Home Hamilton Branch Newsletters NZCFS Hamilto...

NZCFS Hamilton Branch Newsletter – March 2011

New Zealand China Friendship Society

Hamilton Branch                 President: J. Foreman

March General Meeting  Date: Wed 30 March 2011  Time: 7:30pm

New Venue: Parents Centre, 87 Boundary road (Opposite Migrant Centre)

Please bring a friend.

Guest Speaker

Keith Woodley. This meeting will be a joint one with the local Ornithological Society. Special guest speaker will be Keith Woodley. Manager of the Miranda Shorebird Centre, and author of the book “Godwits: Long-haul Champions”. These birds migrate on an annual basis from New Zealand to Alaska and Siberia. There is an intermediate landing in China (Yalu Jiang) and Korea (these birds are wading birds not designed to land on the sea so have to fly non-stop all the way), but with development on the Yellow Sea area, there is the possibility of disaster for the Godwits.. This is a fascinating topic by a great speaker, and very appropriate for us as the Consulate-General in Auckland has already been involved with this problem. For those who like to do their homework – check out www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz

Hong Kong Visitor 3-5 Dec ‘10

Nicholas Thomas, an Associate Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Asian and International Studies at City University, Hong Kong paid a brief visit to Hamilton and met up with Jenevere, Stan and Ian. He was running a research project on China’s Pacific links, part of which looked at Sino-New Zealand relations. One area of especial interest to him was the role of sub-national actors (both local government as well as civil society organizations) in the relationship. He was particularly interested in the New Zealand-China relationship as well as the role played by organizations such as NZCFS in the wider bilateral relationship. During his time here, he attended the New Zealand Political Science Association meeting at the University of Waikato. He was hosted to lunch by Jenevere at her home, along with President Ian and Vice-President Stan. He was fascinated to hear that tea was actually grown in Hamilton – in fact it is so successfully grown and marketed that it is now exported to China and Hong Kong, and is becoming a major export earner for Hamilton. Stan and Ian hosted him to a fruitful and very pleasant luncheon at the Camellia Restaurant at Zealong Tea Plantation at Rototuna.

Hamilton Lantern Festival

Our first one was held in Garden Place on 19 February 2011 with a crowd of about 2,000 attending the spectacle. The event was sponsored by Skyc¬ity, Hamilton City council, and Hamil¬ton Chinese Weekly Newspaper. Three hours of live acts from local Chinese groups, mostly Sunshine Society and Golden Age Society with a fan dance performed by members of Waikato Tai Chi. Cultural consul LONG Yanping and two consuls represented the Consulate- General. A letter of congratulations from Madame LIAO Juhua was read out. The festival appeared very successful, and hopefully next year may attract some of the lantern displays sponsored by Asia 2000 at Lantern festivals in Auckland, Christchurch and, I think, Wellington. Auckland Lantern Festival. Stan, Mu¬riel and Ian joined with friends from NZ Chinese Association (Waikato Branch) on a bus trip up to Auckland on Sunday 25 February. What a stunning event – we arrived there at 5.30pm and left at 9.30pm and did not even see all the lan¬tern displays. Princes Street was closed off and had become “Food Street” with stalls on both sides of the street selling a variety of Asian street foods. At least two concert stages going non-stop with music, martial arts displays, dancing and performances. Albert Park is abso¬lutely stunning in the evening all lit up with incredible lanterns. Huge crowds of people, but very well behaved and obviously enjoying themselves. We had trouble moving quickly around with the number of people there –worse when we left, as even more people were then arriving to witness the fireworks clos¬ing display. This should be on all your bucket lists!                                    (Images courtesy of Waikato Weekly Chinese Newspaper)

Hamilton Branch AGM

The AGM was held at Stan Boyle’s home on Wednesday 23 February. Ian did not stand again as President, and Jenevere Foreman was unanimously elected as our new branch president, with Meryl Lanting re-elected as Secre¬tary and Diane re-elected as Treasurer. Our loyalty award goes to Jim Holdom and Emmanuel Turner who were the only members, other that committee who attended our AGM. President Jen¬evere is very keen to hear from you with any ideas or suggestions for our activi¬ties and meetings to keep us all interest¬ed, educated, stimulated and motivated. Jenevere has recently moved house and her new telephone number is 850-1312.

