This years Canterbury Heritage Awards have been launched.
The inaugural awards have been expanded to include Canterbury.
Jim Gard'ner (Heritage Victoria), who gave a standout speech at the inaugural awards, is back as a Judge and has his own Heritage Lecture spot.

Time to get out and recognize those dedicated Heritage building supporters with a nomination!

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 2 July 2012
For immediate release

Heritage Awards return to region

Following an interval in 2011, the Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust is pleased to announce the return of the newly expanded Canterbury Heritage Awards for 2012.

The Canterbury Heritage Awards recognise excellence in heritage retention and conservation, heritage tourism and heritage education within the public and private sector and promote the values of best practice heritage retention and conservation to the wider community.

The inaugural Christchurch Heritage Awards were held in 2010. In light of the Christchurch and central Canterbury earthquakes and the resulting devastation to buildings in and around the city, the 2011 Awards were put on hold.

“The city's heritage has suffered a terrible blow with many of the region's historic buildings severely damaged and in some cases completely destroyed. Whilst ensuring the safety of the people of Christchurch is the first priority it is important that we also focus on the repair and restoration of the city’s heritage buildings. As we begin the rebuild of Christchurch we are delighted to launch the 2012 Canterbury Heritage Awards” commented Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust Chair, Anna Crighton.

The Canterbury Heritage Awards recognise the achievement of heritage conservation in six categories including: Heritage Retention, Heritage Restoration, Heritage Tourism, Heritage Champion, Heritage landscape and Seismic. The 2012 Awards are getting a kick-start with sponsorship from Fortis Construction, Heritage Management Services and Christchurch Heritage Trust.

“Heritage values can be assessed as archaeological, architectural, cultural, scientific, social, spiritual, technological and/or traditional. Post-earthquakes the community’s spirit is weary but empty buildings, vacant spaces and hurried replacements that are out-of-character with an area will impact on how communities see themselves and are perceived by others. The on-going conflict between heritage protection and development pressures has been exacerbated and continued post-earthquake. The Canterbury Heritage Awards afford the opportunity to recognise heritage in all its forms and to tell the stories so important to us as a community and a culture” said Crighton.

The Right Honourable Helen Clark, ONZ, currently head of the United Nations Development Programme continues as the Patron of the Awards. The judging panel includes international heritage expert Jim Gard’ner from Heritage Victoria, Jasper Van Der Lingen (Sheppard & Rout Architects Ltd), Di Lucas (Lucas Associates), Dr Terry Ryan (Te Rununga o Ngai Tahu), Grant Wilkinson (Ruamoko Solutions) and Shonagh Kenderdine (New Zealand Historic Places Trust).

In addition to the Awards, a Heritage Lecture will be hosted by Jim Gard’ner on Wednesday 12 September 2012. “Jim was extremely popular when he participated in judging in 2010 and was in high demand when he visited Christchurch. Drawing on his international experience Jim will explore the questions of how to reuse our heritage places and retain heritage values in the context of post-earthquake Christchurch” added Crighton.

Organisations and/or individuals can nominate their own organisation for the Awards or those they believe recognise excellence in heritage retention and conservation, heritage tourism and heritage education within the public and private sector, and promote the values of best practice heritage retention and conservation to the wider community. Nominations and entries can be made online – www.heritageawards.co.nz. Nominations close Monday 6 August 2012, entries close Monday 13 August 2012.

ENDS

Nicola Cull
Marketing Manager, Tenth Dot Management

Anna Crighton
Chair, Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust