Southern View: November 27, 2025

alana@alliedmedia.co.nz
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
Annabel Judd
Ph: 021 457 469
annabel.judd@alliedmedia.co.nz
Museum honours Alley’s lasting legacy
BY LIU CHEN
New Zealand China Friendship
Society members hope the
opening of a dedicated Rewi
Alley Memorial Museum will
enhance understanding of this
“amazing man” and bilateral
relations.
China’s top legislator and the
third-most powerful political
figure Zhao Leji attended the
opening ceremony on Saturday,
The Star, January 23, 2025
as part of a visit to New Zealand.
The museum, in the Old
Municipal Chambers at 159
Oxford Tce, is expected to open
to the public in coming days
Alley, born in Springfield in
1897, first travelled to China in
1927 and went on to spend 60
The Star, January 23, 2025
years there, remaining until his
death in Beijing in 1987.
The Star, January 23, 2025
The Star, January 23, 2025
Photos exhibited at the Rewi Alley Memorial Museum.
A political activist, writer and
educator, he became known for
supporting Chinese communities
and for his contributions to
the country’s wartime efforts
during the Second Sino-Japanese
War, helping establish small-scale
grassroots industrial and economic
initiatives.
In his speech, Zhao thanked
those who made the museum a
reality.
“Rewi Alley nailed the foundation
for China-New Zealand
friendship, a true pioneer,” Zhao
said through an interpreter.
“His name shines brightly in
the history of China-New Zealand
friendship.”
Alley’s “gung ho” spirit, which
meant working together and
working hard, as well as his
concept of “hands and mind
Sir David Carter and Zhao Leji at the opening ceremony of the Rewi Alley Memorial
Museum on Oxford Tce.
together”, had left an impact to
China until today, Zhao said.
Sir David Carter, a patron of
the society and a key driving
force behind the establishment
of the museum, said New
Zealand should not take its relationship
with China for granted
and the basis of the relationship
was “genuine friendship”, putting
aside the economic ties.
“He journeyed to China when
the country was impoverished
and undeveloped,” Carter said.
“He saw firsthand how other
nations had ruthlessly exploited
the country and its people.
“He was determined to do
something about it and it
became his driving passion.”
Carter hoped the museum
would allow more people to learn
about Alley’s story.
“His story reminds us that
genuine friendship is built, not
on convenience, but on commitment,
respect and empathy.
“These are values that remain
just as important in today's
world as they were nearly a century
ago, when Rewi Alley first
arrived in Shanghai.”
Friendship society committee
member Dave Adamson said he
was confident the museum could
help build an understanding of
Alley’s contribution to China.
“He was just an amazing man,
but because he supported a communist
government in China,
FOR LOCAL ADVERTISING
that’s
Jenny
all a
Wright
lot of people in the
west, Ph: and 021 New 220 Zealand 3484 in particular,
jenny@alliedmedia.co.nz
could see,” Adamson said.
“He was doing amazing work
for ordinary poor people, and
he has still never got the level of
recognition in this country he
should have had. We’re hoping
this is the start of the resurrection
of that.”
Alley’s foster son, renowned
Chinese artist Deng Bangzhen,
now 84, also attended the opening
ceremony.
starnews.co.nz
Deng’s parents passed away
after the war and
Alley had helped
look after him
since he was nine,
as well as his elder
sister and younger
brother, although
starnews.co.nz
a formal fostering
process never
happened. Deng Bangzhen
Deng described
Alley as someone who “harboured
boundless love in his
heart”, and “loved others selflessly
and fairly”.
starnews.co.nz
“We feel very happy (about the
museum), because this has been
our wish for a long time,” he said.
“Because he served as a bridge
between China and New Zealand
friendship, we hope people
from both countries get to know
him and promote his
starnews.co.nz
spirit of
enhancing friendship between
countries.” – RNZ
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The Star, November 27, 2025
starnews.co.nz
Sunny skies bring out the crowd
Minnie and Mickey Mouse made an appearance.
Brilliant blue skies and warm temperatures
attracted about 45,000 people to the 78th
annual Christchurch Santa Parade on
Sunday. It is the third year the free event has
been held at Canterbury Agricultural Park.
The crowd was kept entertained with $3
fairground rides, food vendors, and craft and
retail stalls, before 45 festive floats paraded
around the 2km-long route. Superheroes,
princesses, TV characters, and marching and
dancing girls were all on show. The loudest
cheer was saved for the big guy in red, Santa
Claus, who will return to Christchurch for
Saturday's Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park
from 7.30pm.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
The Joker was all smiles, while Star Wars troopers patrolled.
