Tag: Media Release

Historic Places Canterbury / Christchurch Civic Trust Media Release “Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library”

Media Release: Demolition of the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library
Monday 14th February 2022

From Historic Places Canterbury and the Christchurch Civic Trust

"Historic Places Canterbury and the Christchurch Civic Trust call upon the Christchurch City Council to abandon its decision to demolish The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library."

Background:
The Christchurch City Council (CCC) decided at the 10th February meeting to take over the ownership and demolish the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library. The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library dating back to 1919 is the first of seven built to commemorate the fallen of World War One. (The Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library consists of the Library and the Annex.)

Historic Places Canterbury (HPC) Chair Mark Gerrard:
"It is a shock the Christchurch City Council (CCC) decided to demolish the Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library, dedicated to the fallen of World War One, without extensive consultation with the community and heritage/interested stakeholders.

"The Report does not contain or refer to any type of heritage assessment of the Memorial Library by the CCC Heritage Team.
"The CCC should have shown leadership and had the Heritage Team formally assess the building(s) suitability to be protected by scheduling on the District Plan.

"The Council's "Our Heritage, Our Taonga" Strategy Executive Summary states "...We work together to recognise, protect and celebrate our heritage, ..." Surely this is a case where the Council and its Staff should have made an effort, to honour its own Heritage Strategy and decided to retain the building.

"A copy of the DEE (Detail Engineering Evaluation) was not attached to the report. For transparency it should have been included so it could be peer reviewed.

"Historic Places Canterbury considers the Upper Riccarton Memorial Library to be a living social link to an extremely significant  event in our past which should be preserved for our future generations.

Christchurch Civic Trust Chair Ross Gray:
"It is distressing the CCC did not actively reach out and seek an alternative for this much loved local iconic building which has a significant social history.

"This Memorial Library has stood for more than 100 years as a symbol to the fallen of World War One.  It was the first of seven such libraries. The CCC should show moral leadership and recognise this building is special by retaining it.

"I cannot find any reference to the CCC "Our Heritage Strategy, Our Taonga" (under Criteria for Retaining Council Property) in the report to the Council Meeting.
"Why was the CCC's Heritage Strategy "Our Heritage ,Our Taonga" not considered in the Report?

"The Residents of Christchurch might question why they spent time and effort submitting on "Our Heritage, Our Taonga" strategy, when in this case, it appears not to have been taken seriously by the Council and its Staff.

Dame Anna Crighton: 
‘What is wrong with the current generation who seem to be hell bent on erasing memories of our past?  This memorial exists to commemorate and honour those Cantabrians who died in World War 1. It is a tangible reminder of that sacrifice. 

‘Whaka- aturia nga mahi a o koutou tupuna hei raukura ma nga uri whaka- tupu.  Bring to light the achievements of your ancestors, gifts handed down through the generations to be handed on to the descendants yet unborn”.

Mark Gerrard
Chair Historic Places Canterbury

Ross Gray
Chair Christchurch Civic Trust

“Loss of Heritage EQUIP funding a blow” Historic Places Aotearoa / ICOMOS Media Release

The Government’s decision to discontinue funding for seismic strengthening of heritage buildings is a serious setback for owners, Historic Places Aotearoa president James Blackburne said today.
The decision not to extend Heritage EQUIP (Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme) funding past the end of June 2021 slipped through in the May Budget without arousing any media comment. “This cut is a major blow to heritage preservation as the fund had been making extremely worthwhile grants towards seismic strengthening of heritage buildings as required by the Building (Earthquake Prone Buildings) Amendment Act, 2016,” Mr Blackburne said.

ICOMOS NZ Chairperson, Pamela Dziwulska, agrees with HPA – “it’s an incredibly sad loss for built heritage in Aotearoa – buildings are at the forefront of everybody’s day to day experiences of their town centres, cities, and even rural settings. ....
Adaptation, using the right expertise, makes the most sense if the goal is to be sustainable and meet climate change targets. The government put these time limits on building owners who are acting as the kaitiaki, but have now taken away one of their main sources of monetary aid in order to protect and maintain Aotearoa’s cultural heritage for future generations.”

HPA executive member and Whanganui district councillor Helen Craig said Heritage EQUIP was revolutionary in that it funded private owners of buildings.
“It was one of the most effective, best-run and most-responsive funding mechanism I’ve seen.

The Media Release can downloaded at the following link:

Media-release-re-Heritage-EQUIP-2021-08-11Download

“Artist Bill Sutton’s house opens to the public” Media Release

Sutton Heritage House and Garden,
20 Templar Street, Richmond.
Open 2–4.30pm, Sunday 7 March 2021.
Entry is by koha.

