exhibition: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetu
Date: Tuesday, 20 March to Sunday, 15 April 2007
Artists must be between 13 and 18 years of age on 30 April 2007. Fantastic prizes from the Drawing Room & Drive Thru
Winning entry couriered to Washington, DC & entered in the Sister Cities International Young Artists Showcase 2007: 10 finalists will be awarded US$300 each, a certificate & their artwork will tour the USA
Erin Jackson, St Margaret's College was the 2006 Christchurch winner and International Finalist. Her artwork ‘Global Citizenship – More than a Badge' is currently touring the USA with the other 9 finalists.
Entrants will be contacted regarding the opening event at the Christchurch Art Gallery.
So get drawing, painting, sketching or photographing and encourage your brothers, sisters and friends to enter this great competition and have your/their artwork displayed at our city art gallery!
An exhibition of 42 large photomurals will be displayed at the Christchurch Polytechnic's Administration building's atrium from late January until June 2007. The photomurals are from a larger exhibition of over 80 murals which Kurashiki holds each year. Read more ...
Two Kurashiki students Airi Hayashi and Misaki Onishi (both aged 16), along with their mothers, will travel to Christchurch from 6-16 March 2007. They will be hosted by the Christchurch – Kurashiki Sisiter City Committee with assistance from Sport Canterbury and KiwiAble. The visit is kindly sponsored by Independent Fisheries, Christchurch, who have agreed to sponsor visits both to and from Christchurch/Kurashiki each alternate year.
This is the third exchange in this successful programme.
For more information about the past exchanbes see the winning youth category entry in the 2006 Sister Cities Air NZ Awards.
The Christchurch Gansu Friendly Relations Committee is sending Alison Regan to teach for three to six months at the Lanzhou Foreign Languages High School, as part of an on-going programme of educational exchange.
Alison will be the eighth teacher the committee has sent in a programme that our friends in China describe as the best part of our sister relationship. She will leave Thursday, February 22nd for Lanzhou via Hong Kong and Xi'an.
Alison is a well qualified and experienced teacher, having a BA from Canterbury, a Diploma of Teaching, an MA in Classics, and a BD from Otago. She taught English and classics for nearly twenty years before completing a Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) in 2003 and has been an ESOL tutor ever since.
Alison will be staying in a flat on the school campus in Lanzhou, capital of our sister province of Gansu, an industrial city of three million on the Yellow River.
Find out what happened with Christchurch's sister cities in 2006 by viewing the Events Calendar (2006) [58KB] Get free PDF reader
On 31 October 28 11-12 year olds, 3 teachers and 2 parents from Hawthorndene School arrived in Christchurch.
Full Story
Marcus Patman from Lincoln High School has won a prize in the Wuhan's 'Sister City Young People's Art Exhibition' for his painting 'Tranquility'.
Sister cities of Wuhan, China, were invited to send artworks from students aged 6 to 15 and Christchurch was delighted to be able to send 7 artworks from students of Christchurch East School and one artwork from Marcus Patman, who had previously been recognised in the Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competitions in both 2005 and 2006.
11 children and 11 adults, including three teachers arrived in Christchurch on 11 October from Direk School in Adelaide. During their 12 days here they will be home hosted by families at Oaklands School. The schools have undertaken annual alternate exchanges since 1990.
Full Story.
10 Councillors, 4 staff and a reporter from Christchurch's Korean sister city Songpa-gu will visit Christchurch 16-17 October, as part of an overseas tour.
Full Story.
On Friday September 29th, 13 Christchurch year ten students will leave for Japan on a two week exchange to Kurashiki Japan, one of Christchurch's 6 Sister Cities.
The students selected come from 8 high schools in the Christchurch Area, and are taking Japanese as one of their subjects at school.
Full Story.
Letitia Stenburg (Christchuch Girls High School), Ben Spink (Burnside High School) and Gabrielle Petheram (Avonside Girls), all excellent young ambassadors and worthy representativess from our city, have returned from a 2 week visit to Seattle, having left Christchurch for Seattle on 19 September.
Full Story.
On 1 September 2006, the Gansu government will launch the inaugural annual five month International Sister City Trainees programme at Lanzhou University for representatives from its 20 sister cities. One person has been invited from each of their sister cities to be part of this programme, although in the case of Christchurch, because of our 22 year relationship, and the importance they place on it, they are allowing us to send two trainees.
Full Story.
The Principal, 2 teachers and 14 students of Ogum High School, Songpa-gu were hosted by Middleton Grange International College and Middleton Grange School from 16-20 August 06.
Full Story.
Each year the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee sends one or two teachers to the Lanzhou Foreign Language Secondary School in Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. Lara Prince of Christchurch has been chosen as the teacher for 2006, and she will start teaching at the school in mid August.
Full Story.
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison, will visit Christchurch in late July 2006. this will be the Lord Mayor's first visit to Christchurch.
Full Story.
Kurashiki have invited Christchurch photographers to submit photographs with the theme 'Brilliance' for the Kurashiki Photomural '06 Display. This is the third year the display will be held but the first time Kurashiki has invited their sister cities to submit photographs for the Photomural Display.
Full Story.
Sister City Relationship Gains Momentum...
Christchurch's sister City relationship with Kurashiki, Japan takes another step forward this year with an artistic collaborative venture between sculptors Graham Bennett and Professor Wataru Hamasaka. These two artists, both highly regarded in their respective countries, will exhibit together in an exhibition entitled 'Ishi' at the Arthouse, Christchurch from 22 August to 10 September 2006.
Full Story
Supported by the Christchurch Songpa-gu Sister City Committee and NZTE, Seoul David Bolam-Smith represented Canterbury House Winery at the expo, promoted the Canterbury region on the NZTE stand and gave a presentation on Canterbury wines during the expo.
Full Story
Christchurch is delighted to be submitting 7 entries to the Sister Cities Air New Zealand Awards 2006 in two categories Youth, Education or School project and Culture, Sport or Recreation Project.
The first prize is $2500 of air travel from Air New Zealand and the second prize is $500 of air travel.
The results will be announced at the Sister Cities Air NZ Awards Dinner in Wellington on 10 May.
Category 1 - Youth, Education or School project:
'Kurashiki Disabled Persons' Exchange' WINNER
Trisha Ventom, Justin Muschamp, Tania McKenzie and the Christchurch Kurashiki Sister City Committee
Merrin School Exchange with Se Ryun School, Songpa
Mary Johnson, Christchurch Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee
A Year of Significant Progress
International Christchurch Youth
Wook Jin Lee, International Christchurch Youth (ICY)
Category 2 - Culture, Sport of Recreation Project:
'Christchurch to Christchurch and back again'
Marlene Le Cren, Christchurch England Sister City Committee
Photo Mural exhibition
Keith Nicholson, Christchurch, Kurashiki Sister City Committee
Ikebana Exchange with Kurashiki Ikebana Chapter
Ikebana Association in Christchurch and the Christchurch Kurashiki Sister City Committee
A celebration of 10 years of friendship
Christchurch Songpa-gu Sister City Committee
Sally Buck, Christchurch Songpa-gu Sister City Committee
Here's hoping ...
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Christchurch, New Zealand – Christchurch, England relationship planning is underway to head to the UK to celebrate this exciting achievement. You are invited to join with other citizens, Sister City Committee members and others to be a part of this group.
More information [683KB free PDF reader]
More Information [44KB free PDF reader]
Application Pack [537KB free PDF reader]
Two Christchurch students Stephen Krammer (17 years) and Kerri Bonner (18 years), their 2 caregivers and 2 disability advisers Justin Muschamp from Sport Canterbury and Tricia Ventom, Kiwiable Co-ordinator, will travel to Kurashiki from 14-24 April and will be hosted by the Kurashiki Disabled Persons’ International Exchange Association.
