The 2009 Banks Memorial Lecture: The amazing

Douglas (Mick) Field1

Foreword Garden. Murray was also involved that emanated from their souls. To This is a personal perspective of the with the Hamilton City Council’s my mind, this desire to express their development of the Chinese Garden development of a Chinese Scholar’s culture was such a driving force that it in Dunedin. It is not so much a story garden in the 1980s. The idea took helped overcome the many diffi culties about gardens in the horticultural root, and in mid 1996 I attended a and obstacles that lay in the path sense as an observation of events meeting at Dr Ng’s house to discuss ahead. that led to the conception and building the possibilities of building such Initially, the people involved in of this garden – the developments, a garden. The essential idea was developing the concept were Chinese infl uences, and factors that shaped that the wider Dunedin and Otago with the help of a few Europeans. and determined its ultimate creation. Chinese community would be asked Later, many more Europeans joined in Although the underlying reason for if they would present the city with a to help when and where they could. the development of the garden was garden as their contribution to mark clearly understood and articulated the 150th celebration of settlement of Steering committee from the beginning, the path that it the province. The city had earmarked The committee established to deal took had many turns. NZ$50,000 for the Chinese input to with the garden reported to Jim Ng the sesqui centenary and Jim Ng who was in charge of the overall In my view, Dunedin has been himself was enamoured with the Chinese input to the sesquicentennial presented with a treasure that arose idea as it meant recognition of the celebration. Jim effectively functioned from the hearts and souls of the contribution that the Chinese had as ‘de facto’ head of the Chinese Chinese community to create a made to the province for well over 100 community. garden that is also known as ‘Lan years. Yuan’. On the steering committee were As a result, I was charged with Frances Wong, Duncan Sew Hoy, Beginnings the task of managing a steering Alex Tang and myself. Frances and The establishment of a sister city committee to assess the feasibility of Duncan were from long-established relationship between Dunedin and building a garden in Dunedin Dunedin Chinese families while Alex brought Dunedin City (Fig. 1C). was an engineer from Hong Kong. Council’s Chief Executive (at that time Murray Douglas, Fig. 1A) and Dr Jim The Chinese community Our fi rst tasks were to locate a Ng (a Dunedin GP and historian, Fig. It was clear to me that the opportunity suitable site and fi nd an architect 1B) together to further the relationship of presenting some of the Chinese familiar with the design principles of of the two cities. culture to the wider New Zealand the classical Chinese garden. Clearly, community was very important to this person had to be Chinese. Here many of the older Chinese residents. Alex was helpful because he knew an On refl ection it was obvious that architect (Bruce Young) who was a their culture was substantially if ‘Kiwi’ Chinese now living in Auckland not completely suppressed in New but who had worked extensively in Zealand. There was little or no Hong Kong and was familiar with the ABoutward and visible expression of design of Chinese gardens. Perfect! this rich and ancient culture to be All we had to do was persuade him to Fig. 1 Founders of seen anywhere. While the ignorant take the job on. Alex made the initial the Dunedin Chinese and inhumane treatment of 19th contact with Bruce Young and upon Garden concept. A, Murray Douglas. and early 20th century Chinese had his expression of interest I also made B, Dr James (Jim) Ng. disappeared, none the less Chinese contact with him. C, Douglas (Mick) people had a low profi le in the Site Field. community until the late 20th century. The task of fi nding a suitable site was C My observation was that the people not easy. First, there was no concept It was on a trip to Shanghai in May with whom I worked were overjoyed design that would provide an idea of 1996 to organise events for the by the opportunity of developing a the space needed; second, no money 1998 sesqui centenary of Dunedin, garden. Not a ‘Kiwi’ idea of what a was available to purchase land, and according to Jim Ng, that Murray Chinese garden might be but one that third, the garden needed to be sited raised the idea of building a Chinese encapsulated the depth of culture close to the city centre to function as

1 Field Landscapes, PO Box 6150, Dunedin North, Dunedin; douglas.fi [email protected]

