On the 21st of July 1883, Jules Verne, Louis Pasteur and other illustrious visionaries from all walks of life, designed the structure for the Alliance Française as it is: a network of local associations created upon the initiative of the civil society in order to favour the exchanges of cultural and linguistic values.' 
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Délégation Générale de l'Alliance Française en Nouvelle-Zélande et aux îles Cook.

In New Zealand the Alliance Française has been active for 117 years.
Apart from the Alliance Française Nelson Tasman, there are now 9 other centres across New Zealand and the Cook Islands:

• Whangarei
• Auckland
• Hamilton
• Palmerston North
• Wellington
• Nelson - Tasman
• Christchurch
• Timaru
• Dunedin
• Rarotonga - Cook Islands