MEDIA RELEASE

Artist Bill Sutton’s house opens to the public

The home of Bill Sutton, one of Canterbury’s best known painters, will open to the public for the first time on Sunday 7 March. A decade on from the Christchurch earthquakes, and 21 years after Sutton’s death, the Sutton Heritage House and Garden will be offered as an artist’s residence and studio in conjunction with Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and the Ilam School of Fine Arts. When not in use by visiting artists, it will be available for visits by the public, community talks, seminars, workshops and art exhibitions.

The opening of the Sutton Heritage House and Garden is the realisation of the vision of former owner, Neil Roberts, who purchased the house following the artist’s death to ensure its preservation and with the intention of gifting it to the city for use as an artist’s residency. Following the 2011 earthquakes, Roberts’ plan was frustrated by the red-zoning of the section of Richmond where the house is located at 20 Templar Street. Roberts had no choice but to sell the property to the Crown but, following several years of uncertainty, and aided by the powerful advocacy of Dame Ann Hercus, an agreement was reached to retain the house and garden and designate the adjacent land as Sutton Park. 

The Sutton Heritage House and Garden Charitable Trust was formed in 2018 to administer the house; ownership of the house and associated land was transferred to Christchurch City Council in 2020. Having suffered minor earthquake damage, the house has been fully restored with only minor adaptations required to allow for public use. 

Sutton’s house and studio was designed for the artist by his friend and colleague at the School of Fine Arts, Tom Taylor. Completed in 1963, it is a notable example of mid 20th-century modern design and a rare example of a house designed to meet an artist’s specific requirements. It includes a large, north-facing studio where Sutton painted many of the works for which he is so well known. The rambling garden reflects Sutton’s philosophy of ‘nature knows best’.

Members of the public are invited to view the house and garden on Sunday 7 March, 2–4.30pm, following an opening ceremony by Mayor Lianne Dalziel. Entry is by koha. Because of the small size of the house and garden, numbers will be restricted to a maximum of 40 persons within the house at any one time.

Sutton Heritage House and Garden, 20 Templar Street, Richmond. Open 2–4.30pm, Sunday 7 March 2021.

“Where Are The Heritage Policies? – HPA” Historic Places Aotearoa Media Release (04:10:2020)

The lack of heritage policies in party manifestos a fortnight from the country’s General Election is disappointing, says the country’s independent voice for heritage Historic Places Aotearoa.

President James Blackburne says that, to date, only the Greens and New Zealand First have released a heritage-related policy.

“The other parties have either not formed a policy or are yet to present one. We find this extremely disappointing.

“Heritage is an intrinsic part of our country and the communities within it. It makes us who we are and makes us unique globally.

“With potential changes to the Resource Management Act looming, we are conscious and concerned that heritage will take a back seat,” he said.

“Heritage has an economic value for the New Zealand economy. New Zealand is not just about clean and green. Heritage is what a lot of people come to see and is an important part of domestic and international tourism. Heritage tourism visitors not only stay longer, they spend more money.”

Historic Places Aotearoa, which represents member organisations around the country, believes heritage should be visible, valued, indispensable and protected.

“We would like to see the parties offer the VIP treatment for heritage with funding and support for key public initiatives including a national heritage plaques programme, heritage awards and festivals.

“We believe funding should be boosted for key government initiatives such as Heritage Equip support to private building owners, Lotteries grants and tax incentives for heritage projects, and for the heritage team itself at the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.”

Mr Blackburne said heritage agencies needed support with heritage prioritised for protection, planning and funding via local and central government.

“We need to create an environment where heritage becomes indispensable to the economic and social wellbeing of our communities. And we need strong legislation to protect privately and publicly owned heritage sites, as well as making provisions for sympathetic new development in character areas.

“Let’s hear what the parties are offering… and fast.”

“Whanganui’s heritage on the world stage” (Media Release 27:01:2020)

  Whanganui’s heritage on the world stage

In a first for New Zealand, Whanganui has been accepted into the League of Historical Cities – an international affiliation of cities developed to recognise the values that historical urban areas bring to local and international communities.

Whanganui is the sole member city in New Zealand and one of only four others in the Pacific region. Notable member cities around the world include Athens, Istanbul, Kyoto and Melbourne.

Membership of the League provides opportunities to foster relationships with other historic cities, sharing principles and practices that will ultimately strengthen our cultural landscape.  

“This is extremely exciting to be grouped with these cities,” says Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall.

