Discover and learn about Rewi Alley’s connection to Canterbury on the Rewi Alley Trail.

This trail can be completed as a full-day outing exploring Canterbury or as a side trip as you explore the South Island.

Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island.

Springfield is on the main highway to the West Coast, situated at the foot of the Southern Alps.

Amberley is on State Highway 1, north of Christchurch, on the road to Kaikoura or Hamner Springs for a day trip.

Christchurch City -where Rewi Alley spent his teenage years and informative education

 In Christchurch, there are a number of sites that are of significance to the Rewi Alley Trail.

Christchurch City Centre Sites

 

The Christchurch Arts Centre
  • Former Christchurch Boys High School plaque near the entrance to the current i-site.
  • Great Hall plaque under the main window commemorates Rewi’s brother Eric Alley, who died in World War 1, and others.
  • 1997 plaque to Rewi Alley in front of the New Zealand native totara tree, outside the Great Hall and near the pedestrian crossing to the Canterbury Museum.
  • For the 120th Anniversary in 2017 a commemorative plaque and information panel were installed at the Christchurch Art Centre where Rewi went to Christchurch Boys’ High School.
  • In 2024, a head and shoulders bust of Rewi Alley was positioned in close proximity to the 1997 plaque and the totara tree.
The Canterbury Museum
  • Oriental  Galley includes a bronze bust of Rewi Alley and major collections of Chinese artefacts contributed by Rewi Alley.
  • note the Canterbury Museum is closed for earthquake-strengthening until 2025
Suffrage Memorial
  • Near the Avon River and Worcester Boulevard, commemorating the successful right to vote for women in New Zealand. This made New Zealand the first country in the world to grant women this right. Rewi’s mother, Clara Buckingham, was an active suffragette at this times a petition organiser which was critical  for gaining the numbers to  be heard in Parliament.

Sites of interest the outside of the Christchurch City Centre

 

Christchurch Boys High Riccarton Christchurch
  • Commemorates Rewi Alley with a plaque at the base of the school’s flag pole.
Wharenui Primary School
  • Where Rewi attended, and his father was the first headmaster. It remembers Rewi with its Rewi Alley Memorial Hall and Rewi Alley Library.
Rewi Alley Chinese School  and Academy
  • The largest Chinese language School  in New Zealand commenced in 1998

This bust (statue) of Rewi Alley was unveiled on 24 May 2024 at the Christchurch Arts Centre by Mr LIU Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger.

The bust was donated to the Christchurch City Council by the China Peace Development Foundation and was produced by Yuan Xikun, a famous Chinese painter and sculptor.

The bust is postioned under the totara tree.

This memorial plaque to Rewi Alley was placed outside of the Christchurch Arts Centre (the site of old Christchurch Boys High School) on the 100th anniversary of his birth (2 December 1997). It is one of a series of memorials and plaques, which were dedicated and placed on significant anniversaries in places with a tangible connection to him.

The plaque sits under a totara tree. The cultural significance of a totara holds a special place in Māori culture. It’s seen as a taonga (treasure) and is associated with strength, leadership, and longevity.

Selwyn District – Springfield- Rewi Alleys Birth Palce
Springfield

Springfield Village is where Rewi Alley was born on 2nd December 1897.

The Rewi Alley Memorial Park has the
  • Rewi Alley Memorial is a large bas relief work commissioned for the 100th anniversary of Rewi Alley’s birth. Lu Bo sculptured it with the support of her husband, Deng Bangzhen (Rewi Alley’s foster son).
  • Rewi Alley Memorial Park and memorial panels. The memorial panels have an audio feature in both Chinese and English and shares Rewi’s legacy in an informative and respectful manner.
  • Plaque to Rewi’s mother, Clara Alley (nee Buckingham). This is on the rear side of the bas-relief sculpture.  The plaque is surrounded by Camellia flowers, which are the signature flowers of the Suffragette movement.

 

To get from Christchurch to Springfield

By car, it is approximately 54-60 minutes  (64.9 km) via Old West Coast Rd and State Hwy 73

If you are a visitor to Canterbury, we recommend you use Google Maps Route Planner for directions.

Type in: from Christchurch, NZ to Springfield, NZ, and what is the shortest path between those places.

Hurunui District, Amberley, Rewi Alley’s Early Childhood home.
 Amberley, Chamberlian Park

Amberley Township, in the Hurunui District, is where Rewi Alley lived from 1898 to 1907. He attended Amberley School, where his father was the headmaster.

The Hurunui District is where the moa bones came from. The New Zealand Government arranged to send the bones to Beijing in exchange for the Chinese artefacts collected by Rewi, which are now housed at The Canterbury Museum.

Rewi arranged for the Corridale Sheep that were sent to China as part of the Little Bo Peep Project. These sheep came from the Hurunui District.

In Chamberlain Park, there is,

  • A tree was planted in 1997 to commemorate the centenary of Rewi Alley’s birth.
  • The site of the schoolhouse where Rewi Alley lived.
  • The Chinese Garden of Reflection and Friendship Bridge over the stream where Rewi played as a child. Both were opened in 2017 at his 120th-anniversary celebration.
  • The Pounamu Touch Stone for Friendship was a gift to the park as an acknowledgement to the people of both New Zealand and China who seek peace and friendship. Rewi Alley was China’s ambassador for peace during the 1960’s, speaking at international peace conferences.
  • A large yin and yang mosaic, built by the Hurunui Youth Council from local river stones to signify the connection that Amberley has to Rewi Alley. It is dedicated to remember his legacy and achievements in China and his contribution to New Zealand.

 

To get from Christchurch to Amberley Chamberlian Park

By car, it is approximately 39 min (46.2 km) via SH 1 and SH 1

If you are a visitor to Canterbury, we recommend you use Google Maps Route Planner 

Type in from Christchurch, NZ to Amberley,  NZ and what is the shortest path between the two destinations.

If you are completing the Rewi Alley Trail in one day, you can go from Springfield to Amberley and see some beautiful countryside and small townships on the way.

To get from Springfield to Amberley Chamberlian Park

By car, it is approximately 1 hr 7 min (86.1 km) via Inland Scenic Rte 72

If you are a visitor to Canterbury, we recommend you use Google Maps Route Planner.

Type in from Springfield, NZ to Amberley, NZ, and what is the shortest path between those two places.