The visit is kindly sponsored by Independent Fisheries, Christchurch, who also sponsored a reciprocol exchange when two young people from Kurashiki and their caregivers visited Christchurch in February 2005.
Herman McKinney, a notable community leader from Christchurch’s Sister City Seattle, is coming to Christchurch to speak to local residents about race relations at Christchurch Cathedral on Race Relations Day, 21 March.
During the mid-1990s Mr McKinney established a forum called It’s Time to Talk which is both the name and theme of the evening later this month.
Full Story
A slice of Japanese photographical talent currently hangs in the Christchurch Polytechnic Administration Building's atrium, and Christchurch residents may yet be able to see the whole 2006 exhibition if a suitable home can be found.
Full Story
Members of the Christchurch Kurashiki sister city committee, their families and friends will join together in the Kurashiki garden to weed and then socialise. Committee members can often be seen tending the plants in the garden - weeding, watering and planting new species. Anyone is welcome to join them this Sunday.
Further info:
Contact committee chairman, Malcolm Harris on malgharris@hotmail.com.
To celebrate Korea Day (1 March 2006), the Christchurch Korean Society will host, for the first time in Christchurch, the World Strongman Ssireum Competition. Ssireum is a traditional Korean sport that dates back a hundred years. It involves two contestants attempting to throw their opponent to the ground.
The major distinction between Ssireum and other combat sports like judo or wrestling, is the objective - if a competitor can force any part of the opponent's body above the knee to touch the ground, the competitor wins the bout.
The competition, along with a variety of other Korean entertaintment by traditionally dressed Koreans, and a host of food stalls will be held in Cathedral Square from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, 4 March.
Korea Day Program and Introduction [57KB free PDF reader]
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Christchurch/Seattle sister city relationship, a delegation of 21 people led by Pat Grant, Vice President of the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association, is currently visiting Christchurch.
While here the group will attend an anniversary ceremony at the Seattle Garden at Halswell Quarry Park, at which time a carved totem and seat will be officially handed over to Christchurch.
Another appointment on the delegation's calendar is to hold discussions with Canterbury Museum about the possibility of it formalising a relationship with the Burke Museum in Seattle.
The group will also visit several schools, the Antarctic Centre, Deep Freeze and the Air Force Museum.
An official dinner will be held on 23 February at the Canterbury Club.
Further info about the delegation and its itinerary:
CCC International Relations Coordinator Dave Adamson 941 8775
From 21st to 25th February Merrin School will host the Principal Kwak, 3 teachers and 29 students from SeRyun Elementary School, Songpa-gu, Korea. This is Principal Kwak's first visit to Christchurch but the third SeRyun group the school has hosted.
The visit began with a Welcome Assembly where words and gifts were exchanged, songs sung and Merrin pupils performed to their Korean friends.
The group will homestay with Merrin School families and while in Christchurch will experience the city, the coutryside and the sea. They will be officially welcomed to the City at the Civic Offices by Cr Pat Harrow and will visit a farm, ride the tram, tour the city centre, and swim at QEII Park.
SeRyun hosted Merrin Principal, teachers, students and a number of parents in September last year and many of the friendships made then are being renewed.
The strong sister school relationship between Merrin and SeRyun started six years ago and in that time Merrin has visited SeRyun twice. The next exchange will see Merrin pupils visit SeRyun in 2007.
For further information contact Merrin School ph. 358 8369
The Christchurch Gansu Friendly Relations Committee is sending Robyn Woodham to teach for three to six months at the Lanzhou Foreign Languages High School, as part of an on-going programme of educational exchange. Robyn will be the seventh teacher the committee has sent in a programme that our friends in China describe as the best part of our sister relationship. She will leave Saturday, February 25th for Lanzhou via Beijing.
Robyn is a well qualified and experienced teacher of English as a second language, having completed a BA at Canterbury U, then a Certificate of English language teaching to adults (CELTA) at the Christchurch College of English. She taught English for three years in Japan at Ohda Senior High School, Shimane Prefecture, where her colleagues and students gave her high praise for her skills and dedication. Most recently she has been teaching at Christchurch International College for a year and a half.
Robyn will be staying in a flat on the school campus in Lanzhou, capital of our sister province of Gansu, an industrial city of three million on the Yellow River.
For more information about Gansu, the sister city relationship and the exchanges that take place see www.christchurch.org.nz/sistercities/gansuprovince.
The highly popular My Place exhibition of sixty eight photographs by photographer Bruce Connew, and accompanying texts that reveal the lives and ambitions of Christchurch and its people, will be exhibited in the main foyer of the Adelaide Town Hall from 1 February – 17 March 2006. The exhibition was opened by Lord Mayor Michael Harbison on Wednesday, 1 February 2006.
Deborah McCormick, Deputy Chair of The Christchurch Adelaide Sister City Committee says "It is a real coup to be exhibiting New Zealand art in a South Australian venue. Adelaide is known as a premier cultural centre and by exhibiting there we are showcasing New Zealand photography to an Australian and international audience. As a gesture of friendship and reciprocity to one of our closest Sister Cities this exhibition is a reflection of commonality in terms of diversity of our communities in post colonial Australasia – a sort of trans Tasman mate-ship".
This is the first time this exhibition has toured outside of New Zealand. Touring this exhibition to Adelaide is a joint initiative of the Christchurch/Adelaide Sister City Committee and the Adelaide City Council in conjunction with CoCA and The Christchurch Arts Festival.
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).
A group from Aranui High School have just experienced a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' with a trip to their sister school Ogum High School in Songpa-gu. Bruce Darnill (Business Manager, Aranui), Siobhan Murphy (head of Social Sciences), Gary Porteous (Head of Academics), Alyssa Lloyde (year 10 student), Samm McPherson (Year 10), Eddie Templeton (Year 10), Liam Hayward (Year 6 at Richmond Primary) departed Christchurch spent a week in Songpa-gu in July, hosted by their sister school Ogeum. Read the article they submitted to Aranui High School's newsletter.
See the report on the Aranui High School group's visit.
International Christchurch Youth (ICY) launched their latest project 'Joining Hands Around the World' at Culture Galore, Ray Blank Park on 19 March. Young people were asked to give a painted handprint on a piece of calico material and also took a handprint home.
Christchurch schools with sister schools are being asked to contribute painted handprints of their students and of students from their sister schools. More handprints will be sought from local children during ‘KidsMarket’ Day in Cathedral Square on Tuesday, 19 July.
On Friday, 22 July the hands will be joined together in friendship around Cathedral Square at ’Kids Arent’ Square’ from 1-2pm, and young people can come and find their painted hand amongst all those on display.
International Christchurch Youth (ICY) are a group of young people, who aim to promote an awareness and understanding of the world’s cultures and create youth involvement in international relations. They are supported by CCC International Relations team. Paint kindly supplied by Resene Paints.
A delegation of 14 students from schools throughout Kurashiki and 2 leaders who are staff members of Kurashiki City are to visit Christchurch from 22 July – 7 August on the annual student exchange. They are to attend schools in Christchurch for 3 of the days and the rest will be spent sightseeing in and around the Christchurch area. They are to stay overnight at Flock Hill Station, spend a day skiing at Porter Heights and take a Jet Boat ride in the Waimakariri River. The whole delegation is to be home hosted for most of their stay.
An exhibition of art and photography from Christchurch New Zealand and Christchurch, Dorset, UK will open at Our City on Friday 21st October at 5.30 pm. The exhibition will run until 23rd November.
The works from Christchurch, New Zealand have formed part of a very successful exhibition at the Priory in Christchurch, Dorset. This international exchange of artworks is part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the Christchurch NZ/UK sister city relationship. There will be a power point presentation of the UK art as part of the exhibition.
To mark this occasion a calendar is being produced highlighting the art from both countries, and this will be available at the exhibition.