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) 11 the tourist attraction we envisaged. meetings with Dunedin City Council’s to be developed in conjunction with In order to establish a feel for the Chief Executive in an attempt to the private sector. amount of land needed, we required secure land in that area, but ultimately Stage 3: A cultural centre linked to, a general conceptual notion of what with no success. While the local Iwi and developed in conjunction with, the was essential for the garden to work were enthusiastic for a cultural-type Settler’s Museum. as a tourist attraction. development the real power regarding the land use lay with the Christchurch- All this was conveyed to Bruce Young I sought the assistance of the based Iwi whose interests did not who by now had agreed to provide the property department of Dunedin align with the local people. At the concept plans. City Council (DCC) to see what same time, meetings were held with land was available and what level of The total area of the site adjacent the Director of the Settler’s Museum cost was involved. About eight sites to the Settler’s Museum was about to develop a working relationship were presented, being a mixture of 7800 m2. All three stages would with the museum but also to secure privately and council owned property, have provided a truly exciting tourist some of their land for the garden. The ranging in size from about 300 m2 to attraction. The garden including the fi rst meeting with Elizabeth Hinds about 1800 m2. All these properties car parking area now comprises on the 14th October 1996 was most were really too small or ultimately 3900 m2 and more or less represents encouraging as she understood unavailable to us. It was clear to me stage one of the initial concept. the potential of the proposal and its that we had to fi nd a way to increase obvious synergies with the museum. Concept plans the amount of space available if we This meant that a positive relationship Bruce Young visited Dunedin in were ever to make a garden of any could be established which resulted December 1996 and by early March consequence. Also, at this juncture, in Bruce Young’s concepts for 1997 produced the fi rst concept the only land that could be considered development. sketch plans providing some had to be publicly owned. substance to our ideas (Fig. 2). These Sadly, not long after our meeting, There was the usual thrust to have were presented to the City Council by Elizabeth Hinds retired from the the Chinese garden built in Dunedin Jim Ng and Cr Peter Chin in a briefi ng museum for health reasons and the Botanic Garden. Anyone who works of the Community Development vision she shared was not possessed for local bodies knows about the Committee. by her successors, so the relationship demands placed upon reserves for subsequently withered. However, Site Plan: purposes other than for what they on the strength of these initial Options Considered to Extend are intended. In this case I asked discussions with Elizabeth, the Chief Garden to 3 Development Stages the Curator of the Botanic Garden Executive decided that the garden to explain to the committee why could occupy at least 2600 m2 of land to that location was inappropriate. He the north of the Rattray Street reserve. outlined the purpose and function of This, together with that reserve space the Botanic Garden and highlighted provided us with certainty for the the potential confl ict of purpose garden. between the Botanic Garden and the Chinese Garden. Initial ideas Initial ideas for the garden were now The only site that presented any being formulated in the minds of opportunity of expansion was the steering committee. We knew the Rattray Street reserve site. In the site needed to be in itself it was inadequate with many the central city to work underground utility services including as a tourist attraction. We water, sewer, electricity, gas, and realised there would be telecommunications. The area was synergies if it could be associated about 1800 m2 and was really a with the Settler’s Museum and that stopped part of Rattray Street. Its there was a possibility of increasing virtue lay in the undeveloped land to the size of the site there. We hoped the north and south of this reserve. there could be an association with Fig. 2 Initial site plan with options to extend The land to the north was owned by the local Iwi who might develop a the garden area to three development the DCC and earmarked for Settler’s stages. garden depicting Maori culture. We Museum expansion. The land to the believed commercial developments south was owned by Kai Tahu as part Visit by Shanghai Museum offi cials in association with the garden would of a land settlement agreement. If On April 23rd 1997 a group of offi cials assist in its viability as a tourist anything was to be gained here it was from the Shanghai Museum led by attraction. necessary to discuss the proposals Mr Hu visited Dunedin to facilitate an with both the Museum (DCC) people This distilled into a concept that exhibition of the Chinese Splendour and the local Iwi. divided into three stages. Art Exhibition at the new Art Gallery. Duncan Sew Hoy arranged for them A site meeting was held on 2nd Stage 1: The garden. to meet with the steering committee to October 1996 with local Iwi Stage 2: The commercial discuss the Chinese Garden proposal. representatives followed by further development (restaurants and shops)