(more…)

“The Town Hall story – a Christchurch dream renewed” (University Canterbury Press Media Release)

Christchurch’s proud tradition of public architecture is clear in one of the city’s favourite buildings – the Christchurch Town Hall. The city’s ‘public living room’ for hosting celebrations, concerts and civic events, the Town Hall reopened triumphantly this year after a successful campaign for its restoration.

Through the tortuous beginnings of the original project to the battle to save the complex after the earthquakes of 2010-11, a new book, published by Canterbury University Press, captures an intimate story of the Town Hall. It is fitting that former Associate Professor of Art History at UC Dr Ian Lochhead edited The Christchurch Town Hall 1965–2019: A dream renewed, since he was an early advocate of repairing and restoring the building, expressing his views in a piece titled ‘Let our public living room live again’ published in The Press on 20 March 2012.

When the facility opened to much fanfare and civic interest in 1972, the auditorium in particular was unlike anything seen in New Zealand before, Dr Lochhead explains. While Sir Miles Warren led the creative architectural team (establishing the reputation of Warren & Mahoney nationally), it was Sir Harold Marshall who was responsible for the world-class acoustics that changed the way concert halls around the world were designed from that point on.

The quality of Marshall’s acoustic design attracted performers of the calibre of Leonard Bernstein, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Carlos Santana and, just last month, renowned cellist YoYo Ma, and saw Christchurch recognised alongside the great concert halls of Vienna, Boston and Lucerne. The Philharmonie de Paris, which opened in 2015, took its design cues from the Christchurch Town Hall, to the extent that the French employed Marshall Day Acoustics, the practice established by Harold Marshall in 1981.  

Details such as this makes the book a treat for history lovers, architecture buffs and conservation advocates alike. The compelling story of the incredibly challenging restoration is recounted in chapters by Peter Marshall and John Hare and captured in photos by former UC photographer Duncan Shaw-Brown and by Olivia Spencer-Bower.   

UC returned to the Town Hall for its graduation ceremonies this year, one of many key Christchurch organisations to again use this much-loved space for their most important celebrations.

The Christchurch Town Hall 1965–2019: A dream renewed, edited by Dr Ian Lochhead, is available now in hardback edition (248pp, colour and B/W illustrations), RRP $59.99, ISBN: 978-1-98-850310-3.

Further information:

Ian Lochhead, Art History, photographed in his office, 19.2.14

Editor Ian Lochhead taught Art History at the University of Canterbury from 1981 to 2014. He has written extensively on the history of New Zealand architecture from the colonial period to the Christchurch School. His book, A Dream of Spires: Benjamin Mountfort and the Gothic Revival, was published by CUP in 1999. He was an early advocate for the restoration of the Christchurch Town Hall following the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes; his article ‘Let our public living room live again’, was published in The Press on 20 March 2012. The Society of Architectural Historians of Australia and New Zealand made him a life member in 2013.

Dr Lochhead Image: Duncan Shaw Brown

Contributors

John Hare

Sir Harold Marshall

Peter Marshall

Martin Setchell

Sir Miles Warren

Photographers

Duncan Shaw-Brown

Olivia Spencer-Bower

Kate Sheppard House Purchased By The N.Z. Govt.

Kate Sheppard House (Source HNZPT List)

"This Christchurch home was where Kate Sheppard and suffragist supporters spent much time working towards New Zealand becoming the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the vote.  It was here that the 270-metre petition was pasted together before being presented to Parliament."

The following is the media Release by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga announcing the purchase.

Kate Sheppard House purchase delights

19/09/2019

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the University of Canterbury (UC) are delighted with the Government purchase of theCategory 1 listed Kate Sheppard House in Christchurch, as announced by Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods today.

(more…)

Bishop’s decision to demolish the Basilica, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch- Historic Places Canterbury Media Release

Historic Places Canterbury Media Release: 

5thAugust  2019

Bishop’s decision to demolish the Basilica, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch-

Mark Gerrard Chair of Historic Places Canterbury:

“Historic Places Canterbury is very disappointed to hear that Bishop Martin has chosen to demolish one of our finest neo-Classical Buildings.”

“The Basilica is one of New Zealand’s most iconic and beautiful neo-classical buildings.”

“George Bernard Shaw preferred the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch to our Christ Church Cathedral.”

“Historic Places Canterbury is surprised the Bishop appears to have lost faith in the cost of restoration of this unique beautiful heritage building”

“The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch has for many generations been a beacon of faith and inspiration. Today we are left with the impression that cost and location are more important considerations.”

