Archeologist Richard Walter shared about the fascinating archeological findings of excavations at the Lawrence Chinese site between 2005 and 2010 to a group visiting the Camp on Saturday led by Adrienne Shaw.

There was a steady stream of visitors at the Open day at the Camp on Sunday 6 November. A beautiful day, the Joss house with displays was open and friend of the Camp Anne Cheng was there to help children don Leonora the Lion and learn how to lion dance!

A repeat visit from the Leadership Network of the ANZF. Dr James Ng, historian and founder of the Camp's Trust, and Camp trustee and descendant Rachel Gemmell shared about the life and people at the Camp in the 1880's.

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Explore the historic site of the largest Chinese Camp in New Zealand. Learn about the fascinating history of the Chinese gold mining settlement  established during the 1860s gold rush.

Trustees will be on site, with the Joss House open, learn about the Trust’s restorations plans for this important archeological site.

The Year of the Rabbit was celebrated at the Lawrence Chinese Camp with national performances and guests.  Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters, special thanks to OSCA for their amazing cooks and to Sun Gum Saan Ltd who launched their Chinese History Curriculum for Schools at the event.

Lion Dance troupes from Auckland and Christchurch made a pilgrimage to the Camp to remember and honour the past people of the Camp at the alter in the Joss House and then performed for the Lawrence-Tuapeka community. 

With the new school history curriculum including the heritage of the pioneer Chinese in NZ, Ministers of Parliament Ingrid Leary (MP for Taieri) and Naisi Chen (list MP in Botany), as well as Arena Williams (MP for Manurewa) and Mayor Bryan Cadogan visited the Camp on 9 July to learn about its provenance and the history and significance of the early Chinese in NZ from historians Dr James Ng and Dr James Beattie.

Descendants of the Lawrence Chinese Camp visited as part of their 2-day reunion in Dunedin and Lawrence during Labour Weekend. 

Highlights included an unveiling of an ANZAC memorial for Chinese soldiers from Lawrence Camp, a talk on the history of the Camp by archeologist Professor Richard Walter and a visit to the Joss House where there was a historical photographic display of the Camp and display of plans for its development.        

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