12 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) This transpired to be perhaps the of the country and the provisions Dunedin has retained many most signifi cant step taken to date of the District Plan. Planning and townscape qualities that were a and ultimately changed the whole building consents and requirements result of the activities of the early direction of the garden’s development. of the Historic Places Trust had to be settlers and retained more of its The delegation discussed the concept worked through in an orderly fashion. early character than any other city and viewed Bruce Young’s designs. in New Zealand. These factors Planning and consent issues They offered help and advice and combine to give the central City The site lay within an area called suggested that we visit them and the charm which is cherished by TH12 Queens Gardens Heritage view the gardens in Shanghai. This its inhabitants and appreciated by Precinct of the District Plan. As such began a lasting relationship with the its visitors.” special considerations were required Shanghai Museum that culminated before approvals could be given to The proposed introduction of a totally in their arranging the design and build the garden here. alien architectural style challenged the development of the garden we see sensitivities of the planners and their today. The Historic Places Tr ust was reaction to dealing with it was, to say consulted. They were concerned Formation of the Trust the least, ‘guarded’. The references about the reclaimed area and the To progress the development of related to buildings. We argued that remains of old piers and wharfs that the garden, the Dunedin Chinese we were creating a garden. once were located in the area. They Gardens Trust was formed and needed to examine all excavations. There were other quite practical registered on 17th July 1997 with They were also concerned about issues relating to building permits Peter Chin as Chairman and 20 the rear facade of the old NZ Road that were also challenging in terms trustees. It began setting priorities for Services building (an Art Deco of the relevant Acts. There were to work that needed to be done. This Structure of the 1930s), and required be no spouting or drainpipes on broke down into several parts. a 10 metre strip along the eastern these Chinese buildings and to even Raising the funds for the gardens face to protect the view (Fig. 3). consider doing this would destroy the development was the overarching whole ambience of the place (Fig. 5). priority but before that, there were Conventional spouting and drainpipes numerous jobs to do to even do not ‘sit right’ with the roof design of determine the amount of funding these pavilions. that was needed. There were many questions: • What is the order of work? • Do we raise funds for all three stages or part of that?

• What was the cost of the project? Fig. 3 The space between buildings was • What consents are needed? kept clear so that this facade of the old Art Deco building (left) could be viewed in its • Who knows how to construct entirety. Chinese designed structures in New Zealand? The facades of the buildings in Fig. 5 Northern courtyard and pavilion – Cumberland, Bond, Crawford and note the roof tile detail and the ‘swallowtail’ • Where is the expertise for this? Rattray Streets were all important roof line. Rainwater is allowed to discharge • Who can cost such work? in terms of Townscape quality being onto the paving where it is collected into drains and discharged into the drainage • How do we promote the project to in the Queen’s Gardens Townscape system. raise funds? Zone (Fig. 4). We needed a generous interpretation The trustees were sure of one thing. of the building codes that could They would have to begin fund raising separate our garden from the within the Chinese community to normal structures that the building establish credibility. How could they inspectors encountered. Fortunately possibly ask others for assistance if the chief building inspector at the they fi rst had not made a contribution time possessed the acumen and themselves? breadth of understanding to navigate This led to plans for the so-called his way through all the ordinances and requirements of the relevant ‘soft launch’ for fundraising aimed Fig. 4 Cumberland Street facades south of primarily at the Chinese community. Rattray Street. codes and acts that would allow these While this initiative was the primary pavilions and covered ways to be built The District Plan states: goal, other issues, particularly relating in accordance with Chinese customs. to planning and consents were dealt “Townscape is concerned with the Drainage could be taken care of with concurrently. quality of the urban environment. within the garden site. It helped Dunedin’s townscape is a product that he had recently toured China European heritage of its setting, history and growth, and had developed a professional Concerns regarding European and the changes that have understanding of the way they did heritage were codifi ed in the law occurred during its development. things.