Flo’s Painkiller Predicament:
A Close Call for a Curious Pup
When Flo, a little Shih Tzu cross, decided to do some
“exploring” at home recently, she managed to get
herself into quite a bit of mischief — and a potentially
life-threatening situation.
Her owners walked into a room and discovered Flo
happily chewing on a packet of ibuprofen she had
managed to pull out of a bag. There had only been
two or three tablets left in the pack, but now only one
remained. Recognising the danger, Flo’s quick-thinking
owners called us at Kōwhai Vet straight away and were
told to bring her in immediately.
When she arrived, Flo was looking bright and bouncy
— completely unaware of the potential trouble she’d
caused. Unfortunately, ibuprofen is highly toxic to
dogs, even in small amounts. In a 4.5kg dog like Flo,
just a couple of tablets can cause serious problems,
including severe stomach ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea,
and even kidney failure. At higher doses, it can lead to
seizures and coma.
To prevent the ibuprofen from being absorbed, we gave
Flo an injection to make her vomit. Within minutes
she started drooling and looking very sorry for herself,
before producing several very productive piles of vomit.
Our next glamorous task? Sifting through it to look for
pieces of tablet — and sure enough, we found what
looked like the remains of about two tablets.
Thankfully, because her owners acted so quickly, we
were able to prevent any serious damage. Once she’d
finished vomiting, we gave Flo another injection to
settle her stomach and sent her home with medication
to protect her gut.
We’re pleased to report that Flo made a full recovery
and was back to her usual cheeky self in no time!
This story is a good reminder to keep all human
medications safely out of reach of pets. Dogs can be
surprisingly determined when investigating interesting
smells or packaging, and even a small amount of the
wrong medication can have serious consequences.
If you ever suspect your pet has eaten something they
shouldn’t have — don’t wait. Call your vet straight away
for advice. Acting quickly, just like Flo’s owners did, can
make all the difference.
Did you know?
Common Household
Hazards for Pets
Painkillers: Medications like ibuprofen,
paracetamol, and aspirin are safe for people
but can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.
Chocolate: Contains theobromine and
caffeine, which can cause vomiting, heart
problems, and seizures.
Grapes and raisins: Even small amounts can
cause kidney failure in some dogs.
Onions and garlic: Can damage red blood
cells and lead to anaemia.
Xylitol: A common sweetener in sugar-free
gum and foods that can cause a rapid drop in
blood sugar and liver failure in dogs.
Human antidepressants or ADHD
medications: Can cause severe agitation,
tremors, or seizures if ingested.
Keep all medications and potentially toxic foods
well out of reach — pets are curious by nature, and
prevention is always easier (and less messy!) than
treatment.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, November 27, 2025
for 78th annual Santa Parade
Noddy arrived in his little car, Spiderman dropped in, and Moana and the Disney princesses joined the fun.
The giant drummer boy led the parade. Right – Bluey was there.
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The Star, November 27, 2025
starnews.co.nz
Celebrating
50
Richmond
Discount
Furniture YEARS
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Double $599
Queen $699
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the same site and providing the same
excellent service that customers have
come to expect.
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Richmond Discount Furniture is known
for its great selection of new and factory
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also a good selection of both imported
and locally made bedroom furniture,
entertainment units and coffee tables.
Rob and Alison enjoy the friendships
they have created with so many of their
customers over the years and would
like to thank all of their customers
for the continued support of their
family business as they look forward
to continuing to offer the best deals
alongside the best service moving
forward.
Richmond Discount Furniture is open
Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm
and Saturday 10am - 1pm
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233 STANMORE ROAD • PHONE 03 389 0536 • OPEN MON-FRI 10AM–4PM SAT 10am–1PM
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starnews.co.nz The Star, November 27, 2025
Mouth-painter turns adversity into art
​BY GEOFF SLOAN AND
NICOLA RUTZOU
A diving accident in 1989
left 18-year-old Grant Philip
a tetraplegic after he fell
awkwardly from a pontoon and
hit his head on the ocean floor,
severely damaging his spinal
cord.
Confined to a wheelchair and
unable to fully use his limbs, he
turned to art and learnt to paint
with a brush in his mouth.
After the accident, the
apprentice sheet metal engineer
was rushed to hospital and
almost died on the way to the
specialist spinal unit
Following rehabilitation, he
retrained online in computeraided
design through the City
and Guilds of London and
spent eight years designing
playgrounds for McDonald’s
Restaurants.
Philip was introduced to
mouth painting by Mouth and
Foot Painting Artists member
Grant Sharman more than 20
years ago.
Founded in 1956, MFPA helps
artists with disabilities pursue
creative careers while remaining
financially independent by
selectively selling their art.
