Lectures and Seminars
New Zealand's War Memorial Halls: Artist Fiona Jack and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
This presentation will feature internationally-acclaimed New Zealand artist Fiona Jack and New Zealand Historic Places Trust heritage advisor Robyn Burgess. As the Govett Brewster Art Gallery NZ Artist in Residence for 2009 Fiona Jack will be working towards a project about New Zealand's War Memorial Halls for exhibition in March 2010. For this Heritage Week event presented by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Fiona will discuss the progress of her research on the halls, the significance and history of these buildings to our communities and national identity, and their function and status today.
Fiona graduated with an MFA from CalArts in Los Angeles in 2005. She lives in New Zealand where she is a lecturer at the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland. NZHPT's Robyn Burgess will open the presentation, appraising the significance of war memorials in New Zealand's cultural landscape.
Philip Carter Family Auditorium, Christchurch Art Gallery, Corner Worcester & Montreal Streets
Sunday 18 October 2009, 3pm-4pm
FREE
Parking available, Christchurch Art Gallery car park.
Disability access available
Grandpa was in the Air Force: Air Force Records and Family History
Thousands of New Zealanders have served in the Air Force but how do family members start finding out about them? Aimed at genealogists and family historians this presentation will give practical advice on how to start looking for records and information about Air Force relatives and what those records mean. Light refreshments included.
Air Force Museum of New Zealand, 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram
Sunday, 18 October 2009, 2.30pm-3.30pm
Adult, $16.00. Family, $65.00
Disability access available
Parking available, in main car park
Defence and Deception: Discovering Wigram
Discover some of the untold stories of the Wigram Air Force Base and the way it prepared for World War II. Covering everything from the building of beautiful but blast-proof art deco buildings, to airfield camouflage and decoys, to slit trenches and sandbagging, this illustrated lecture will appeal to anyone with an interest in history or architecture. Light refreshments included.
Air Force Museum of New Zealand, 45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram
Sunday 18 October 2009, 11.30am-12.30pm
Adult, $16.00. Family, $64.00
Disability access available.
Parking available, in main car park
Bookings required, phone 343 9504
Full Circle – The Changing Role of RNZAF Wigram
From its civil aviation beginnings through its role in defence and now to its new peaceful community use as a museum and cafe; RNZAF Wigram has come full circle. The Christchurch Civic Trust heritage lecture will be delivered by Therese Angelo, Director of the Air Force Museum, Wigram.
Our City O-Tautahi, corner Worcester Boulevard & Oxford Terrace
Monday 19 October 2009, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Gold coin donation
Disability access available, Farmers carpark building
Addington Heritage Evening
The beautiful heritage church, St Mary's in Church Square, Addington, hosts public talks from Archdeacon Dr Geoff Haworth, author of Marching as to War?, and Brian Dick of the Third Signals Squadron. Geoff Haworth's recently published book was an historical study of the impact of World War II on the life of the Anglican Church in New Zealand. Brian Dick will speak about his involvement with the Third Signals Squadron and its links to the renovation of St Mary's in the 1970s and to the Addington Barracks in the former Addington Prison site. Coffee, tea and refreshments will follow.
St Mary's Anglican Church, Church Square, Addington
Tuesday 20 October 2009, 5.30pm-8.00pm
FREE
Disability access and parking available
The Man Behind the Medals: Canterbury Regiment Association
War historian Alan Polaschek, who has one of the world's largest collections of war medals, will bring to life the fascinating untold stories of an ordinary Cantabrian serving his country. Alan's 31 years in the New Zealand Army and current membership of the Canterbury Regiment Association means he has as many amazing stories as he has medals.
Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue
Tuesday 20 October 2009, 6.00pm-7.00pm
FREE
Disability access available
Lyttelton Lecture Series – History Lecture Lyttelton Port
Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Lyttelton Port Company with an informative lecture on the Port and its role as an important historical player in the region's cultural, business and environmental history during times of war and peace.
