Rewi Alley

The most famous New Zealander in China – Rewi Alley contributed perhaps more than any other foreigner to the Chinese revolution. Rewi Alley was born in Springfield, Canterbury, New Zealand in 1897 and attended the Amberley Primary School in the Hurunui District. He was the founder and inspiration for the NZ China Friendship Society, dedicating 60 years of his life to his adopted country, while remaining a New Zealander at heart. Rewi organised thousands of industrial co-operatives during the war against Japan. He also pioneered technical training schools, the most famous at Shandan in the Gobi Desert. Rewi died in Beijing on December 27th 1987, not long after his 90th birthday.

Rewi Alley was one of the first to be proactive in people to people diplomacy between New Zealand and China. His work with peasant children in rural China during the Communist revolution and beyond for over half a century, has been formally acknowledged by the Chinese government 

Rewi Alley was born and raised in the Canterbury district. His father was the teacher at Amberley Primary school and Rewi Alley had his early childhood education there until his father was transferred to Christchurch,  after accepting another position as headmaster at Wharenui School.

Hurunui District has honoured Rewi Alley with public acknowledgements; the Amberley Primary school has a hall named after Rewi Alley and Chamberlain Park has a memorial tree planted with a commemorative plaque which was laid by the Rewi Alley Centennial Committee in December 1997.