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) 13 Maori heritage Alaska were called the ‘Gow Gum Chinese celebrated their culture here Chinese settlers have traditionally Shan’ or old golden mountain. The it was not apparent to other New related closely with the Maori Chinese brought expertise and a very Zealanders. community. From the outset of the strong work ethic with them. Their In Jim Ng’s words the opportunity to project, the committee were anxious endeavours were not confi ned to participate in the 1998 celebrations of to meet with the local Iwi to discuss digging up gold with pick and shovels settlement in Otago was grasped with their plans to introduce elements of although undoubtedly and judging by alacrity: “It did not happen in 1948 but the Chinese culture into New Zealand. the early photographs in museums, it was happening now in 1998 and It was as though they believed the many of them did. But there were the isn’t it appropriate that the Chinese Maori were the ‘seniors’ in regard to entrepreneurs like Choie Sew Hoy community give (them) a gift to mark heritage and culture in this country who provided supplies and developed the occasion?”. To me this statement and felt they needed to exhibit their gold dredging, among other things summed up the relief of more than ‘respect’ for this. It was not discussed (Fig. 7 A–B). 100 years of suppression of any in those terms but the underlying overt expression of their culture. It attitude exuded these sentiments. explained to me the joy they felt in This was formalised in a meeting held developing the garden. 8th March 1997 at the Karitane Marae where the committee was allowed So these varied strands of the cultural to address the combined Runanga background of our Chinese citizens to discuss the reasons why they needed to be expressed somehow in wanted to build the Chinese garden in the garden. Dunedin. A garden seemed the best way This respect for cultural recognition to express the culture of China. It extended throughout the development was seen to be a non-threatening process and was publicly manifest element that anyone could appreciate. at the blessing given by the local A Moreover, a Chinese Scholar’s garden Iwi at the dawn ceremony when the is much more than a place where foundation stone was laid in March plants grow. It is more like a centre of 1998 (Fig. 6), and again at the formal culture in the same way that the great opening of the garden in September houses of Europe were a focus of 2008. culture in the 18th century, where art, music, theatre and horticulture were all put on display for visitors. B The heritage issues all had a Fig. 7 The Sew Hoy family created well bearing on the garden in different established businesses in Otago. A, Choie ways. The European aspects had Sew Hoy. B, The Sew Hoy Dredge, a direct to do with constraints, consents, prototype of what was to become the New Zealand gold dredge. and site infrastructure, and as such were rather cold and logical. They The present generation of the Fig. 6 Blessing of the site at the dawn were dealt with in a pragmatic and ceremony. Sew Hoy family has been strongly systematic way, with no emotional associated with the development of connection. Apart from cultural ties, there was the garden. the hope that the local Iwi might be The Maori issues were to do with inclined to build a garden of their own When the gold ran out, many Chinese political and fi nancial matters with a adjacent to the Chinese garden. The returned to their homelands in China much deeper undercurrent of shared long history of Maori horticultural but others stayed on to establish a spirituality. In the end the value of the expertise, especially related to range of businesses, mainly market site was reduced to dollar terms and production of plants for garment gardens, laundries and takeaway fi sh the spiritual values were set aside. making and food, was well known. It and chip shops. Later, they became But the Chinese cultural issues seemed that here was an opportunity doctors, lawyers, accountants and went to the heart of the design and to develop that theme side by side other professionals. Their contribution purpose of the garden. They fi red with the Chinese. to New Zealand society is now well known. the imagination and brought joy, Chinese heritage amusement, pleasure and intellectual The Chinese gold miners who came Their heritage from mainland China stimulus. to Otago in the 1860s were mainly is not well known in New Zealand. Site determined from California and Alaska searching Most of us only have a vague idea of All of these matters had a bearing for their fortune in the ‘Sun Gum the extent and range of their culture upon the precise location and amount Shan’ (the new golden mountain) except perhaps the knowledge of land that could be made available as the Victorian and Otago gold that China is the eastern cradle of for the garden. The opportunity of fi elds were to be called by them. civilisation stretching back thousands expanding to the south was lost when Later the fi elds in California and of years. If these New Zealand negotiations with Kai Tahu closed.

