Here is a calendar of upcoming events, up and down the country. Some are organized by us, others by like-minded organizations and groups.
This significant New Zealand-inspired and designed Memorial and public programme of events provides an opportunity to inspire and empower individuals to stand against prejudice, discrimination and apathy.
A memorial made by young people to honour other young people who were killed in their millions in another place and time.
We encourage you to visit this powerful and moving memorial to the children of the Holocaust to learn more and reflect on what must never be forgotten.
How many is 1.5 million?
The Germans and their collaborators killed as many as 1.5 million children during the Holocaust including children related to New Zealand’s Holocaust survivors and refugees.
When Justine Hitchcock (Principal of Wellington’s Moriah Jewish Day School) was teaching her young pupils about the Holocaust she decided to help the children understand the enormity of 1.5 million lives lost.
Justine initiated a project to collect 1.5 million buttons — one button for each child that perished. The children themselves managed the project, no child was more than 12-years old. Buttons were sent in from the local Wellington community, from across New Zealand and even from overseas. Many buttons came with personal stories and photographs.
The project evolved into a story of collective remembrance — a memorial.
The majority of the buttons will be contained in a truly unique design and installation by Matthijs Siljee of Massey University’s School of Design; the design includes a series of cascading metallic cabinets containing the buttons.
Strong education focus
The memorial has a strong education focus including an interactive educational section — especially relevant for school children.
The Holocaust in Services to School’s Topic Explorer tool also has curated online resources for students.
The focus of the memorial is to teach:
- what the Holocaust was
how children were affected by the Holocaust
the importance of being an ‘Upstander, not a bystander’ when you witness bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Programme of free events:
The story of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial
Discover the story behind the Memorial with Chris Harris, CEO of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand and guests.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Wednesday 22 July, 5pm for a 5.30pm start
Upstander Stories
An evening of stories and discussion about the importance in Christchurch to be Upstanders, encourage inclusivity and respect diversity in all its forms.
This is a special LinC Activator event in collaboration with Christchurch City Libraries as part of The Children’s Holocaust Memorial.
Speakers
Chris Harris – CEO Holocaust Centre of New Zealand
Jo Bailey, Zahra Hussaini and Rebecca Parnham – Uniting Canterbury Women
Tayla Reece, Rose Cook, Aporonia Arahanga and Ayesha Jones – LinC Puāwai Youth Programme
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Tuesday 11 August, 6pm, doors open 5.30pm.
Bookings required, click here to register
Guided Tours
Personal tours of the Memorial with Chris Harris, CEO of the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Thursday 23 July, 6pm
Friday 24 July, 12pm
Tuesday 11 August, 12pm
Documentary Screenings
Screenings of NZ Survivor Stories and The Courage to Care, documentaries that profile Jews who were rescued during the Holocaust, rescuers from France, Poland and Holland and the questions raised about the moral and ethical dilemmas that the rescuers confronted.
Ngā Purapura / Activity Room, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Sunday 2 August, 2pm
Saturday 5 September, 2pm
Book Launch and Activities
Join writer Elissa Weissman for launch of the paperback version of her novel The Length of A String. A novel about Imani, a young girl who is adopted, and ready to search for her birth parents. But when she discovers the diary her Jewish great-grandmother wrote chronicling her escape from Holocaust-era Europe, Imani begins to see family in a new way. There will also be lots of fun activities to enjoy.
Free, no bookings required.
Tautoru / TSB Space, Hapori | Community, Level 1
Sunday 13 September, 3pm
NZ Governments and Israel
4.30pm, Sunday, October 11
Hao Room, Halswell Centre, 341 Halswell Rd, Christchurch
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Ashley Church is a current director of the Israel Institute of NZ and has a business partnership with ex-network newsreader and public relations consultant, Rawdon Christie. He also provides consulting and management services to Membership Organisations, Associations and Business Coops.
The Israel Institute of New Zealand is an independent think tank dedicated to providing New Zealanders with a better understanding of the State of Israel through accurate analysis, insightful commentary, and effective advocacy.
He is an NZME correspondent, for Energy, and Business issues and has appeared on My House My Castle, NZ Open Home, ASB I Want to Buy a Home and TVNZ Breakfast.
ADMISSION
Please bring a plate of finger food, no pork or seafood products. A collection will be taken to help defray travel and other event-related costs.
KEEP YOUR DIARY FREE!
YOU ARE INVITED TO A FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR
THE AMBASSADOR OF ISRAEL
DR ITZHAK GERBERG
On Thursday, November 12 at 8 pm
Riccarton Centre
199 Clarence St
Riccarton, Christchurch.
Light refreshments will be served.
Dress Code: Business Casual or semi-formal
The Auckland public Hanukkah celebration will take place on Sunday 13 December from 4:30pm until 8:30pm at Orakei Domain, Okahu Bay, next to the playground.
Expect a fun event: live music, food trucks, Kosher Sufganiyot, Israeli dancing, Hanukkiah raffle, and great ambience.
The celebration will conclude with the lighting of the Hanukkah candles ceremony.
CHRISTCHURCH FEBRUARY GATHERING: THE IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL
2.30pm, Sunday, February 28
Hao Rm, Halswell Centre,
341 Halswell Rd, Christchurch
From 6:30 am Sunday, February 28, Christchurch will be in a Level 2 Lockdown. Under Level 2 rules, attendance will be limited to a maximum of 100.
NZ Friends of Israel invites you to a discussion on the issues arising from renewing the Iran nuclear deal.
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- What was the original nuclear deal?
- What was learnt from it?
- What are the risks to Israel if Iran successfully develops a nuclear weapon?
- What can be done about it?
- What can we do about it?
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Admission: Bring a plate of finger food, please no pork or seafood products.
CHRISTCHURCH MARCH GATHERING: WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
2:30 pm, Sunday, March 21
Hau Room
Halswell Centre
341 Halswell Road, Christchurch
New Zealand friends of Israel invites you to a fun quiz that will challenge your knowledge of Jews, Judaism, and Israel.
Admission: Bring a plate of finger food, please no pork or seafood products.
CHRISTCHURCH: IN THE WAKE OF THE LATEST GAZA-ISRAEL CONFLICT, WHAT’S NEXT?
20 June 2021, 2.30pm
Halswell Community Centre, 328 Halswell Rd, Christchurch.
GPS coordinates: -43.581902, 172.568741
- Why did the police storm the Temple Mount?
- What is Sheikh Jerrah?
- How was the conflict conducted by both sides?
- What was the reaction in NZ to the conflict?
- Why was there no public rally in support of Israel in Christchurch?
Please bring a plate of finger food. No seafood or pork based products, thanks.
There will be a presentation of a petition, urging our government to declare all wings of Hamas to be terrorist organisations.
Note the change of time, as Parliament Staff will only let us use a sound system at certain times this Thursday, so we’ve accordingly adjusted the start time of our event.
Please gather at the new time of 12.30pm at Parliament Grounds.
Please bring your Israel & NZ Flags and any placards in support of Israel!
#nzstandswithisrael