For further information please contact Marlene LeCren, Arts Adviser, Christchurch City Council, ph 941 8886.
The Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee is taking an exciting tour to China during July.
The tour for the fourteen members of the group will start in Beijing, where of course they will take in the obligatory visits to the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square. They will also visit the home of the famous New Zealander, Rewi Alley, which has now been turned into a museum dedicated to his life.
From there they fly to Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province. Some members of the group will attend the13th Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair, while the others will make side tours to places of interest, and in particular an overnight visit to the Labrang Monastery at Xiahe. During their time in Lanzhou they will visit the Lanzhou Foreign Language Secondary School. The Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee sends two teachers there each year for a period of three months. The group will meet with the two teachers and have a tour of the school, during which time they will spend time with both students and staff.
After three nights in Lanzhou they head north to visit the Shandan Bailie School in Shandan. This school was founded by Rewi Alley, and has a sister relationship with Darfield High School, with which it has an annual student and teacher exchange. The following day they visit the world famous Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang. From there they fly to Xi’an, where they will visit the site of the world famous buried warriors. That afternoon they fly to Chongqing to begin the highlight of the tour – a three day cruise down the Yangtze River through the three gorges, including a visit to the site of the controversial dam project.
From there they travel by coach to Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province. The following day they have a busy city tour, which will take in the beautiful East Lake, the wonderful provincial museum and the famous Yellow Crane Pagoda, which is sited on a hill overlooking the Yangtze River; very impressive. From there they take a flight to Hong Kong, where they have two interesting and colourful days before returning home.
Four students from Darfield High School will travel to China in September for what will be an exciting opportunity to gain an understanding of the culture and customs of this both ancient and modern country.
The group of students - Glendon Screen, Livia Hardy, Nick Robertson and Tim Blackburn - will be accompanied by a teacher, Lesley Instone and her husband, Geoff. They will be the second group from Darfield High School to visit Shandan Bailie School, our sister school in Lanzhou in the province of Gansu, and will have an opportunity to compare the Chinese education system with ours.
The trip will include a visit to the western end of the Great Wall of China and the huge Buddhas carved in sandstone in Dunhuang, in western Gansu. Students will follow in the steps of Marco Polo through the Gobi Desert. They are very excited about the trip and are preparing themselves by learning Mandarin and finding out as much as they can about China.
Darfield High School and the students are very grateful for the support they have been given to enable them to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Christchurch scooped three of this year’s five sister-cities awards at the recent Sister Cities New Zealand Conference in the Bay of Islands.
International Christchurch Youth (ICY), a group supported by Christchurch City Council International Relations, was rewarded for its work on a number of youth related projects including its organisation of local school international days and the first Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competition. The group was placed first in the Awards’ Best Youth, Education or School Project category and second in the Best Cultural, Sport or Recreation Project category, winning a total of $3,000 in air travel, sponsored by Air New Zealand.
Merrin School was placed second in the Best Youth, Education or School Project category for its sister-school exchange with Se Ryun School in Songpa Gu, Seoul, Korea. It received $500 worth of air travel, also from Air New Zealand.
ICY was formed after the National Sister Cities Conference Youth Workshop in Christchurch in 2004. The Young Artists competition was the group’s second major project, inviting all 13-18 year olds in the city to submit a piece of artwork to a local competition and exhibition. The winning entry is to be sent to the International Sister Cities Young Artists Competition in Washington DC, USA, which will be on display during the Sister Cities International Annual Conference, 27-30 July, 2005.
ICY member Suzy Garnett said, “it is a really good feeling to know that what our committee has been doing has been recognised. We are planning to use the money for funding trips to future conferences.”
She said the group could not have been so active in the past year without the support of Sue McFarlane, CCC International Relations co-ordinator or Marcella Herrera, Sister Cities New Zealand youth advisor.
Merrin School’s award has marked a five year relationship with Se Ryun School, which developed from an initial exchange of artworks to the present day, where students from Se Ryun are living in the Merrin community and attending Merrin School to further their English skills. Past activities have included two visits from Se Ryun School to Merrin School; a visit by Merrin students, staff and parents to Se Ryun; and assistance from Merrin School to Aranui High School in setting up a similar exchange programme with Ogum High School in Songpa Gu.
Mary Jonker, teacher in charge of the exchange programme said, “the sister-city exchange between Merrin and Se Ryun Elementary schools has been a very exciting and rewarding project to be involved in. We are delighted that we have been awarded second place in this national competition and will put the money towards funding our next exchange visit in September, this year.”
1st place in the inaugural Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competition was awarded to 'Dreaming the thoughts of others' by Melissa Gray (17), St Margaret's College.
"The dream of different people, from different cultures coming together to create a strong peace between each other … shown by people of different cultures, blending together in amongst floating/airy dove feathers, which symbolize peace … realism and abstract forms of people emphasise the difference of others … the land represents what we live on and what we all share. Randomly placed images … like thoughts … like a dream."
2nd was 'World Flag' by 13 year old Marcus Patman (13), Lincoln High School, from Diamond Harbour
"I decided to design a ‘World Flag’, a flag which would represent all cultures and a connection between them. It is flown above the world for all to see. The different colours and country flags represent all countries/cultures, and the bridge represents the connection/union between them."
3rd was 'Universal Unity' by Siobhan O'Brien (14), Avonside Girls High of Southshore.
"I was inspired to create this artwork because I don’t see the need for all the wars in this world and if everyone could just understand each other and their religions and create world peace. I have used a swirly rainbow effect to symbolise peace and people coming together. The silhouettes connected around the globe conveys a sense of unity between all global villages. I have painted the ribbon connecting the figures, a red/pink colour to show sharing of love."
Read more... [24KB, free PDF Reader]
30 March 2005
An art exhibition to be shown in Christchurch, NZ and our sister-city Christchurch, UK will open on 2 April in the English city’s iconic venue, The Priory.
Organised by New Zealand curator Adam Hayward, the exhibition will celebrate a 30 year relationship between the two cities and represent a broad range of styles, cultures and media from artists in both cities. Landscape photography, Maori design, print making and rug weaving will feature in the contributions from our local artists.
Students from four Christchurch secondary schools will travel to Seattle on 20 April on an exchange organised by the Christchurch- Seattle Sister City committee.
Philippa Scott of Hillmorton High School; Michael Jefferson of Riccarton High School; Charlotte Robertson of Rangi Ruru Girls’ School; and Nga Whatuhuia Arahanga- Doyle of Christchurch Girls’ High School will live with host families and attend University Prep, a Seattle high school, which prepares students for university. They will return home on 8 May.
The successful students were chosen after a selection process, which included each of them being interviewed. About one third of their costs will be funded by the sister city committee, with the balance being raised by the students.
Seeking young artists 13-18 years old to submit an artwork with the theme 'Connecting Global Villages' to the inaugural Christchurch Sister Cities Young Artists Competition and exhibition at 'Creation', 105 Worcester Street from 29 March-15 April 2005. The winning artwork will be sponsored to the Sister Cities International Young Artists Competition 2005, Washington, USA, with a chance to win $US300.00
The 10 winning artworks from the last five year's international competitions can be viewed here. Last year's winning entry with the theme 'Coming Together to Build a Better World' 'Piece/Peace' by Alana Purcell of Los Angeles, California.
In Piece/Peace, Purcell brings together iconic images from around the world to form a puzzle. The imagery was inspired by the borders of nations evoking a cut-out children's puzzle. Through the piecing together process, the artist shows how the unified whole breaks down arbitrary borders."
The 10 best artworks in this year's Washington exhibition will each receive US$300 in prize money. All participants will receive a certificate. The overall winning artwork will then go on tour until April 2006.
Christchurch's entry in the international competition will be sponsored by our Amercian sister city Seattle.