"Christchurch has lost many special heritage buildings under the CERA Section 38. CERA’s legacy still lives as it is being used to demolish a heritage building and bypass the RMA. "

Mark Gerrard
Chair Historic Places Canterbury

“Tax changes for earthquake-prone buildings wins support” James Blackburne President HPA (Media Release)

 Tax changes for earthquake-prone buildings wins support 

 Historic Places Aotearoa applauds the tax working group’s proposed changes to tax policy relating to earthquake strengthening of buildings. 

HPA President James Blackburne supports the initiative to review or change the tax policy as it would benefit owners of earthquake-prone buildings, many of which are an integral part of New Zealand’s heritage . 

“One option being considered is to restore building depreciation for seismic strengthening work on commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings. 

“Reinstating building depreciation deductions or allowing owners to claim strengthening as a repair and maintenance cost will benefit owners of earthquake-prone buildings. 

”While the devil will be in the detail as to whether it will be implemented and in what form, the underlying concept of tax relief will have a positive effect because it will reduce the cost to building owners of strengthening buildings and may mean that strengthening is considered rather than demolition being seen as the only viable option. 

“We believe this will have a positive effect on the retention rate of heritage buildings throughout New Zealand, and in particular provincial New Zealand, where many main streets are lined with unreinforced masonry heritage buildings.” 

Mr Blackburne said the proposed tax change, in addition to the continuing with Heritage EQUIP grants, would be of benefit to owners. 

Heritage EQUIP offers two grants for seismic strengthening projects – Upgrade Works Grants to a maximum of $400,000 or, for regional building owners, up to two thirds of seismic upgrade works; and Professional Advice Grants to a maximum of $50,000 per project or, for regional building owners, up to two thirds of professional advice costs. 

The new professional advice grants are aimed specifically at regional building owners outside the three main centres. 

 James Blackburne 
President Historic Places Aotearoa 

 P 0274818093 

c/o P O Box 1241 
GISBORNE 4040

“Celebrate Suffrage 125 at Alberton” Heritage New Zealand Media Release

Suffragist Sophia Louisa Taylor of Alberton, the historic mansion in Mt Albert cared for by Heritage New Zealand. (HNZ Media Release)

September 7

MEDIA RELEASE

Celebrate Suffrage 125 at Alberton

The first of a series of community art workshops commemorating 125 years of women’s suffrage will begin at Alberton in Auckland on September 22.

The workshop at this Mt Albert mansion will be led by Dunedin artist Janet de Wagt with support from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, and is free to anybody who would like to take part. Participants will create a commemorative banner that will be joined with other banners made in other workshops at key heritage locations around the country over the next few months.

The banners will be amalgamated into one final artwork and launched at Old Government Buildings in Wellington in April next year.

“The banners are a reference to three Parliamentary petitions that were circulated around the country that resulted in women finally being granted the right to vote on 19 September 1893,” says the Manager of Alberton, Rendell McIntosh.

One of the petitions, which was circulated in 1893, includes the signatures of Sophia Louisa Taylor – the owner of Alberton – and her daughter Winifred.

“It’s very appropriate that the workshop is taking place at Alberton,” says Rendell.

“Sophia became a member of the first committee of the Auckland branch of the Women’s Franchise League and used her wit, intelligence and energy to make resolutions and speeches in favour of women’s suffrage.”

Sophia Taylor supported the franchise movement for the practical reason that if women had to obey laws and pay taxes like men, surely they also deserved the vote. Like many other socially prominent women, she also supported the Auckland Tailoresses Union.

“The petition that Sophia and Winifred signed was described by suffragist Kate Sheppard as a “monster petition” consisting of petition sheets circulated throughout New Zealand, and returned to Christchurch where Sheppard pasted each sheet end on end and rolled it around a section of a broom handle,” says Rendell.

“The ‘Monster Petition’ survives, and contains 25,519 signatures – including some men.”

The roll was presented to Parliament with great drama. Sir John Hall, Member of Parliament and suffrage supporter, brought it into the House and unrolled it down the central aisle of the debating chamber until it hit the end wall with a thud.

“The banners will be an artistic representation of that extraordinary social movement that ultimately saw New Zealand becoming the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote,” he says.

Artistic ability is not necessary for people to take part in the workshops – and Janet de Wagt is looking forward to working with a range of different ideas and skills. Alberton will also be hosting a Suffragists Tea on September 22 and 23 which, he says, is another good reason to come along and take part.

The tea will include a plum cake made from Sophia’s recipe by Marist College students (tea or coffee $6 per person, or $10 to view the house).

“Participants will be able to use painting, printing, stamping, drawing and weaving – whatever they prefer – to create the banners,” he says.

“Participation is the important thing – and celebrating a movement that changed New Zealand and the world forever.”

Janet de Wagt bio for promotion