A New Zealand branch of
MFPA was established in 1961
and currently has 18 members.
Income is generated through
the sale of products featuring
members’ artwork, ranging
from cards and calendars to
jigsaws, tea sets, place mats and
wrapping paper.
“ I was right-handed
before I ended up in a
wheelchair, and I hold
the brush in the righthand
side of my mouth
to paint. If I hold it in
the left-hand side of my
mouth, I can’t paint. ”
Grant Philip
“When I first started mouthpainting
many years ago, I
started off doing big circles –
big letters the same as when
you first learn to write. But I
gradually got them smaller and
smaller,” Philip said.
He also discovered something
unexpected during those early
attempts.
“I was right-handed before I
ended up in a wheelchair, and I
hold the brush in the right-hand
side of my mouth to paint. If I
hold it in the left-hand side of
my mouth, I can’t paint.”
Eventually, Philip hopes
to progress to full MFPA
membership, which requires
his work to be assessed by the
organisation’s board.
Full membership would
allow his work to join the
association’s pool of art
which is marketed for sale
internationally and would
ensure he has ongoing financial
support.
Mouth and foot painting artist Grant
Philip demonstrating his talents in
Northlands Mall. Right, an example of
his work. PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
Now 55, he enjoys painting
landscapes most of all and
switched almost entirely to
using watercolours during the
Covid-19 lockdowns.
› Continued on Page 6
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The Star, November 27, 2025
starnews.co.nz
Artist hoping for international exposure
› From Page 5
Philip said his wife Leeanne
has been great support to him
on his journey.
“I wouldn't be able to do 99%
of this stuff without her.”
“With most great men,
it's the nagging wife in
the background that gets
things done,” Leeanne
joked.
Before his accident,
Philip served part-time as
a territorial soldier with
the Royal New Zealand
Corps of Engineers, 1st
Field Squadron.
Since 2018 he has
been involved with the New
Zealand Defence Force’s ‘Art in
Recovery’ initiative, both as an
administrator and participating
artist. Leeanne is also part of
the administration team.
Leeanne Philip
The initiative uses art as a
therapeutic way to support the
recovery of injured, wounded
or sick defence force personnel
and their families.
As well as his art, Philip has
represented New Zealand at
multiple world cups and
world championships
in Paralympic target
shooting and competed
in archery at the 2018
Invictus Games in Sydney.
Grant and Leeanne will
be demonstrating mouth
painting at Northlands
Mall on December 3
and January 1, from
10am-2.30pm, with a
table where visitors can try
mouth drawing for themselves.
“Come have a chat, have a
look, have a go,” Leeanne said.
• For more information about Grant’s
work, visit grantphilipart.co.nz/
A former territorial soldier, mouth and foot painting artist Grant Philip is involved with the New Zealand Defence Force’s Art in Recovery programme as a participating
artist and administrator.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
PHOTO: CCC
New sculpture for
Art Gallery bunker
A sculpture project is bringing
new life to the Christchurch Art
Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
forecourt.
The exterior of the ‘bunker’ –
which houses the lift and stairs
to the gallery’s underground
carpark – has been adorned
with abstracted metal shapes
evoking plants, animals and
insects.
Acclaimed Kāi Tahu artist
Areta Wilkinson is behind the
work, titled Te Mauri o te Puna.
Wilkinson said the sculpture
connects with the nourishing
spring referenced in Te Puna
o Waiwhetū – the name of the
gallery building, which can be
translated as a ‘spring of starreflecting
waters’.
“In te ao Māori, a puna of
water also represents spiritual
and physical connections
between the atua (ancestors)
celebrated in Kāi Tahu creation
narratives and life on earth.
“Cultural knowledge grows
around a healthy water source.
The gallery is another source,
sustaining artistic knowledge
and expressing cultural identity
and ideas. A thriving puna is
a source of sustenance and
wellbeing,” said Wilkinson.
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starnews.co.nz The Star, November 27, 2025
Create the perfect festive table
Christmas is a great time to get
together with your nearest and dearest,
and if you’re playing host this
year, then putting some thought into
your festive table is a simple way to
create some beautiful long-lasting
memories.
When deciding how to dress your
table, it’s a good idea to take a look
at the rest of your decorations for
inspiration, but you don’t need to go
matchy-matchy when it comes to creating
your ideal table, a contrasting
colour can add some real interest.
Load up the layers
When creating your table, start with
the base layer – a tablecloth, if you’re
using one – and then build up from
there.
Add some texture and perk up a
plain tablecloth with a runner. If you
want something a little different,
rather than buying a ready-made
runner, check out your local sewing
supply shop to see what fabrics they
have in stock and have it cut to size
– hessian is a great option if you’re
going for a rustic, natural theme
and looks great with deep festive
greenery.
