Ara celebrates 125 years of Women’s Suffrage with talks by Christchurch leaders and innovators.

On 19 September Gapfiller co-founder Coralie Winn speaks at the Ara Library, City Campus Christchurch. With a vision of bringing life back to vacant spaces, Coralie established Gapfiller with Dr Ryan Reynolds, an academic, designer and performer, and architectural designer Andrew Just. The team first convinced a landowner to loan their site for a temporary multi-arts space with a café, garden and outdoor cinema – and a winning formula was established. Some 70 projects later, from a cycle-powered cinema to the popular Dance-O-Mat, Super Street Arcade and Sound Garden, Gapfiller is a well-known force in Christchurch, and its founders have been hailed as heroes of the Christchurch recovery.

Winn, who is also a Board member of te pūtahi – Christchurch centre for architecture and city-making, was recognised with a Queen's Service Medal for services to the Arts 2014.

On 21 September, Ara, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) welcome Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel and Poto Williams MP and Assistant Speaker of the House to the campus to speak.

Dalziel is serving her second term as Mayor of Christchurch, a role of much responsibility that follows four terms as the Member of Parliament for Christchurch East and 23 years in the New Zealand Parliament altogether.

Current Christchurch East MP Poto Williams has served in the community sector for most of her professional life and is now working on a Doctoral Thesis on Pacific Women Leadership.

ends

© Scoop Media