The Christchurch competition is being organised by International Christchurch Youth (ICY), a group of young people who are supported by Christchurch City Council's International Relations programme, in their efforts to promote an awareness and understanding of the world's cultures, create youth involvement in international relations and promote international friendships.
Registration of interest is required by 15 February. The entry deadline is 18 March 2005.
Details of the Christchurch art competition [1.8MB free PDF reader] are attached in a four page leaflet in PDF format.
If you would like any further information, please contact Hadleigh Milligan, ICY Project Co-ordinator ph. 0274 680 215, email: hadleigh_kiwi@hotmail.com or Sue McFarlane, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council ph. 941 8959, email: sue.mcfarlane@ccc.govt.nz
This is a wonderful opportunity for young artists to exhibit their work in a local youth gallery, with a chance to exhibit internationally. We have sent details to all high school art departments and hope they will promote the competition to their students and encourage them to submit an artwork. We hope you will support this exciting project.
23 students and accompanying staff from Linwood College are departing CHCH 3 April for 3 1/2 weeks. They will be home-hosted for some of their stay by Twynham Comprehensive, their sister school. From there they travel to Europe. This will the third family member of the Hurst family to experience this exchange visit.
The 'Kia Ora' sculpture, an artwork being gifted to Songpa Gu, Seoul, Korea by the people of Christchurch, has arrived in Songpa-gu and will be unveiled in April.
Created by Christchurch artist, Leah Mary Fraser Henderson, the sculpture features a face made of stainless steel with a mirror finish, mounted on a large slab of Halswell Quarry stone.
The artwork was commissioned to celebrate Christchurch’s ongoing friendship and sister city relationship, which was formalised in 1995. It will be installed on the western shore of West Seokchon Lake, opposite Lotte World, a famous complex with hotel, department store and theme park.
“People (in South Korea) will be able to see themselves in its reflection while we borrow the view of their park in place of our botanic gardens… the average South Korean will be looking eye to eye with it, in a sense looking through our eyes how we see the world,” Mrs Fraser-Henderson said.
The name Kia Ora was chosen as it is a phrase full of friendship and heartfelt thanks, she said.
Artist Leah Fraser Henderson and the Kia Ora Sculpture, photo taken at Halswell Quarry Park, before the sculpture was shipped to sculpture and it's plaque.
Artist Leah Fraser Henderson and the Kia Ora Sculpture with members of the Christchurch Songpa-gu Sister City Committee and Christchurch City Council's International Relations Team at the unveiling of the sculpture in Christchurch, July 04.
27 members and friends of the Christchurch (Dorset, England) Twinning Association are visiting Christchurch(NZ) to mark the 30th anniversary of their Sister City relationship. Arriving on Sunday, 6 February, altogether they will spend three weeks in NZ. Their programme has been arranged by the Christchurch Sister City Committee, and their travel itinerary by Ian Morrison of the same Committee.
See their travel itinerary ...
Two Kurashiki young people with disabilities and their caregivers are to visit Chch as fully sponsored guests of Independent Fisheries here in Chch. Independent Fisheries are planning to make this an annual exchange for people with disabilities. Air New Zeland have given free air fares and the programme has been developed by a team of people from Christchurch Kurashiki Sister City Committee, KiwiAble, Sport Canterbury and the Halberg Trust. The visitors are here for two weeks. One of the visitors will be taking part in the NZ Wheelchair Tennis Tournament being held in Chch at the time.
Mr Hiroaki Oshima (21), who is a keen sportsman, has an intellectual disability, and Mr Mitsunobu Hirata (23)will take part in the NZ Wheelchair Tennis Tournament while he is here.
Their programme includes a Welcome Reception at the Civic offices, visits to local organisaitons, local sightseeing, a night's homestay, and taking part in a ropes course, an outdoor adventure experience.
Somerfield Primary School students are to conduct a live video conference with Nakashima Elementary school students on 10 February 2005 at 1.30pm and again on Tuesday, 15 February at 5.45pm. The children will share information about themselves, their schools and their culture.
The video conference on 15 February is to be broadcast live to all schools throughout Kurashiki city and also to some surrounding schools. It will also be attended by a number of teachers and education professionals so they can gauge the success of this pilot programme.
In February Jane Ayres and Paul Burgin, two well-qualified and highly experienced teachers from Christchurch will be going to China to teach at the Foreign Language Secondary School in Lanzhou City. They are part of an on-going programme of educational exchange between Christchurch and Gansu, our sister province in northwestern China. Two sister-school relationships have been established with schools founded by Rewi Alley: one between the CPIT and the Lanzhou Bailie School, the other between Darfield High School and the Shandan Bailie School.
Ayers and Burgin are the third group to be sent to Lanzhou by the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations Committee, which also fosters cultural and economic exchanges between our city and Gansu.
Toni Byrne was one of the 2004 exchange teachers to Lanzhou.
Toni Byrne with her students at Lanzhou Foreign Language Secondary School, where she spent six months teaching English in 2004 as part of the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations Committee programme of educational exchanges.
Read the Christchurch City Council Media Release
25 children and 8 parents and teachers will arrive in Christchurch from Hawthorndene School, Adelaide, on 17 November for seven days, being home hosted by children of South Hornby Primary School. The children comprise Hawthorndene school’s choir, which won the Adelaide schools competition this year.
This visit is to reciprocate that of the South Hornby Primary School choir, the ‘South Hornby Swingers’, to Adelaide last October. During their time here the choir will visit and sing at Branston and Templeton Schools, go for a swim at QEII Park, meet with Councillor Sally Buck at Civic Offices, have a barbecue and do all sorts of other interesting and exciting things.
This reciprocal exchange between South Hornby Primary School and Hawthorndene School means that firm friendships have now been forged between the schools, with a lot of the children in regular contact.
Christchurch and Canterbury teachers are being given the opportunity to experience China first hand, through two teaching positions made available through the Christchurch-Gansu sister city relationship.
The three month positions in Lanzhou (the capital city of Gansu Province) include all expenses paid, a modest salary and accommodation provided in a new apartment. Successful applicants will be required to teach English for about 12 hours each week to the equivalent of years 11 and 13. Applicants must be able to start in Lanzhou on 15 February 2005.
During his very successful visit to Gansu Province in early June 2004, Mayor Garry Moore made a commitment to there being a Christchurch presence at the Lanzhou Trade and Investment Fair, 26-29 August 2004. Lanzhou is the capital city of Gansu Province.
Three people will represent Christchurch. Bill Studholme, who was part of the Mayor’s June visit, and who is chair of the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee, Jill Taiaroa, Business Support Officer with the Canterbury Development Corporation and Dave Adamson of the Christchurch City Council’s International Relations team will spend five days in Lanzhou. As well as attending the fair, they will have meetings with people in the business and educational sectors, provincial and city officials, visit several schools and have site visits to water conservation projects and other matters.
See Bill Studholme's report of the visit to Gansu in June 2004...
A group of 96 students and teachers from Kurashiki will be welcomed to the city on Tuesday 3 August. The welcome ceremony, in the Civic Offices Council Chamber, will include a powhiri by the Hillmorton High School Kapahaka group. The group will also plant a tree at the Kurashiki Garden, Halswell Quarry Park.
The students and teachers from Seishin College, Kurashiki, are spending a fortnight in Christchurch, learning English at the Christchurch College of English.
"It is estimated that the annual groups from Seishin have brought about $2 million to our local economy and hopefully take back plenty of good memories of Christchurch to share with friends and family” said Barbara August, International Relations Co-ordinators.
The annual Christchurch student exchange to Kurashiki is to take place from 18 September - 3 October 2004. The group of 14 students, 7 male and 7 female, is to be led by Barbara and Owen August. While in Kurashiki the group will be home hosted and will attend local Junior High School for 4 days. Home hosting will give the students a wonderful opportunity to experience day to day life of Japanese people. During their stay the group will also visit the various tourist spots in and around the city and its environs.
