Afrikaans is a beautiful language that is spoken not only in Southern Africa but also by Afrikaans-speaking people in other parts of the world, following their emigration from Southern Africa in recent years.

The purpose of the "Afrikaans in Christchurch" website is to promote the Afrikaans language in Christchurch.

Initiatives

This website was created in 2003 to assist with research by Jaco and Marietjie Swart on the need for books in the Afrikaans language at the Christchurch City Library.

The site was used to promote concerts - mainly in Afrikaans - in Christchurch: Jannie du Toit and Christa Steyn in 2003, Danie Niehaus in 2004, and Lucas and Monica Maree in 2006.

The "Canterbury Kleuters" initiative (a group of Afrikaans toddlers and their mums who meet for play-time and chat-time in Afrikaans) also developed through this website.

About Jaco and Marietjie Swart

Jaco and Marietjie moved to New Zealand in 2002. They love their new country and enjoy living in Christchurch. It is both a privilege and fun to be Afrikaans-Kiwis! Because they love Afrikaans, they find it heartening that all their Kiwi friends encourage them to keep their daughter Mia bilingual.

Afrikaans in Christchurch Library

An afrikaans collection is now housed in the World Languages section of the Central Library in Gloucester Street.