Click on a red region of the map for more information on activities in that area, contacts and subscription rates for joining that branch of the Society. Or click here to contact the National Executive of the New Zealand China Friendship Society.

Contact and local branch information

National Executive members: 2009/2010
National President: Eric Livingstone	eric.livingstonebc@xtra.co.nz
Nat. Vice Pres. North Island: Christine Strickland	59 Anne St, Wadestown, Wellington 04 471 0765
Nat. Vice Pres. South Island: Trevor Linyard	250 Pages Rd, Timaru  03 686 1278 linyards@actrix.co.nz
Nat. Treasurer: Royden Smith	royden@paradise.net.nz
Nat. Secretary: Alistair Shaw	PO Box 6724, Wellington 04 4636589 02102297421 alistair.shaw@vuw.ac.nz
National Executive:	Includes all Branch Presidents and the Elected Members below
Dave Bromwich	20 Burbury Ridge Havelock North 06 877 9930
Ian Howat	P O Box 19049, Hamilton 07 823 6745
Diana Madgin	373 River Rd, Chch 1 03 385 3559
Cecil Fowler	31 Frost Rd, Mt Roskill, Auckland 09 6206710
Sally Russell	35 Braedalbane Rd, Havelock North 4130 06 8776027
Bill Willmott	373 River Rd, Chch 1 03 385 3559

 

Hibiscus Coast

Future programme:

• Talks on, for example, Life in China, Chinese Culture, Embroidery
• Demonstrations of: Chinese Calligraphy, Acupuncture, Martial arts, Chinese art, Chinese language, Handcraft paper- making
• Educational Exchanges
• Business Contacts
• Tours to China (including to Chinese Gardens)
• Sponsored projects in China (e.g. a school and medical centre)

Annual subscription:
Personal: $20
Family: $30
Corporate: $50

Secretary: Allen Crosby
Ph: (09) 427 4009

Treasurer: Dicky Hutchings
Ph: (09) 426 4480
dickyh@xtra.co.nz

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Auckland

 

The Auckland Branch (then known as the China Friendship Association) was founded in 1952.

Branch meetings are heldat Rationalist House, Symonds St, City on last Sunday of each month commencing at 5pm. (excluding December). A monthly newsletter is published which details current activities. These include regular banquets, welcoming Chinese visitors, film evenings, and free Cantonese and Mandarin language lessons. For the past four years there has been an English Corner for new migrants at Potter's Park, Balmoral, every Saturday morning.

The branch is represented on the Auckland City Council's Guangzhou Committee which develops relationships with Auckland's sister-city. We also have a special relationship with that part of Hebei Province where Kathleen Hall worked. Visits are exchanged and we have hosted a school group from Baoding.

The first President was Leo Sim, other well-known presidents have been R.A.K. Mason 1954-8, Roy Evans 1966-74, Shiela McMillan 1983-6, Penny King 1989, Cecil Fowler 1992-99. Amongst the Secretaries have been Mabel Lee 1952-3, Shirley Barton 1954-8, Kathleen Hall 1960, Arthur Jackson-Thomas 1964, and Joan Donley 1974-8.

Annual membership (Jan 1-Dec.31):
Waged $29. Unwaged/Retired/Student $15. Corporate :$50
New members pay % of remaining months.

Contacts:

President : George Andrews
george@aqua.co.nz 

Ctte Mbr/Newsletter: Rewi Kemp
Ph 6346873
rewi@flotsam.co.nz

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Hamilton

 

Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday at the Waikato Migrant Resource Centre, Claudelands Park, Boundary Road, Hamilton.

Annual membership:

Single $20
Couple or family $25
Senior single $15
Senior couple $20
Student $10
Corporate $50
Educational Institution $30

Contacts:

President: Ian Howat
Tel: 07 855 7200
Fax 07 855 7297

Secretary: Meryl Lanting
Tel: (07) 8435260

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Tauranga

 

This branch was formed in 1971. We have a membership of about 60 people, most of whom have visited China in the past as tourists, technical officials, trade advisors, or English language teachers, or are people interested in visiting and/or working in China in the future.

The branch holds monthly general meetings, usually alternating between the second Sunday afternoon, and the second Tuesday evening of the month. (Visitors should check in advance, as this can vary in special circumstances.)

Most meetings feature a speaker - either a person who has recently visited China or a person who can enlighten members on aspects of Chinese history, culture or contemporary society. The branch also holds some social functions to mark such events a Chinese New Year, National Day, and some Chinese festivals.

Committee meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month.