If you are in year 10 at a Christchurch high school, have studied Japanese for more than a year and can raise $2,500, you can apply to be a member of this year's student exchange to Kurashiki, Japan.
14 students will be selected from Christchurch schools to take part in the 14th student exchange to Kurashiki, Christchurch's Japanese sister city. The trip is for 2 weeks from 18 September - 3 October and students will be home-hosted with a Japanese family for most of the time.
This year, one scholarship will be provided by the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee to cover the full costs of travel (with the exception of spending money), to a student who would be interested in taking part but may not be unable to raise the $2,500 needed.
In Kurashiki, students will attend school on 5 of the days with their host brother or sister and the remaining time will be spent experiencing the sights, sounds and food of Kurashiki and it's surrounding area. Students will also spend a day in Hiroshima and on Miyajima Island.
Applications for this exchange close 14 May 2004.
If you are interested in being considered for this exchange, either contact your schools Head of Department for Japanese Studies or Barbara August, Christchurch City Council's International Relations Co-ordinator and this year's leader of the Student Exchange on 941 8251 or email barbara.august@ccc.govt.nz for details and an application form.
Ms Yumiko Nakagawa, a fourth year student in the Fine Arts Department of the Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, will be visiting Christchurch as an exchange student at Canterbury University for a about a one-month period beginning September 6, 2004.
Ms Nakagawa's main area of study involves wood sculpting/carving. She is also interested in the promotion and organizing of art exhibitions, displays and other art related events, and wants to see and research how such things are done in Christchurch. Read more ...
Ms Nakagawa is a student of Professor Wataru Hamasaka, who was in Christchurch as part of a sculptor exchange in March '04 when he sculpted 'The Canoe in the Canoe', the 30th Anniversary gift from Kurashiki to Christchurch. Ms. Nakagawa often worked alongside Graham Bennett, in the same studio, during Mr Bennett's stay in Kurashiki in 200, as part of the sculptor exchange, when Graham completed 'Lines Extending' Christchurch's 30th Anniversary gift to Kurashiki.
Mr. Bennett, has been instrumental in organising the student exchange between the University of Canterbury Fine Arts Department and the Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts.
A Mainland Soccer Canterbury 16th Grade Selection Team is headed to Korea and Japan.
The Canterbury U17 representative team leaves Christchurch on 31 July and heads to Christchurch's Korean sister city Songpa-Gu, Seoul, where they will play two games. The team will spend 5 nights in Songpa, staying at the Olympic Village, before flying to Tokyo and travelling onto Ayase City on 5 August. This comes about following the recent signing of a soccer friendship agreement between Mainland Soccer and Ayase City's soccer association. The team will take part in a Soccer Festival on 7 August involving six a side games and will play their main match in Ayase City on 8 August.
Eleven members of the Kurashiki Chapter of Ikebana visited Christchurch from 20 - 23 August, 2004 to share their knowledge and skills with local Christchurch’s local Ikebana Chapter. They held a joint exhibition of their work in the Crowne Plaza Hotel from 21-23 August. This exhibition was one of the many Festival of Japan events held between 16-25 August 2004. The Christchurch Chapter is intending to make a reciprocal visit to Kurashiki sometime in 2005. See the report of their visit and photos.
Aranui High School will welcome 16 students, the Deputy Principal and 2 teachers from their sister school Ogum High School, Songpa, to Christchurch on 7 August. The visitors will be home-hosted by school pupils and staff for 10 days, while they experience life in Christchurch and are shown around our city.
Four Seattle students will be home-hosted by Christchurch students Courtney McGuigan (Hagley Community College), Ea Wegner (Avonside Girl's) and Sophie Peacock (Christchurch Girls'), when they visit Christchurch from 20 July to 5 August as part of the reciprocal Christchurch Seattle Scholar Exchange Programme. The three Christchurch students were selected to visit Seattle from 20 April to 7 May this year and had a fantastic time in Seattle.
Nine students and a leader from Kurashiki will be visiting Christchurch from 21 July to 5 August, as part of the annual Kurashiki Inbound Student Exchange. They will be home-hosted. Highlights of their visit will be attending school in Christchurch, sightseeing in and around the city and an overnight stay at Flockhill Station, which will allow the children to take in a farm visiting and have a go at skiing.
Christchurch's Sister Cities Programme and the City of Adelaide are delighted to support the return to Christchurch of children's entertainers Ticklish Allsorts, from our sister city Adelaide. With them will be audience favourite Radish the pantomime horse.
Ticklish Allsorts will appear free at a variety of venues around Christchurch between July 11 & 13, as part of the 2004 KidsFest. The shows are free of charge, but entry is by Ticketek ticket because numbers are limited at each venue. For details of the venues and times Ticklish Allsorts will be performing see the KidsFest website http://www.kidsfest.co.nz/
Ticklish Allsorts first visited Christchurch as part of the 2002 KidsFest, where they were enthusiastically received by local audiences.
Seven children and three staff from Dai Shi Fukuda, Kurashiki, Japan willl be visiting Christchurch from 4-10 August this year and will be hosted by their sister school Mount Pleasant School. This will be the second student visit from Dai Shi Fukuda to Mount Pleasant in three years.
If you are in year 10 at a Christchurch high school, have studied Japanese for more than a year and can raise $2,500, you can apply to be a member of this year's student exchange to Kurashiki, Japan.
14 students will be selected from Christchurch schools to take part in the 14th student exchange to Kurashiki, Christchurch's Japanese sister city. The trip is for 2 weeks from 18 September - 3 October and students will be home-hosted with a Japanese family for most of the time.
This year, one scholarship will be provided by the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee to cover the full costs of travel (with the exception of spending money), to a student who would be interested in taking part but may not be unable to raise the $2,500 needed.
In Kurashiki, students will attend school on 5 of the days with their host brother or sister and the remaining time will be spent experiencing the sights, sounds and food of Kurashiki and it's surrounding area. Students will also spend a day in Hiroshima and on Miyajima Island.
Applications for this exchange close 14 May 2004.
If you are interested in being considered for this exchange, either contact your schools Head of Department for Japanese Studies or Barbara August, Christchurch City Council's International Relations Co-ordinator and this year's leader of the Student Exchange on 941 8251 or email barbara.august@ccc.govt.nz for details and an application form.
An invitation has been extended to the Kurashiki Ikebana Chapter to visit Christchurch in 2004 to share their knowledge and skills with local Christchurch’s local Ikebana Chapter and to hold a joint exhibition of their works. This visit may be timed to coincide with the Festival of Japan which may be held in August 2004. After this visit the Christchurch Chapter is intending to make a reciprocal visit to Kurashiki.
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| Bill Studholme, Chairman, Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations Committee presents a photographic book of Canterbury to Mr Su Rong, recently appointed Chairman of the Gansu Provincial People’s Congress. |
Mayor Garry Moore led a 47 strong education and business delegation to Wuhan, in Hubei Province on 9 June. From there the Mayor, Mayoress, Chair of the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations Committee, with three other officials will travel on to Gansu Province on 20 June to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the relationship and investigate business opportunities, specifically regarding the Gansu Trade Fair which will be held in August.
This follows the recent visit of Mr Su Rong, recently appointed Chairman of the Gansu Provincial People's Congress to Christchurch on 4 and 5 June, as head of a six member delegation. As the party chairman for the province, he is the most senior official in Gansu Province, which has a population of 26m.
On Friday 4 June he had a courtesy visit with Mayor Garry Moore, visited the Christchurch Art Gallery and the Canterbury Museum, followed by a welcome banquet in the evening. On the Saturday morning he had a meeting with members of the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee, during which time business opportunities were discussed.