Professor Geoffrey Rice (History Department, University of Canterbury) will give an illustrated lecture on The Port of Lyttelton in Peace and War, covering warship visits as well as harbour defences, and the Port's major role in handling Canterbury's imports, exports and passengers. The lecture is one of a three-part series organised by Project Lyttelton's Education Arm in conjunction with the University of Canterbury Community Education Department and sponsored by the Lyttelton Port Company. Supper provided.
Lyttelton Port Company Board Room, Norwich Quay, Lyttelton
Tuesday 20 October 2009, 7.00pm-8.30pm
$25.00 – Three lectures: Art, History, Environment
Disability access and parking available
Bookings required, phone 364 2987 Ext: 8496
How to Remember: Memorials, Landscape and Heritage
The design of memorials raises many questions about identity, politics, representation, symbolism and meaning – all of which relate to the role of ‘heritage' within culture. Shannon Davis and Jacky Bowring from Lincoln University's School of Landscape Architecture will discuss these challenges, and explore the approaches to memorialisation in case studies ranging from international sites including Cambodia, Rwanda and Spain, as well as national and local examples.
Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, Stone Chamber, Durham Street, between Armagh and Gloucester Streets
Tuesday 20 October 2009, 7pm
Gold coin donation
No disability access available
Peace-people and peace-making: Christchurch's Rich Heritage
This series of five weekly lectures and discussions starts in Heritage Week:
- 21 October, Will Foote, World War II Conscientious Objector, tells his story
- 28 October, UN Disarmament Week, Christchurch Peacemakers influence the UN, Kate Dewes, a member of the UN Secretary General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters
- 4 November, Parihaka Visitors, Rob Ritchie and Caleb Martin
- 11 November, From nuclear warrior to peacemaker, Commander Robert Green, RN (Ret'd)
- 18 November, Quakers, History and Peacemaking
Canterbury Workers' Educational Association (WEA), 59 Gloucester Street
Wednesday 21 October 2009, 1.00pm-2.30pm
Wednesday 28 October 2009, 1.00pm-2.30pm
Wednesday 4 November 2009, 1.00pm-2.30pm
Wednesday 11 November 2009, 1.00pm-2.30pm
Wednesday 18 November 2009, 1.00pm-2.30pmAdult, $20.00
Bookings required, phone 366 0285 or email cwea@xtra.co.nz
Disability access available
Lions Led by Donkeys
Paul O'Connor, local historian and teacher of history and social studies at Burnside High School, will re-examine popular perceptions about New Zealand's role in World War I and discuss leadership myths and the New Zealand Division at Passchendaele. Focusing on a Canterbury perspective, Paul will incorporate into his presentation soldiers' perspectives and experiences at Passchendaele.
Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue
Thursday 22 October 2009, 6.00pm-7.00pm
FREE
Disability access available
Remembering the Fallen at Home and Abroad
Hilary Scandrett will speak about the design and meaning of the Bridge of Remembrance and Dr Ian Lochhead will discuss the battlefield memorials designed by the Christchurch architect, Samuel Hurst Seager. These illustrated talks will include rare visual material, including construction photos of the battlefield memorials from Seager's lantern slides held in the collection of the Art History Department at the University of Canterbury.
Our City O-Tautahi, Corner Worcester Boulevard & Oxford Terrace
Thursday 22 October 2009, 8.00pm-9.30pm
FREE
Bookings required, phone 365 2897
No disability access available
Events
- Exhibitions and Displays
- Tours, Open Days and Walks
- Lectures and Seminars
- Music, Dance and Film
- Other Events
- Daily Events Guide
Key Events
- Documentary screening: Citizen Soldier: ake ake kia kaha - forever strong
- Plaque Unveiling - Second Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast Battalion Group
- It's Swing Time in Christchurch
- The Bailies Bar Heritage Week Quiz Night
- Windows into our Past
- Never Be Afraid: a New Zealand Soldier Writes to His Niece About Life in a Prisoner of War Camp
- Announcing the Fendalton-Waimairi Community Board Heritage Awards
- Secret Gardens in the City
