A small group of Society members and Pat Alley, Rewi Alley’s nephew, gathered in the Rewi Alley Reserve, Glenfield, Auckland, on a drizzly morning on Friday, August 4, 2013, to introduce Consul-general Niu to the bust of Rewi Alley which has graced the Reserve since March 2006.
Mr Niu Qingbao was impressed with the bust of Alley, with its side panels in bas-relief, which illustrate important aspects of Rewi’s work in China. The bust and panels had been sculpted by the celebrated sculpter Lu Bo, wife of Deng Bangzhen, one of the Chinese boys whom Rewi adopted. Pat Alley explained the significance of the panels and he recounted family anecdotes about his famous uncle.
A project to plant a number of trees of NZ natives and Chinese varieties, such as Ginko, in the area adjacent to the statue, was discussed with Consul-general Niu. He agreed to support an application by the Society to the Auckland Council to carry the project forward. Graeme Platt, an expert tree botanist, agreed to work up a list of suitable trees.
Afterwards, all were invited by Fay Hobday (Auckland branch Secretary) to her house for a warming tea (Chinese, of course).
Auckland branch was represented by George Andrews, Murray Hoare, Isobel Easton-Thompson, Rewi Kemp, Graeme and Rosemary Platt; Hibiscus Coast branch by Duncan France. Consul Long Yanping accompanied Consul-general Niu Qingbao.
For a location map, click HERE
Duncan France, August 2013