A delegation of five officials, led by the recently appointed Chairman of Gansu Provincial People’s Congress, Mr Su Rong, will be in Christchurch 4 and 5 June.
While essentially a goodwill visit, during their time here they will meet with Mayor Garry Moore, have a tour of the new Christchurch Art Gallery and Canterbury Museum and have a business meeting with members of the Christchurch-Gansu Friendly Relations committee and local business and education people. A welcome banquet will be held on the Friday evening.
A totem pole gifted to Christchurch by sister city Seattle is being carved by Seattle carver Jay Haavik, in the South Quad of the Arts Centre. Mayor Garry Moore will officially unveil the totem on the site at 3pm Friday, 23 April.
Mr Haavik says the Western Red Cedar totem has been designed as a welcome pole to the city of Christchurch and has been carved in the Haida style of the native peoples of Queen Charlotte Islands, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Three Christchurch students are now experiencing life in Seattle, as part of the Seattle Scholar programme, organised by the Christchurch-Seattle Sister City Committee. Selected from 15 students, Sophie Peacock, Christchurch Girls' High School; Ea Wegner, Avonside Girls' High School and Hayley McGuigan, Hagley High School left Christchurch 20 April and return 7 May. They will attend University Prep. High School in Seattle and each will enjoy being part of a Seattle family for their time there. Later this year they will get the opportunity to show off their city, schools and homes to their Seattle buddies, when they visit Christchurch as part of the annual reciprocol exchange.
The Kurashiki Youth Chorus will give free public performances in Cathedral Square and the Christchurch Arts Centre next week.
This award winning choir of 31 young people aged between 10 and 18 arrives in Christchurch next Wednesday, bringing to a close a year of thirtieth anniversary celebrations between Christchurch and our sister-city Kurashiki.
“The Chorus, which was formerly known as the Kurashiki Boys and Girls Choir, is very highly regarded in Japan and will be a delight to have here,” Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee chair, Newton Dodge said.
The choir will perform at a lunchtime concert in Cathedral Square between 11.30am and 12.15pm on Friday 26 March and at The Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Sunday 28 March. All welcome.
The choir will also perform next Wednesday for delegates at the NZ Sister Cities Racing Ahead 2004 conference at the Christchurch Convention Centre . The following day, pupils at Cathedral Grammar and Selwyn House Schools will take part in workshops and perform with the choir at their schools.Arrangements are currently being made to host a 30 strong youth Chorus of 6 – 17 year olds and approximately 10 adult support staff from Kurashiki in late March or early April 2004. It is intended that the group will perform at several venues ( including schools and rest homes) in the city during their 7 day stay. They are also hoping to perform a major combined concert with a local Choir.
World-renowned sculptor Professor Wataru Hamasaka, the Arts Centre Artist in Residence for March, is currently working at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) on a sculpture that is to be gifted to the city of Christchurch.
The Canoe in the Canoe - a 2.2 metre long stone carving featuring a smaller granite canoe inside it - will be given to Christchurch by our Japanese sister-city Kurashiki to mark the 30th anniversary of our sister-city relationship. An anniversary sculpture has already been gifted to Kurashiki from Christchurch. ‘Lines Extending’ was installed in Kurashiki by Christchurch artist Graham Bennett in November 2003.
The canoe will be unveiled by Mayor Garry Moore on Wednesday, 31 March at 4pm at the Arts Centre, outside the Court Theatre, where it will be temporarily exhibited.
Prime Minister Helen Clark will officially open the NZ Sister Cities Conference 2004 in Christchurch from 24-27 March. We understand this is the first ever NZ Sister Cities Conference to be opened by the Prime Minister.
Excellent speakers, challenging workshops and plenty of networking opportunities are just some of the reasons to attend the 2004 NZ Sister Cities Conference (24-27 March) in Christchurch.
On Monday 16 February Merrin School is hosting 35 children, 4 teachers, and 2 parents from their sister-school Se Ryun Elementary School in Christchurch's sister-city Songpa Gu in Seoul, South Korea.
Arrangements are currently being made to host a 30 strong youth Chorus of 6 – 17 year olds and approximately 10 adult support staff from Kurashiki in late March or early April 2004. It is intended that the group will perform at several venues ( including schools and rest homes) in the city during their 7 day stay. They are also hoping to perform a major combined concert with a local Choir.
Civic, cultural, education and business delegation to visit Adelaide 27 February - 4 March 2004 during Adelaide Bank 2004 Festival of Arts.
The Christchurch-Adelaide Sister City Committee will be leading a delegation to Adelaide to coincide with the Adelaide Bank 2004 Festival of Arts. A highlight of the delegation visit will be the opening of the exhibition Whare, a dynamic multi media exhibition of seven contemporary Maori artists' work. Whare, first exhibited in Christchurch during SCAPE: Art & Industry Urban Arts Biennial 02 www.artandindustry.org.nz, will be exhibited at Tandanya Gallery, with support from the Christchurch-Adelaide Sister City Committee, as part of the official Adelaide Festival of Arts visual arts programme. Find out more...
"Racing Ahead", the New Zealand Sister Cities Conference happens 24-27 March 2004. It has a programme incorporating three themes: Peace and Friendship, Culture, and Education and Economic opportunities.
Visit www.sistercitiesconference2004.org.nz for more information.
As part of the 30th anniversary of the Christchurch – Kurashiki Sister City links celebrations there is to be an exchange of gifts from one city to the other. It has been decided that the gifts will be a sculpture to each others city’s and Graham Bennett, a well known Christchurch sculptor will travel to Kurashiki to create his sculpture in November 2003. He will take up residence in Kurashiki for 4 – 6 weeks and while there will also give lectures and talks to students at the Kake University. The Kurashiki sculptor, Wataru Hamasaka, will visit Christchurch in February 2004 and will be based at the Christchurch Arts Centre as their ‘Artist in Residence’. He will also be asked to talk about and show his skills to interested students and artists. The sculptures created will provide a lasting reminder of this very important occasion.
Mayor Garry Moore and his wife, Mayoress Pam Sharpe, are to lead a 25 member strong delegation to Kurashiki to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Christchurch -Kurashiki Sister City link. This visit will enable delegates to sample the sights and hospitality of Kurashiki and it’s people at both formal and informal functions and visits. If you require further information regarding this visit please contact Barbara August, International Relations co-ordinator, on telephone 941 8251 or email her at Barbara.august@ccc.govt.nz
Fourteen students, chosen from High Schools in the city, and two leaders are planning to visit Kurashiki for two weeks from the 21 September – 5 October 2003. They will be home hosted for the duration of their stay and will attend their hosts school for several of the days they are in Kurashiki. The remainder of the time the students will take part in sightseeing excursions. All Christchurch High Schools will be notified of the trip around …..and students are then invited to apply. If you would like to know more about this trip please contact Barbara August, International Relations Co-ordinator on 941 9251 or email Barbara.august@ccc.govt.nz
Nine students and one leader are intending to visit Christchurch from Sunday 21 July until Saturday 2 August. These 14 – 15 year old students will be home-hosted and will attend school at one of several High Schools in the city. During their stay the students will also spend two nights at Flock Hill Station and while there will go skiing, jet boating and try their hand at various farm activities.
Eleven students and two teachers ( Kathryn Hore and Ross Marwick) from Linwood College are to spend a month in England and Europe from 5 April to 3 May 2003.
They are to be home-hosted with families of students from Twynham Comprehensive School and will attend school for some days during their stay. They are to spend 4 - 5 days in London before joining senior arts students on a joint tour of France including a visit to the home of Monet and also 3 days in Paris.
They will return to their host families in time to spend the Easter break with them before returning home.
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| Merrin School's Korean Cultural Group |
Merrin School students have been busy fundraising for a trip to their sister school Se Ryun, Songpa departing 9 April.