Tauranga is a sister-city to the important coastal port city of Yantai in China's Shandong Province - one of the 14 original coastal special economic zones created in the 1980s. The sister-city link was established in 1986, and has involved a variety of educational, technical and cultural exchanges over the years. Business links are also developing steadily with commercially sponsored trade offices in Tauranga and Yantai able to assist trade development in both directions. These offices can help with business introductions, document translation, and general advice not just in Shandon Province, but northern China generally.

Tauranga branch is involved in promotion of Standard Chinese language studies in New Zealand, and general education of the community about modern China. It also co-ordinates commercial stands for New Zealand companies interested in exhibiting at annual trade fairs in Shandong Province.

The New Zealand Fenglin College Work Experience Programme is a plan whereby selected students on a three year horticulture course at Fenglin College in Jiangxi , China will come to New Zealand to gain practical experience with selected contractors in the local Tauranga Kiwi Fruit Industry. Committee member  John Hodgson is currently seeting this up.

Annual membership: Ordinary Members $20.00, Senior (over 65) $15, Student $10.00, Host Family $20.00, Couples $25, and Corporate $50.00.

Contacts:

Secretary: Andrew Hart
92 Fraser Street,
Tauranga
Ph: 075714499

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Rotorua

 

This branch is situated in the thermal/hot spring area of New Zealand. General meetings are held on the 4th Sunday of the month in the Rotorua Arts Village Experience (RAVE) on the corner of Hinemaru and Hinemoa Streets. Meetings start at 12 noon with a pot-luck lunch followed by a talk, or film show.

The branch supports:

1. Teaching of Mandarin in local schools at all levels.
2. Sponsoring the May Kingsford inter-school Chinese speech competition
3. Hosting Chinese officials when they visit Rotorua.
4. Supporting the Rotorua District Council in its sister city relationship with Wuxian (Jiangau Province).

Annual membership: $15 (single), $25 (family)

Contacts:

President: Vacant

Vice President:  John Bond
13 La Trobe Place
Rotorua
E-mail:- j007b@clear.net.nz
Ph. (07) 3426234

Secretary: Brenda Lee
49 Maraeroa Road
Mamaku 3020
E-mail: c.lee@clear.net.nz
Ph. (07) 3325731

Treasurer: Norma Millard
24a Union Street
Rotorua
Ph. (07) 3482110

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Hawkes Bay

 

The Branch was founded in 1958 by Bill Youren, a local farmer, and was re-formed in 1985 by Dr Don McKenzie, a HortResearch Fruit Scientist. Under his leadership, a horticultural exchange programme was established and has developed into a close working relationship.

The aims of the Branch are: to promote mutual understanding, good will, and friendship between the peoples of China and New Zealand by encouraging the exchange of visitors, ideas, information and trade; and to foster interest in the study of China's past and recent history, culture, and political and social structures.

Currently the Branch has a membership of approximately 100 many of whom have travelled to China or worked there and retain a genuine interest in the country and its future.

The Branch meets monthly at 7:30pm on the first Friday of each month at the Hastings District Council Chambers, Lyndon Road, Hastings. Meetings include talks and activities about aspects of Chinese culture, the showing of DVDs, reports of travel in China and presentations from Chinese visitors, followed by supper.

In 1981, Dr Don McKenzie convinced the then Hastings City Council to establish New Zealand's first Sister-City relationship with China. Under the progressive leadership of the then Hastings Mayor, the late Jeremy Dwyer, this has become an active and highly respected relationship. You might like to visit the Guilin City website

Hawke's Bay now enjoys three Sister -City relationships; Hastings with Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Napier with Lianyungang and Hawke's Bay Regional Council with Xuzhou, both in Jiangsu Province.

Annual membership: $10 Student, $15 single, $23 family, $30 school, $50 corporate.

Contacts:

President: Sally Russell
Phone/fax: 06 877 6027

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Whanganui

 

President
Dave Feickert
11 Bristow Street
PO Box 7247
Whanganui 4541
dave.feickert@gmail.com

 

Manawatu

We are a friendly group of people interested in all things Chinese.

We meet several times a year at:
Palmerston North Community Leisure Centre,
569 Ferguson Street.

We contact by newsletter.

Please call us for more information.

Annual Membership: $20 (family), $12 (single) - under review, $5 (student)

Contacts:

President: Maurice Alley

M.R.Alley@massey.ac.nz

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Wairarapa

 

Members are drawn from throughout the Wairarapa Region, with several members living in the Wellington area and others working in China. Wairarapa is the 16th Branch of NZCFS, being inaugurated in 2001.

Most meetings are held in Masterton, on average every second month (usually on the 4th Wednesday evening).

A number of our NZCFS members are also members of the Masterton District Council's International Relations Committee which meets at 4pm on the third Wednesdays of most months.

Wairarapa Branch welcomes teenagers as well as young adults interested in modern-day China to join with retired people, many of whom have worked and travelled extensively throughout China.

