National Conference and AGM China & New Zealand: The Next Decade
27-29th May 2011 in Wellington
Thank you to all the Wellington Branch Committee and Members who contributed to make this conference a highlight. The speakers each gave us much to think about, the venue worked well and the food delicious. A highlight is always catching up with people we know well and the opportunity to talk over NZCFS matters. Branch President, Bernie Richmond was Chair of the organizing committee, Ray Brownrigg organized publicity, printing and the website, Doreen Launder was in charge of registrations and the Treasurer, Douglas Day organized the Speakers Programme, Sadie Ng the catering at both the Conference & Banquet and Rosemary Jones was the Conference Coordinator. They were assisted by Bruce Asher, Ben Fon, Elaine Richmond, George Mills, Luke Qin, Ellen Yang and Christine Strickland.
We were honoured by a Delegation of four from the CPAFFC (Youxie) in Beijing led by Mr Qing Boming. Mrs. Pat Tauroa of the NZ China Maori Friendship Association also attended and addressed the conference.
The Conference was officially opened on Friday evening by Wellington’s Deputy Mayor Ian McKinnon who spoke warmly about the Society. John Forster of The Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, the main conference sponsor, also spoke.
NZCFS AGM Banquet 2011
Professor Huang Xiao Ming, Director of the New Zealand China Research Centre at Victoria University gave the main address on China’s development to date and looked forward to development possibilities between New Zealand and China with four foci for the future.
- Ensuring what is done is done well
- Ensuring the wellbeing of the Chinese people – recognizing and raising “The Happiness Factor” in terms of daily life, food security, unemployment, inflation, etc
- Making sure progress is being made in the areas of social welfare, economy, science and culture
- Building on the “green developments” to date, particularly to reduce the use of fossil fuels. With China being the world’s greatest exporter and second greatest importer it believes it has inherent responsibilities to the world’s economy.
The Saturday programme was devoted to a range of speakers, all inspiring on their own different topics. National President Eric Livingstone spoke about the direction and challenges of the Society into the future.
Please go to the Conference page where you will be able to read many of the addresses in full.
Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of China, Mr Cheng Lei, spoke about how China’s scientific development brings opportunity to the world. He said the reason why China has made great progress in the past decades is that China has found the development model suitable for its own conditions.
David Feickert (Whanganui Member) and Advisor to the Chinese Government on Mining Safety spoke about four disasters that he has been involved with, two mining accidents (one in New Zealand and one in China), and two earthquakes (one in New Zealand and one in China). He discussed the strengths and failings of each of these events and better ways of dealing with disasters in China and New Zealand, saying two countries can learn from each other on dealing with mining disasters and earthquakes.
Ms Laytee George a teacher of Mandarin in Rotorua spoke dynamically about the successful programme that she has been developing in various schools in The Bay of Plenty using
• a class’s everyday teacher,
• audiovisual support and
• a native speaker of Mandarin.
This three prong approach is proving to be very successful with 2,000 of the 10,000 currently studying Mandarin being from Rotorua.
In his presentation, Stuart Fergusson, Chairman of New Zealand- China Trade Association, focused on the misconceptions of difficulties in trading with China.
Dr Les Molloy is a consultant in conservation of natural and cultural heritage around the world, has written numerous books and papers on sites in New Zealand but spoke at the conference about the numbers of World Heritage sites in China and the imbalance between numbers if natural and cultural sites and the UNESCO processes for their protection.
Dave Bromwich, National Vice President and co leader of the society’s Projects Committee spoke about what the Society actually does in China in helping people to help themselves, the cooperatives that our society has helped set up, the rabbits programme which brings money and food to rural areas.
Dr Luo Hui from the newly established Confucius Institute at Victoria University spoke about what a Confucius Institute is and what they do around the world.
Richard Nottage, Deputy Chairman of Asia:NZ spoke of the change in attitudes of New Zealand society in the last 20 years and the fact that this needs to continue.
Qing Boming, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries updated the conference on recent activities. Ms Pat Tauroa President of the Maori China Friendship Association told us about that organization and Life Member Bill Willmott spoke about the two associations working together and how they toured together last year to the Friendship Forum in Nanchang.
The National President continued on and gave the conference a comprehensive and very well researched address on developments in China and what the future may hold.
Dave Adamson, President of Christchurch Branch shared his experiences in visiting homes in the worst affected areas in Christchurch and the impact the earthquake is having on lives. On Sunday Wang Lindan (Linda) talked of being the first Margot Cornwall Scholar which included experiencing the big February earthquake on her first day at Canterbury University and having to walk towards home for three hours before connecting up with a worried Eric and Judy.
Comments:
All the speakers at Conference gave highly interesting and informative addresses which were challenging on a range of levels. Professor Huang Xiaoming set an excellent tone and quality at the start and made me want to read it again immediately and spread his message far and wide.—Christine, Nelson
It was very enjoyable to reminisce with Pat Tauroa over last year when I was able to meet both delegations and introduce them to some of Nanchang life that they would probably have missed – John, Tauranga
President Eric Livingstone then reported that our Society’s new website is “up and running” and ready to be used by several more Branches with the support of Ray Brownrigg and “the Team”. It was good to have a Delegation from Christchurch, despite the earthquake damage and losses which many of their Members have suffered. They are resilient ! – Don, Wairarapa
The AGM awarded Distinguished Service Awards to Trevor Linyard, past South Island Vice-President for all his work including Chair of the Projects Committee, former National Treasurer and twice Christchurch President Judy Livingstone for her long-time and on-going contributions and to outgoing National Secretary Alistair Shaw for all his work.
The AGM received excellent reports from many active committees including projects, tours and finance plus highlights of their year from all the 15 Branches.
New NZCFS National Executive
National President: Eric Livingstone, Christchurch
North Island Vice-President: Dave Bromwich, Hawke’s Bay
Secretary: Heiko Lade, Hawke’s Bay
Treasurer: Royden Smith, Nelson
Executive Members: Margaret Cooper, Tauranga, Jenevere Foreman, Hamilton, Di Madgin, Christchurch, Bernie Richmond, Wellington, Sally Russell, Hawke’s Bay
Bill Willmott, Christchurch
Co-opted: Peter Vautier, Hamilton
Plus all Branch Presidents. The National Executive co-opted John Hodgson as Tauranga acting President.