25 children (aged 11-13), 6 teachers and 8 parents will get to experience school and home life in Korea, and will visit
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| Merrin School's Korean Cultural Group |
Last April's 20 person 'Ensemble Group' from Kurashiki has turned into a 100 person 'Kurashiki Junior Orchestra' and is coming to Christchurch for 7 days in March/April 2003.
Read the News Release for further informaton about the visit and see a "Summary" copy of their 2003 literary
Your future is to spend three months teaching English in Lanzhou, Gansu Province. All expenses paid, good care, modest salary. Applications are sought for teachers to spend three months or more in Lanzhou (the capital of Gansu).
The position includes:
read more about Lanzhou and how to apply...
On 14th March Stephanie Smith, NZ Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator for the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Christchurch Hospital and Allison Nicol, CEO for the Bone Marrow Transplant Trust, Christchurch will be travelling to Seattle to visit the Fred Hutchinson Research Centre to learn as much as possible about their specialist areas and to spend time in the Fred Hutchinson Research Unit. Over the last 30 years Seattle has been the world leader in Bone Marrow Transplantation.
While there the Seattle Christchurch Sister City Association will be looking after them. The Trust's Chairman, Mr Lew McIvor, has had a long association with Seattle and is also a member of the Christchurch-Seattle Sister City Committee. read more...
Merrin Primary School will host a group of 25 students (9-11 years old), the Principal, 2 teachers and 2 Songpa parents from their sister school Se Ryun, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea from 17 to 20 February.
The group will experience life in Kiwi homes and as well as attending classes will join in the school's Top Team competition, enjoy a BBQ at the beach and a tram ride and will visit the Antarctic Centre and Willowbank before heading down to Queenstown.
Mayor Garry Moore visited SongpaGu in August 2003. Read about his visit in these City Scene stories:
In October 2003, the Canterbury Ballet Company is going to visit Kurashiki as a part of the 30th anniversary celebrations with our Japanese sister city. The 23 dancers and 5 staff, including wardrobes and lighting experts, will be led by the Canterbury Ballet Company’s owner and Director, Mrs Taisia Missevich, and the Tour Manager, Mr David Boram-Smith.
They will give two performances, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, at the theatre in Kurashiki where the International Friendship Festival will be held. They will also perform a short programme at an outdoor venue in the city.
The dancers are from 14 to 23 years old and very experienced. Part of the programme will be an original production for this visit, and one stage will have the theme of Swan Lake. read more...
A 20 – 30 member delegation, led by Mayor Takeshi Nakada is to visit Christchurch in November 2003. This delegation will visit to celebrate the 30th anniversary and a dinner in their honour will be hosted by Mayor Garry Moore and Mayoress Pam Sharpe. The program for this visit is yet to be confirmed.
A small sister city delegation from Seattle, led by Seattle Cr Richard Conlin, will visit Christchurch from 11-14 February 2003.
The delegation will comprise Dr John and Mrs Eve Bollard (Dr Bollard was the previous NZ Consul in Seattle), Martin Moore (Seattle Christchurch Sister Cities Association Chairman) & Jan Smisek (US U14 Soccer Coaching Co-ordinator), Rachel Jacobsen (association member, Seattle primary school teacher & wife of Senator Ken Jacobsen) and Jackie Kallay (association member). read more...
Christchurch was delighted to hear that Douglas Neil, a Christchurch sculptor, was selected as a finalist in the 6th Kurashiki Open Sculpture Competition and Exhibition to be held in March 2003. Sculptors from Kurahiki's four Sister Cities were invited to participate in the competition and Doug's model 'Pillars of Wisdom' was chosen as one of the five sculptures that is to be produced for the exhibition. Read more...
The Christchurch Seattle Sister City Committee assisted local American Cindy Barth to organise a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, 28 November 2002, which was Thanksgiving, one of the most important family days in the American calendar.
57 people attended the traditional three course Thanksgiving dinner and enjoyed a great evening at the Hotel Grand Chancellor. Thanks to Cindy's wonderful organisation.
Many were Americans and the evening enabled them to meet fellow local Americans and celebrate this special day together. Many present expressed interest in forming future social groups including a mother's group, a super bowl group and a 'last Saturday of the month' group. If you would like further information about any of these groups please contact Cindy Barth by email at c.s.barth@trutrack.com
The Spheres, two bronze spherical, patterned markers 600 mm in diameter, by Adelaide artist Karen Genoff, commissioned by the Christchurch-Adelaide Sister City Committee, will be unveiled by Mayor Garry Moore and Adelaide Councillor Bob Angove, the leader of a small delegation from Adelaide on Monday, 18 November 2002 at 11.00am in the Adelaide Garden, Halswell Quarry Park. Read more...
The Christchurch Seattle Sister City Committee has assisted local American Cindy Barth to organise a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, 28 November, which is Thanksgiving, one of the most important family days in the American calendar.
The traditional three course Thanksgiving dinner will be held in a private room at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, cost $35.
If you would like to attend the Thanksgiving dinner or a Thanksgiving picnic on Sunday, 24 November see below for further details:
On Monday, 22 July Aranui High School is looking forward to welcoming a group from its Songpa-Gu Sister School, Ogum High School. Mr Su-Il Lee, the Principal, will be leading the group of 2 teachers and 15 students. Read more...
Christchurch is about to experience the sights and sounds of a Korean cultural extravaganza. Come along and treat your senses to the colour and vibrancy of musicians, dances and drummers from our Korean sister city Songpa-Gu. A group of 36 performers will give three shows in Christchurch:
Tammy Bockow and Todd Rotkis, from University Prep, Seattle, are in Christchurch from 12 to 28 August enjoying some local hospitality, having hosted Christchurch's 3 Seattle scholars in Seattle earlier this year. Read more...
Nine students from various junior high schools in Kurashiki and one leader from Kurashiki City Hall are to visit Christchurch from 30 July-11 August 2002. Read more…
Ten elementary school students and five adults are to visit their sister school, Mt Pleasant Primary from 6 – 11 August 2002. This is the first time Mt Pleasant has hosted students from Dai Shi Fukuda. Read more…
Kurashiki is holding its 6th Kurashiki Open Sculpture Competition and Exhibition in March 2003 and is inviting sculptors from its Sister Cities to participate. Read more...
Kurashiki is holding its 6th Kurashiki Open Sculpture Competition and Exhibition in March 2003 and is inviting sculptors from its Sister Cities to participate.
Artists are asked to produce a model - the entry fee is approx. NZ $100. From the models submitted 5 artists will be chosen to produce their sculptures. To do this the sculptor will be given approx NZ $40,000 to complete their design. These completed designs will then be exhibited from 1-23 March 2003 and judged at this time. The prize money for these finalists ranges from approx. NZ $10,000 for 5th placed to NZ $120,000 for 1st place.
This is the first time Christchurch sculptors have been invited to participate in this event, alongside Japanese sculptors and those from Kurashiki's other three sister cities St Polten, Austria; Kansas City MO, USA; and Zhenjiang, China.
Models must reach Okayama city between 16 and 23 June 2002.
Full entry details are available from Barbara August, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council on ph. 941-8251 or email: Barbara.August@ccc.govt.nz
Related information: Kurashiki artistic & cultural exchanges
Hundreds of young people headed into Cathedral Square in Christchurch on 5 July to join together in celebrating peace.
There were colourful performances by young people representing Christchurch’s sister cities in China (the Christchurch Rewi Alley School) and Korea (the Christchurch Korean School) and a fun show by children’s entertainers Ticklish Allsorts from sister city Adelaide.
Local children, who had been busy making colourful paper cranes, paraded these on the day. Thousands of cranes were also sent from Christchurch’s six sister cities - including more than 2000 from Kurashiki in Japan. Children were also busy making cranes on the day in the Square.
