New Zealand China Friendship Society 新西兰中国友好协会

Our Aims and Constitution: The New Zealand China Friendship Society has had sixty years of experience working with China. This has given us strong connections and good contacts. We have a reputation in China and New Zealand for fostering people-to-people links, whether through sister-cities, sister-schools, friendship associations at all levels, or personal communication. The Aims of the New Zealand China Friendship Society are: To promote friendship, understanding and goodwill between the peoples of China and New Zealand by encouraging visits and exchanges of ideas, information, culture and trade between the two countries To foster interest in and promote the study of China, its history, culture, political and social structures – past and present To support specific aid projects in China To promote the study of the Chinese language by New Zealanders and advanced English studies in this country by Chinese To foster on-going development of all sister-city links between New Zealand and China To assist both visiting students and new migrants from China requiring help to fit into New Zealand society, NZCFS History The New Zealand China Society was founded in 1952, at a time when the Cold War had destroyed all relations between New Zealand and China. Some of its founding members had been involved in both material and personnel assistance to the efforts of New Zealander Rewi Alley to alleviate rural poverty through co-operatives and education. The Society’s main aim during the 1960s and ‘70s was providing opportunities for New Zealanders to learn about the new China, through public meetings and tours, and the campaign for diplomatic recognition of China by New Zealand, which finally occurred in 1972. In 1977 NZCFS became an Incorporated Society.