10 Dec 2020

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The Citizens’ War Memorial is going to be shifted to a new spot in Cathedral Square.

Christchurch City Council has today decided to accept the gift of the memorial from the Church Property Trustees (CPT).  It has also agreed to move the memorial to a new site in Cathedral Square, near where the old Police Kiosk building is located.

“The Citizen’s War Memorial is the city’s principal memorial to those Canterbury men and women who lost their lives in the war and it deserves to occupy a prominent spot in Cathedral Square,’’ says Mayor Lianne Dalziel.

“Due to the reinstatement work on Christ Church Cathedral, and CPT's plans for the redevelopment of the surrounding land, the memorial has to be moved.

“The Canterbury Returned Services’ Association prefer that the memorial stays in Cathedral Square, as close to its current site as possible, as does the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral. The heritage designation makes it clear that part of the memorial’s heritage status is its relationship to the Cathedral.

“Before the earthquakes, the Citizens’ War Memorial was at the centre of our city’s ANZAC Day commemorations. I am looking forward to the time when it can be once again,’’ the Mayor says.

Under the terms of the offer accepted by the Council, CPT will prepare and lodge resource and building consent applications for the relocation of the memorial and commit the balance of funds from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust to making the move happen.

Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited – the company set up to oversee the reinstatement of the Cathedral – will deconstruct the memorial and prepare the component parts for transport and storage.

Even if the memorial wasn’t being relocated, it would need to be deconstructed as it has some earthquake damage and some rust on the inside that needs to be addressed.

The Council will be responsible for repairing and strengthening the memorial and storing it until such point it can be installed in its new location.

“We want to get this work done as soon as possible so that we can reinstate the memorial and restore public access to it,’’ Mayor Dalziel says.

“The memorial was funded by public subscription so it is totally appropriate that the Council should own it on behalf of the people of Christchurch.’’