Contacts:

President: Hilton Dickens
Email: hdickens@ihug.co.nz

Secretary / Treasurer
Donald Simpson
Email: simpsons@contact.net.nz

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Wellington

 

Founded 1956.

Present membership about 170. Activities include monthly meetings featuring talks and activities about aspects of Chinese culture, current affairs and trade; and two banquets a year at Spring Festival and for China's National Day. Monthly meetings are held at Connolly Hall, Guildford Tce (off Hill Street) on the third Wednesday at 5.45 pm followed by an optional buffet Chinese meal; except in June & July when meetings are held on the third Sunday at 2.30 pm followed by afternoon tea.

The Branch also sponsors a weekly Mandarin Corner where those wishing to improve or retain their Chinese language skills mix with native speakers. The meeting starts with an introduction to the theme for the session with a vocabulary list and then, in an informal atmosphere, people with similar levels of Chinese chat together over afternoon tea. These are held every Saturday afternoon from 3.15-4.30 pm during school term in Room 104, 22 Kelburn Parade, Victoria University.

Branch members can attend the monthly Chinese feature film (with English sub-titles) organised by the Wellington Branch of the NZ Chinese Language Association. These are held in Committee Room One, on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30 pm. Tea and biscuits are provided and a gold coin donation is requested.

The Wellington Branch supports the Sister Cities link with Xiamen and Beijing, and keeps close contact with the other local Chinese associations.

A monthly newsletter is published with details of current activities.

Annual membership: Student(full-time) $20, Single $25, Family $32, Educational Institute $40 and Corporate $50.

Contacts:

President:
Bernie Richmond
50 St Johns Terrace, Tawa,
Wellington
Ph: 04 232 5912

Secretary:
Bruce Asher
60 Friend Street
Karori
Wellington
Ph (04) 970 9952.

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Nelson

 

Nelson branch was formed in 1991 and has over 50 members.

Meetings are held about every 6 weeks on a Friday evening at the Hearing Association House, 354 Trafalgar Street, Nelson. The meetings run from 5:30 - 8:30pm, including a Chinese meal around 6:15pm followed by a speaker or presentation.

Nelson has a sister city link with Huangshi, Hubei Province, established in 1994. Since then there have been over 20 educational, cultural, sporting and municipal exchanges and visits.

Annual subscription: Single $15, Couple $25, School $25, Corporate $30

Contacts:

President: Christine Ward
Ph: 
christine@brainward.com

Secretary: Barbara Markland
Ph: (03) 544 4712
erm@xtra.co.nz

This year's other officers include:

Immediate Past President: June Clark
Vice President: Ferry van Mansum
Treasurer: Royden Smith
Committee: Llyn Wells, Ivan Kurtovic, Kathy Beatson, Christine Ward, Bruce Ward.

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Christchurch

 

The Christchurch Branch meets at 7.30pm on the last Thursday of each month (except December -January) at Rewi Alley Education and Cultural Centre, 39 Matipo Street, Riccarton, Christchurch.. Meetings are usually educational talks about Chinese culture, education, travel in China, or recent developments followed by a social supper hour.

We have good relations with the Chinese associations in Christchurch and some of their members often attend our meetings.

The Christchurch Branch supports the city's link with Gansu Province and often entertains visitors and students from that part of China. We also support the special projects established by Rewi Alley in China: the Shandan Bailie School and the Gung Ho Cooperatives. Each year we make a donation to support the Rewi Alley Academy here in Christchurch. We hold an end of year prizegiving in conduction with the CPIT for Students learning Chinese in Christchurch.

Annual membership:
Individual: $22, Family:$30, Unwaged: $18
$2 discount on all subs paid by 31st May.

Contacts:

President: Judy Livingstone
Tel: (03) 338-5574
Email: livingstonebc@xtra.co.nz

Secretary: Annette Hill
Tel: (03) 322 8182
Email: tomnahurich@xtra.co.nz

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Timaru

 

The branch meets five times each year; venue, dates and programmes on request.

Annual membership: $12 single, $18 family

Contacts:

President: Brian Foley 
"Trebell"
Makikihi RD8
South Canterbury

Secretary: Ann White
tangible@xtra.co.nz

Treasurer: Mrs Cecilia Davies
Tel: (03) 688-8920
Fax: (03) 684-4182

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Dunedin

 

This Branch is currently in recess. The National Executive is 
exploring ways to get the Branch going again. Please contact Eric 
Livingstone, National President (livingstonebc@xtra.co.nz) or Alistair 
Shaw, National Secretary (alistair.shaw@vuw.ac.nz) if you would be 
interested in being involved.

Click here to join this branch