Christchurch Citizens War Memorial to be deconstructed and moved
22 Apr, 2021 02:00 AM
2 minutes to read
Work to carefully deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial outside the Christ Church Cathedral is under way. Photo / George Heard
Work to carefully deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial outside the Christ Church Cathedral is under way. Photo / George Heard
Digital producer, Christchurch, NZ Heralddevon.bolger@nzme.co.nz
Work to deconstruct the earthquake-damaged Citizens War Memorial so it can be repaired and reinstated elsewhere has begun.
Starting at 2pm, a crane is being used to lift the first piece of bronzing away from the supporting stonework.
Christchurch Cathedral under repair nearly 10 years after a deadly 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked the city Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images
In the months, then years, after the Christchurch earthquake, it was not Sue Spigel’s mind that needed healing, but her spirit.
What worked was her home high on the hillside above Governors Bay, where Spigel, 74, and her husband, Bob, have lived for 20 years. “It was this place … being here, cocooned from the rest of the agony that was going on, that really helped,” she says, sat with her back to a large window framing bush, sky and sea. Play Video
The memorial has aggressive rusting in the internal frame that needs to be repaired.
joseph johnson/Stuff
The historically and socially significant memorial was dedicated in 1937. The Christchurch RSA previously wanted the memorial to be moved to Cranmer Square, but at a council meeting on Thursday, Canterbury RSA president Stan Hansen said there was now a desire to have the cenotaph relocated within the Square. National RSA president BJ Clark said there was a lot of emotion surrounding the future of the cenotaph and it must remain in the Square. However, not everyone was keen on the idea of moving the memorial.