14 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) The museum land that the Chief The garden that most closely Executive allowed was reduced by approximated the space we had in the 10 metre wide strip required by Dunedin was the Master of the Nets the Historic Places Trust to provide garden (Wangshi Yuan) in a view of the eastern façade of the (Fig. 10). Bruce knew of this garden NZR Railways building. The land to from earlier visits to the Chinese the north that we wanted for stage mainland and had based his original three (the cultural centre connected designs on this. His refi nements made to the Settler’s Museum) was now a use of this closer observation of the Fig. 9 Hand made roof structure. more distant possibility and not worth garden. pursuing at this stage. That could still The Suzhou visit was followed by be considered later. We decided to another with Peter Chin and Jim Ng progress with stage one, the garden. in which the role of the Shanghai Thus the site was determined (Fig. 8). Museum was defi ned as our agent Land Identifi ed for Garden in China to obtain authentic material Development (1996) which was unavailable in New Zealand. Bruce Young’s design Bruce’s designs (Fig. 11) refi ned the three stage concept that the Trust originally defi ned but we soon Fig. 10 The Master of the Nets garden in decided the main focus of attention Suzhou, China. The similarity to Dunedin’s should be stage one, the garden, Chinese Garden is striking. and that the rest could be When Bruce provided elevations, dealt with later. sections and hand drawn graphics, a video was made using AutoCAD. There still remained the Jim Ng provided the ‘voiceover’ and tasks of detailed design, the video used widely to promote fundraising, promotion and the concept and as our initial tool for the underlying research fundraising. needed for marketing the project. All of these were needed to provide the Promotion and fundraising Fig. 8 Final land area for garden resources to persuade contributors to The ‘soft launch’ to the Chinese development (c. 4000 m2). give us funding. community was made on 19th February 2000 with more than 200 Relationship with Shanghai The designs were central to ‘selling’ people attending. The fi rst estimates The offer from the Shanghai the project. The Shanghai Museum of costs (NZ$2m) were made, as Museum for members of the steering suggested we build a model of the were the fi rst promotional materials committee to visit Shanghai was garden as a tool to promote the including, video, brochures and taken up. The architect (Bruce Young) full-scale garden. I was opposed donation forms. and I visited in November 1997. The to this, preferring a video which purpose was to study the gardens is a much more fl exible means of The funds raised provided the in the Suzhou area and to take the communication than a static model. means to expand the funding advice of the museum experts fi rst strategy towards the wider public, hand. The effect of this was that Bruce refi ned his designs to meet traditional styles more truthfully, but he was also more acutely aware that the nature of construction, particularly of the roofs, was beyond the skills of tradesmen in New Zealand. The hand made structures with hand cut mortise and tenon joints were of great interest to Bruce during his visit. He photographed examples of them wherever these were shown to us (Fig. 9), evidently with the intent of detailing these for construction later on in New Zealand. We discussed the pros and cons of the detailing of the built structures. He was clearly concerned about the ability of New Zealand tradesmen to produce these at a competitive price. Fig. 11 Bruce Young’s design.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) 15 the Community, McMillan, Poll Tax components constructed in China and had an effect. It is on public record Trusts, the City Council, and others. items that necessarily had to be built that Mayor Turner criticised Cr Chin, Fundraising was also widened to in Dunedin had to be resolved. not for anything that he did or said, expatriate Chinese business people, but for his ‘body language’. There This was a breathtaking change graduands and ethnic Chinese from was also the matter of having to visit and concerns about the relationship all over New Zealand. Ultimately Shanghai during her term as Mayor dissolved when the principle of ‘trust assistance was sought from the New which seemed uncomfortable for us and we will trust you’ was agreed Zealand government. Sukhi Turner. This is not to be critical on as the basis for moving forward. of anyone but merely an observation Wider professional assistance We realised the visits that had taken of political cut and thrust. Certainly and expert advice was sought and place between the two parties had when the Trust visited local Labour given by the University of Otago, been, apart from the learning process, politicians for fi nancial assistance Otago Chamber of Commerce, and a prelude to establishing trust. from central government, there was a successful local business people such It was a lesson in relationship building clear signal given to the mayor, who as Eion Edgar. All this expertise was that we Westerners were too not was present at that meeting, that the focussed upon marketing, promotional familiar with. city needed to shape up with real techniques and research data that assistance before any help from the proved the economic value of the Finalising the building process government could be considered. The project to the city and region. This Thus began a procession of visits city had been tardy in coming forward was essential in order to give funding both to Shanghai by New Zealand with a major fi nancial commitment providers confi dence that the project delegations and reciprocal ones to and maybe this was a timely shot was indeed not only worthwhile but Dunedin by the Chinese. The Chinese across the bows. also economically viable. Gardens Trust visits were initially focussed upon the growing level of It was not lost on the Trust that its Shanghai visit to Dunedin assistance being provided by the building