NZCFS Northern Region Picnic

The NZCFS Northern Region Picnic held at Miranda Shorebird Centre on Satur¬day 26 February was a great success. Jenevere, Muriel, Meryl, Stan, Howard, Peter Vautier, and Harry from Hamilton Branch went over by car. Two members from Hibiscus coast and sixteen mem¬bers from Auckland came down by bus from Auckland. We had an introduction from Auckland member Estella Lee and met many of the volunteers involved, followed by a very interesting talk from the centre manager. The information and statistics provided, covered a number of the migratory wading birds, and in particular, the Godwits. The Godwits are quite amazing – they only weigh about 300g, but each year they fly from New Zealand on their 11,000 km non-stop (average speed 55kph) flights most to Yalu Jiang on the China coast close to the Korean border and to Korea for a brief rest before flying on to the Arctic regions for their breeding season. We then had lunch before heading down to the shore to observe the godwits (and some of their friends) who were feeding up prior to their imminent departure (the first small group left a week later)

Shaanxi Delegation

The delegation will visit to Hamilton Tuesday 19 April 2011. Our National President Eric Livingstone has invited a medium level delegation from Shaanxi Provincial Government to visit New Zealand for four days. Our branch will be meeting with the delegation in Ham¬ilton. One of the purposes of their visit is to expand co-operation in agriculture, especially kiwifruit, and they have asked if they can meet with Agriculture Indus¬try leaders.

Middle: Cecil Fowler

Cecil Fowler’s 90th Birthday

 

 

Meryl and Ian were privileged to attend the party on 5 March to celebrate this momentous and happy event. Cecil is immediate past president of our Auck¬land Branch and has an incredible long and active involvement with our Society and is one of our life members. Many family members and friends regaled us with marvellous stories and reminis¬cences about this remarkable woman and her achievements. China’s Consul-General Madame LIAO Juhua made a congratulatory speech and presented a “longevity” plate to Cecil. Congratula¬tions and best wishes from as all Cecil!

 Book Review – “Sky Burial”

“Sky Burial” by Xinran Xue published by Vintage Books. The story of Shu Wen – married for only 100 days when she and her husband Kaijun were separated. Both were doctors, but Kaijun was sent to Tibet to work with the Chinese army. Promised mail is not received so Shu Wen travels to Tibet and spends 30 years trying to find where her husband may be or what has happened to him. Shu Wen lives with nomadic Tibetans and as unbelievable circumstances oc¬cur she eventually finds out why she never received the promised mail. The story is written as told to Xinran Xue by Shu Wen. All told the 20 hours of talk have been retold in this book which gives one an insight into the spiritual lives of the Tibetans, the harsh condi¬tions in which they live in the wild and alien landscape.

Reviewed by Jenevere Foreman.

NZCFS Projects and Tibetan Communities Tour

Dave Bromwich has created a fasci¬nating itinerary for this year’s NZCFS Projects and Tibetan Communities Tour in October, 2011 and this is now up on the website at:

NZCFS Projects and Tibetan Communities Tour 2011

This tour will visit New Zealand China Friendship Society projects in the Baoji district of Shaanxi province, and then travel through Gansu, Qinghai and Yun¬nan provinces with a focus on Tibetan communities, as well as spending seven days in Tibet.

The estimated price, depending on the exchange rate and final air fares avail¬able, is $7100, twin share, for 21 days in China. This is an all up cost, and includes all travel from a New Zealand home town airport and return. The only extra costs should be the Chinese visa and travel insurance costs.