Next up, grab yourself some placemats
that match your theme, and pile
them up with charger plates and your
dining set on top – don’t forget to add
some cloth napkins and that all-important
silverware.
Invest in some matching glasses and
make sure you have different glasses
for different uses: flutes for festive
bubbles, tumblers for water, and
some elegant wine glasses.
Make it festive
Christmas is the one time of year
when even the minimalists amongst
us tend to embrace their OTT side, so
don’t be shy when it comes to packing
on the festive details.
Scatter ornaments, candles and
baubles throughout your table for
a relaxed festive-feel or opt for a
show-stopping centrepiece.
Plants and greenery also make a
great addition at Christmas, you can
go big by snaking a garland across
the table or keep it a little daintier by
popping a single sprig of rosemary on
people’s placemats.
Get personal
Sprinkling in some personal touches
is a great way to make your table
look as individual as you are and can
really ‘wow’ you’re guests.
You can get the kids involved and
make some cute DIY decorations or
make some handwritten place cards
and include a fun Christmas joke.
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The Star, November 27, 2025
starnews.co.nz
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9
10 11
12 13
14 15 16 17 18
428
SUDOKU
Every row, column and box should
contain the digits 1 to 9.
WordBuilder
WORDBUILDER
R N I
G E O
6
328 328
G E O
words of three or more letters,
How
including
many
plurals,
words
can you
of
make
three
from
or
the
more
six
letters, using each letter only once? No foreign
How words or beginning with a capital are
from many the words six letters, of three using or more each letters, only
allowed. There's at least one six-letter word.
including once? plurals, can you make from the six
TODAY
letters, Good using 13 each Very letter Good only 17 once? Excellent No 21 foreign
No words beginning with a capital are
words or words beginning with a capital are
allowed. allowed. Solution There's 327: There’s arm, at lam, least loam, at one least loan, six-letter lorn, one man, six-letter
manor, word.
word. mar, marl, moa, moan, molar, moral, morn, nor, norm,
NORMAL, oar, oral, ram, TODAY ran, roam, roan, roman.
Good 13 Very Good 17 Excellent 21
letters, including plurals, can you make
19 20 21
Solution 327: arm, lam, loam, loan, lorn, man, manor,
mar, marl, moa, moan, molar, moral, morn, nor, norm,
NORMAL, oar, oral, ram, ran, roam, roan, roman.
22 23 24 25
26 27
28 29
Across
1. Bitter (6)
5. Expensive edible fungus (7)
10. Relating to audible sound (5)
11. Handle a situation badly (9)
12. Pecking order (9)
13. Wading bird (5)
14. Breadth (5)
16. Short-lived, fleeting (9)
19. Sureness, conviction (9)
20. The same (L) (5)
22. Circle (5)
24. Unofficial count of votes (5,4)
26. Menacing (9)
27. Killed (5)
28. Clad (7)
29. No. 1 or 2 batsman (6)
Decoder
Down
2. Challenger (9)
3. Russian country house (5)
4. Confess (colloq) (4,5)
5. Delicious (5)
6. Showing no embarrassment (9)
7. Style (5)
8. Immortal (7)
9. Abstain from (6)
15. Merciless (9)
17. Phrase used by conjurers (3,6)
18. Logic (9)
19. Congested (7)
21. Rectangular (6)
23. Overindulge (5)
24. Rebuke (5)
25. Squander (5)
Crossword
Across: 1. Acidic, 5. Truffle, 10. Sonic, 11. Mismanage, 12. Hierarchy, 13.
Heron, 14. Width, 16. Ephemeral, 19. Certainty, 20. Ditto, 22. Orbit, 24.
Straw poll, 26. Dangerous, 27. Slain, 28. Dressed, 29. Opener.
Down: 2. Contender, 3. Dacha, 4. Come clean, 5. Tasty, 6. Unashamed, 7.
Flair, 8. Eternal, 9. Eschew, 15. Heartless, 17. Hey presto, 18. Rationale,
19. Crowded, 21. Oblong, 23. Binge, 24. Scold, 25. Waste.
WordBuilder
Ego, eon, erg, ergo, gen, gin, girn, giro, goer, gone, goner, gore, grin, groin,
IGNORE, ion, ire, iron, nog, noir, nor, ogre, one, ore, REGION, reign, rein,
rig, ring, roe.
DECODER
Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the
given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out
which letters are represented by the other numbers.
All puzzles copyright
T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Sudoku
Please join us for
‘A Christmas to Remember’
as we commemorate loved
ones no longer with us.