Memorials

Black terrazo plaque set on brick pillar at entrance to reserve remembering men and women of the Aranui district who served in World War II.

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Semi-circular rose garden with a stone and timber pergola at the head. Each rose has a bronze marker with the name of a person who lost their lives in the Ballantynes Fire of 1947.

The pergola, which has plaques depicting the victims' names, collapsed in the earthquake on February 22, 2011, but has since been restored.

About the fire

Ballantyne’s department store in Colombo Street was the scene of one of New Zealand's most disastrous fires late in the afternoon of 18 November 1947.  A total of 41 people died and the damage was put at half a million pounds.

The fire was first discovered in the basement of the wooden building but the alarm was not given immediately. The actual time the alarm was received by the fire brigade was 3.46pm.

Onlookers say that within 15 minutes of their first noticing the black smoke billowing from the building, it was past saving. Of three shop girls who jumped after being trapped on upper storeys of the three-storey building, one died and two were seriously injured.

A Royal Commission of Inquiry - which later sat for 65 days and heard 186 witnesses - criticised the firefighters for failure to take effective action in the first 10 minutes after their arrival because they did not recognise the potential danger.

The company's store, established in 1864, was one of the best known in New Zealand. The premises covered about an acre of ground. All those who died were members of the staff of about 300.

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Granite obelisk style monument on concrete base.  Memorial to local 'Burwood Boys' who died serving New Zealand during World Wars I and II.

Find more photos of Burwood War Memorial at NZ History website(external link).

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Stainless steel plaque on concrete plinth placed at the base of an olive tree to commemorate the Battle of Crete.

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Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake Memorial is a place for people to reflect on the devastating 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and their far-reaching impacts.

The Memorial is located on the edge of the Ōtākaro/Avon River between Montreal Street(external link) and Rhododendron Island. The site was selected following feedback from bereaved family members.

Dedicated on 22 February 2017, the memorial is a place for people to reflect on the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes that changed Canterbury and its communities forever, honouring those who lost their lives on 22 February 2011, acknowledging those who were seriously injured and everyone who helped in the rescue and recovery operation.

It comprises a reflective space on the north bank of the river and a Memorial Wall on the south bank. 

Visit the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial website.(external link)

Sculptured stone cairn with drinking bowl formed as part of cairn on north face, and steel light standard and lantern on top. Memorial to Sumner soldiers, who died during the Boer War, commemorates King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902.

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The Citizens' War Memorial commemorates those lost in the Great War (1914-1918) and was unveiled in 1937. It was sculpted by William Trethewey and consists of a 15-metre-high cross surrounded by six allegorical bronze figures set on a Portland-stone plinth.

Earthquake damage and significant rusting to the Memorial’s internal structure means it needs to be carefully deconstructed and stored off-site for repair and strengthening work.

It will later be reinstated on public land in Cathedral Square, which will allow for the reinstatement work happening to Christ Church Cathedral and plans for redeveloping the surrounding land.

The Council has agreed to receive ownership of the Memorial through a deed of gift from Church Property Trustees, which owns and administers property on behalf of the Anglican Diocese.

Going forward, the Council will be fully responsible for the Memorial, continuing to maintain and care for it on behalf of all the citizens of Christchurch.

• Read the latest about the Citizens' War Memorial on Newsline(external link).
• Learn more on the Christchurch City Libraries website(external link).
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Black marble spire set on square marble base which in turn sits on a concrete plinth and steps. Memorial to local residents who lost their lives in World War I and II.

Find more photos of Coutts Island War Memorial at NZ History website(external link).

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To celebrate fifty years of business in Christchurch, Thomas J. Edmonds - found of Edmonds' Baking Powder - financed the construction of this band rotunda in 1929. The site, overlooking the Ōtākaro-Avon River, was selected as part of Edmonds' Riverbank Improvement Scheme.

Architect Victor Hean designed the octagonal rotunda in the high renaissance style. Standing at 12 metres tall, the rotunda is built from reinforced concrete with a plaster finish and topped by a copper-sheathed dome supported by eight pillars. The performance space is accessed by two curved staircases and a basement space exists beneath which was once used as a changing room by bandsmen. A circular seating area exists to the west of the rotunda while a shelter sits to the east. 

The official opening of the rotunda took place on 11 November 1929 when nine different bands performed. With the decline in popularity of band concerts in the late twentieth century, the rotunda gradually fell into disrepair. In 1985 it was transformed into the Thomas Edmonds Restaurant - changes included new glazed windows between the pillars, awnings, a kitchen and bathrooms in the basement.

The Canterbury 2010-11 earthquakes severely damaged the rotunda and it was deconstructed so repairs could take place. The roof was restored and placed on top of a new base and columns. The Canterbury Earthquake Appeal Trust has donated $1 million towards the reinstatement.

The restored rotunda is now used as a performance venue.