The children carried the ‘peace cranes’ in a short parade from the Square to Friendship Corner at the end of the City Mall, where they hung the cranes for display, alongside those made by children from Christchurch’s sister cities.
The ‘Kids 4 Peace’ event was a joint initiative between Christchurch’s Sister Cities Programme and GlobalNet. It was part of the TV2 KidsFest programme.
Head into Cathedral Square and celebrate Peace!
See colourful performances by children representing Christchurch's sister cities in China, Japan and Korea, followed by an hour-long performance by children's entertainers Ticklish Allsorts from sister city Adelaide. Bring your own peace cranes or make them on site - experts will be on hand to show you how!
At the conclusion of the entertainment join Global Net's Astro for a short parade from the square to 'Friendship Corner', at the end of City Mall, where your cranes will be displayed alongside those made by children in our sister cities.
Supported by Christchurch's Sister Cities Programme, Christchurch City Council Events Team and GlobalNet.
Cathedral
Square, (if wet Christchurch Cathedral from 1pm)
Friday 5 July, 12pm (duration 90 minutes)
Suitable
all ages, wear warm clothing
Free, for weather postponement phone the TV2 KidsFest
infoline on 372 2877
See further information about Kids 4 Peace and how to make your peace cranes
Ticklish
Allsorts (direct from Christchurch's sister city Adelaide)
As part of TV2
KidsFest head down to your local hall and jive to
the sounds of the international children's band Ticklish
Allsorts. Direct from Christchurch's Sister City of Adelaide,
this high energy totally interactive music show combines
song and dance with colour fantasy characters like Radish
the Pantomime Horse and Alistair the Scottish teddy bear.
Supported by Christchurch's Sister Cities Programme and Christchurch City Council Events Team. See details of performance dates, times and venues. For further information about TV2 KidsFest see www.kidsfest.org.nz
Suitable
up to 10yrs. Free, bookings not necessary.
For further information phone 372 2840
The Ritsuko Ensemble from Kurashiki will visit Christchurch from 2-11 April 2002. The string ensemble of 15 and 20, who play Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart etc. will give free outdoors performances in Cathedral Square and the South Quad of the Christchurch Arts Centre and will give a concert at the Christchurch Music Centre.
They will experience home-hosting in Christchurch. See details of performance times of the Ritsuko Ensemble...
Related information: Kurashiki artistic and cultural exchanges
Three Christchurch students were chosen as the 2002 Seattle Scholars, from the 12 applications received by the Christchurch-Seattle Sister City Committee.
They are Gina Harris of Rangi Ruru Girls School, Hadleigh Milligan of Christchurch Boys High School and Suzanne Garnett of Christchurch Girls High School.
The three excited students departed Christchurch 20 March for Seattle, returning 6 April. They will be home-hosted by students from University Prep School, where they will attend classes, and they'll also have a lot of sightseeing opportunities in Seattle.
See their itinerary and a photo of Hadleigh, Gina and Suzanne
Related
information: Seattle
education exchanges
Seattle senior school student’s artworks continue to be exhibited at the ArtZone, Centre of Contemporary Art, Gloucester Street. The theme is 'First People'
Christchurch Girls High School and Geraldine High School also contributed some excellent works for the exhibition, which it is now hoped will be taken to Seattle later this year.
It will be possible to view these works on the GlobalNet website in the near future.
Related information: Seattle artistic and cultural exchanges
In March/April 2002 the Christchurch-Seattle Sister City Committee will be sending two Year 13 (7th form) students for a two to three week exchange in Seattle. They will be chosen from all high schools in Christchurch and when selected, the students will act as ambassadors for their school, the city and for New Zealand. The students will be home hosted with Seattle families and will attend and experience classes in a Seattle High School environment for a number of days.
Information and application forms have been sent to Year 13 Deans of all Christchurch High Schools. Applications close 20 February 2002.
For further information and/or an application form contact Sue McFarlane, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council, ph 371-1959 or email Sue.McFarlane@ccc.govt.nz
The ArtZone at CoCA is holding an exhibition of student's artworks from schools in both Christchurch, NZ and Christchurch, England.
Works from students aged from 12 years are being exhibited. The idea is for students to explore a wide brief within the theme 'Art-on-Avon: Reflecting Our Rivers': the water, riverbanks, plant life, leisure activities and animals of their respective Avon.
Related information: Christchurch, England artistic and cultural exchanges
Gansu senior school students artworks will be exhibited at the ArtZone, Centre of Contemporary Art, Gloucester Street, from 27 September to 20 October 2001.
Related information: Gansu artistic and cultural exchanges
On Thursday October 11th 2001 evening four Adelaide Greyhounds will race in Christchurch alongside Christchurch’s top four greyhounds. The greyhound race distance will be 520 metres and the final stake $30,000...[more]
Related information: Adelaide sports exchanges
Bunbury & Busselton, Western Australia, 30 September – 3 October 2001
The Australian Sister Cities Association 20th National Conference is open to anyone who wishes to attend. A fantastic Youth program is also being run at the same time.
Mount Pleasant School students to visit their sister school Dai Yon Fukuda Shogakko, Kurashiki 19 September 2001 for 2 weeks.
Related information: Kurashiki educational exchanges
For 11 years there has been a sister school link between Christchurch’s Oaklands Primary School and Direk Primary School, Adelaide, with the intention of fostering an understanding between senior primary school pupils of both the similarities and differences between New Zealand and Australia...[more]
Related information: Adelaide educational exchanges
Christchurch Deputy Mayor, Cr Lesley Keast and Cr Carole Anderton together with Mr Clyde Sugden, Chairman of the Christchurch-Songpa-Gu Sister City Committee will travel to Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea from 17 to 25 September 2000 to represent Christchurch at Songpa-Gu’s Paekje Festival.
The biennial festival takes place over five days. It celebrates the time when Songpa was the capital city of Korea's Paekje Kingdom for 500 out of the 678 years of the Paekje dynasty, around 2000 years ago. The festival includes cultural performances and a parade through the streets of Songpa-Gu.
For further information please contact Barbara August, International Relations Co-ordinator, Christchurch City Council (ph. 371 1251 or email Barbara.August@ccc.govt.nz)
Related information: Songpa-Gu artistic and cultural exchanges
14 high school students led by Christchurch Boys' High School Deputy Principal Colin Donald and his wife, Justine will visit Kurashiki for 2 weeks, where they will be home-hosted.
Related information: Kurashiki educational exchanges
The nine students and leader will be welcomed to Christchurch on 29 July, at the start of their two week visit.
Three of the students will be hosted by Villa Maria School and the other students will be hosted by St Margarets, Hillmorton, Aranui, Avonside and Marion. Excursions will include local sightseeing, a farm visit, Ten Pin Bowing Champs and a Pizza & Pavlova night.
This exchange takes place annually and is reciprocated when 14 Christchurch high school students and two leaders visit Kurashiki annually in September.
Related information: Kurashiki educational exchanges
28
June -28 July 2001
In part two of the exhibition exchange between Christchurch's
The Physics Room, and The Experimental Art Foundation,
from Adelaide, the Experimental Art Foundation presents
Thrash, an exhibition of artists curated by Emma Bugden
of The Physics Room...[more]
Related information: Adelaide artistic & cultural exchanges
The project entry covered the cultural aspects of the opening of the City Council's Sister Cities Gardens at the old Halswell Quarry Park in February. Representative delegations from Christchurch's six sister cities were at the opening of the gardens.
Related information: Sister Cities New Zealand, media release
A classic Canterbury summer's day ensured the success of the opening of the Sister Cities' Gardens in Halswell Quarry Park on 17 February 2001...[more]
Eight local people leave Christchurch 31 July to take up postings as Assistant English Teachers in Kurashiki schools from early August 2000. They will be farewelled by the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Committee, at a dinner on the 25 July.
Related information: Kurashiki educational exchanges
