Achievements & Goals

What have we done already?

The Canterbury History Foundation has:

  • Established the Canterbury Community Historian Award
  • Supported the on-line Christchurch history database (see University of Canterbury’s website)
  • Made grants to local historians for pre-publication expenses
  • Presented the A C Rhodes Memorial Medal for exceptional service in promoting history in the community
  • Enlarged a scholarship fund to assist post-graduate study overseas
  • Hosted the annual free Jim Gardner Lectures which honour this noted local historian
  • Held public lectures to mark historic events
  • Financed a CD-ROM to supply archived illustrations for school history projects
  • Provided prize money for secondary school history competitions
  • Supported oral history through the Origins of New Zealand English project
  • Organised social events as an enjoyable way to bring together members and others interested in history
  • Established a memorial plaque to Christchurch victims of the 1918 Infleunza pandemic

What would we like to do?

With sufficient financial support, the Canterbury Historical Foundation could:

  • Create a capital fund to maintain the Canterbury Community Historian grant
  • Enlarge a capital reserve to generate enough income each year to provide Post-graduate Travel Awards for University of Canterbury PhD thesis students needing to travel outside New Zealand for research: any such grants are on the recommendation of the School of History
  • Fund research and editing assistance for amateur historians
  • Raise a capital fund to assist publication
  • Help libraries and museums to improve their collections of historical material

You can help by becoming a member yourself, by encouraging others to become members, and by donations – subscriptions and donations are tax-deductible.

Why does history matter?

History matters because history

    • Improves understanding of other societies and cultures
    • Fosters intellectual skills needed by a modern economy and society
    • Improves our understanding of who we are
    • Makes more sense of the present by placing it in the context of the past
    • Strengthens community and regional identity
    • Raises appreciation of our heritage