Granite plaque on concrete plinth marking 'Lone Pine of ANZAC'.

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Stone monument as a memorial to the men of Halswell district who died in World War I, 1914–1918.

Find more photos of Halswell War Memorial on the NZ History website(external link).

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Ornate black marble pinnacle on concrete plinth as a memorial to those who died during World War I 1914–1919.

Find more photos of Heathcote War Memorial on the NZ History website(external link).

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The Kate Sheppard National Memorial is a large cast bronze depiction of women in New Zealand, flagged by two bronze plaques inscribed with the history of the Women’s Suffrage movement in New Zealand, mounted on a upright ornate concrete plinth. 

It was sculpted in 1993 by Margriet Windhausen. It was unveiled on 19 September 1993 and commemorates the centenary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand - the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote.

Read more about the Kate Sheppard Memorial(external link) on the Christchurch City Libraries website

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These concrete gates are made up of two long neo-classical colonnades on either side of a two-storey central structure with the inscription ‘To commemorate the glorious deeds of the athletes of this province in the Great War Aug 1914 to Nov 1918’, and above this is an urn.

Find out more on the NZ History website(external link).

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Cast bronze plaque on terrazo plinth dedicating Memorial Avenue to the memory of the men and women of the New Zealand Armed Forces who died in World War II.

There is more information about this memorial(external link) at the Christchurch City Libraries website.

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A Hanmer marble rock set on a square concrete base with a black Italian granite plaque as a memorial to the members of the 19th Infantry Battalion and Armoured Regiment in World War II.

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Stone column on stepped concrete plinth, a memorial to those who died during the Wars.

Find more photos of the New Brighton War Memorial on NZ History website(external link).

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Memorial tablets laid in concrete on the ground, in memory of men of the district who died in World War I.

Find more photos of the Papanui War Memorial on NZ History website(external link).

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Embossed brass plaque mounted on painted concrete plinth with a flagpole. Set on an octagonal concrete step base in the centre of the war grave section of the cemetery.

Memorial to those with no known grave

Oblong terrazzo covered concrete plinth with copper spire mounted in centre. A large brass plaque is mounted on the front face. Memorial to the men and women of the armed services, who died during World War I and II but to whom the fortunes of war denied a known grave, their names are engraved on the plaque.

Find more photos of Ruru Lawn Cemetery Memorials on the NZ History website(external link).

Visit the Ruru Lawn Cemetery page.

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Tapered stone pillar on concrete base as a memorial to those people from Belfast and adjoining areas who died in World Wars I and II.

Consists of seven plaques.

Eleven stone cairns with iron lamp standards on top, the first two being bigger than the other nine. Each commemorates a major battle during World War I and to the memory of many 'Sons of Sumner' who died in action. 

Find more photos of the Sumner Beach War Memorial on the NZ History website(external link).

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After the 9/11 disaster the city of New York gifted steel from the New York Trade Centre for the creation of this artwork.

Graham Bennett’s tribute to firefighters honours and acknowledges firefighters worldwide.  The sculpture is based on the angels created by Firefighters ladders.

The artwork was commissioned by the Christchurch City Council and sited in the Firefighters Reserve at the corner of Kilmore and Madras streets.

Christchurch was one of the few places around the world gifted steel from the World Trade Center.

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Seat made of unfaced basalt which was quarried nearby. Three bronze plaques commemorate the lives of St Martins and Rapaki soldiers who died in World War I. Rupert Brooke’s “Blow out your bugles” is quoted in full.

Find more photos of Witch Hill War Memorial on the NZ History website.(external link)

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Pictured with Lianne Dalziel Christchurch Mayor is Dr David Richards of the Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department whose grandfather was a medical officer with the Tunnelling Company during WW1

Christchurch is contributing a cobblestone from Cathedral Square towards a memorial wall in Waihi which commemorates the role of the NZ Engineers Tunnelling Company in World War One.

Around fifty rocks from all over NZ have been received as well as rocks from places overseas: Ballarat and Tasmania in Australia, the Cook Islands and Ireland.

Stones have also been received from Anzac Bay, Gallipoli and several of these will be incorporated into the wall to help tell the story of men who served there before being transferred into the Tunnelling Company.

Background

On 22 January 2016 the Governor-General dedicated a memorial wall built in Waihi to commemorate the contribution of the New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company (NZETC) during World War 1.

Every city in NZ which contributed men to the NZETC was asked to contribute a stone to be built into the wall.

The Cathedral Square cobblestone (pictured) used to lie close to the Citizens War Memorial in the Square and the coordinators of the memorial project, Waihi Heritage Vision were delighted with the idea.

The NZETC dug tunnels under the German front lines around Arras in France during WW1 - the photo below is the tunnel named 'Christchurch'.

The Arras tunnel named 'Christchurch'. The NZETC developed an underground tunnel system under the French city of Arras during the war which enabled them to tunnel towards the German front lines and lay mines.