of a strong and acclaimed After the initial launch, planning Shanghai Museum. Later they were relationship with the Shanghai issues were resolved and the concerned with agreements to revise Museum might well be useful for fundraising effort was expanded. In the concept plans (Fig. 12), produce central government in its endeavours January 2002, Messrs Hu, Tan and working drawings, budgets, and to build close economic ties with Shi visited Dunedin to further their ultimately to build the garden. China. A success story in cultural functions as ‘agent’ for the Trust. This turned out to be a momentous occasion. After intensive discussions regarding design and materials, our Shanghai guests visited Central Otago where they were shown sites where the early Chinese miners worked. They were moved by what they saw of the early days of the miners in Central Otago. The focus upon ‘authenticity’ – a cornerstone of the Trust’s intent from the beginning – was taken up by the Shanghai delegation. It seemed to me they realised we could not Fig. 12 Stunning concept illustration ties is always a good story to present provide the level of authenticity we produced in Shanghai. when you need one. We believed wanted, but they could. It was on The politics that the then Prime Minister Helen this visit they fi rst offered to build Throughout the project, running Clark, who took a keen interest in the garden in Shanghai and to ship alongside it like a doppelganger, were cultural portfolios, was well aware the disassembled components to the inevitable politics. Politicians were of any advantage she might gain Dunedin. This changed the whole at once mesmerised by the exciting from this quarter. But apart from nature of the project. The problems vision on one hand and apprehensive these somewhat Machiavellian that Bruce could not resolve within about being pilloried for extravagant observations, we knew that the New Zealand evaporated with this waste of public money on the other. interest of all the politicians was offer. Also, the cost of the project This tension existed at many levels. genuine. They truly believed that the could now be accurately assessed There was much public criticism project was right for the right reasons because the imponderables were of the project in fi nancial terms, in and they also knew that the garden eliminated. terms of the site selection and – well was going to be splendid. In order to do this, a Shanghai just because Dunedin people like to Development and construction contracting fi rm would have to be criticise. There were other interesting After two years of negotiating and engaged and new sketches produced. political nuances to observe. The fact fundraising, the time to get down Working drawings would also be that the mayor of the city at the time to the real work arrived. This was needed, and methods of dealing with was Indian and the councillor leading the meeting in December 2004 in the Trust was Chinese may have

16 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) Dunedin between the Shanghai Building Museum and their contractors and Once the funding was secured the the Trust and its technical team and building began both in Shanghai for contractors to deal with the physical the above ground components and building of the garden. in Dunedin for the below ground work. Concurrently the plants were It was a week of intensive negotiation being raised at a local nursery. The of who did what, when and how. The Dunedin input was to build the lake or A work to be done in Shanghai and New pond, build the foundations to all the Zealand was clearly defi ned – how structures, provide the underground they related to each other, the order services of water, drainage, power, of work and the detail of matching and communications as well as basic the New Zealand and Shanghai paving. Other paving surfaces would components. be provided from Shanghai and laid The Shanghai Museum had by the artisans when they were in appointed its contractor (The Dunedin. Provision of water to the B Shanghai Building and Decorating quality required was an expensive Group). The Trust had appointed its part of the Dunedin input and had team comprising the Project Manager been underestimated in earlier (Octa and Associates), the Design assessments of costs. Manager (John Henderson), its All the above ground material and Principal Consultant (John Beekhuis), structures would be provided from and other consultants as well as its Shanghai. The structures would fi rst principal contactor (Amalgamated be assembled in Shanghai to ensure Builders). C all was correct, then shipped to The price for the Chinese component Dunedin and reassembled. Even the was set in US dollars. It would not be rocks (the famous Lake Taihu rocks) varied. The New Zealand component for the rock ‘mountain’ would come had yet to be costed accurately. In from China (Fig. 13 A–B). particular, the provision of water for the lake was problematical and had not been satisfactorily assessed up D until this time. Fig. 14 Construction work in Shanghai. A, assembling the wooden structures. B, cutting When this was done an application to bridge granite. C, hand made roof tiles. central government for the Signifi cant D, roof tiles boxed and ready for shipment. Community Based Project Fund had to be made. Until this was secured the project could not proceed. A The Chairman now had his fi rst meeting with the then Prime Minister to broach the possibility of funding from a central government source. The ground for this had been prepared by the local members of Fig. 15 Overview of site works – the parliament and cabinet ministers who Dunedin input. were supportive of the project. B Assembling the components Between 2005 and 2007 when Fig. 13 A–B The famous Lake Taihu stone The arrival of the artisans from building began, the main task was being mined and prepared for use. Shanghai heralded the fi nal phase to present all the material needed of the work. This was the moment All work done in China fulfi lled the to fulfi l the exacting requirements of truth for the two ‘limbs’ of the Trust’s objectives for authenticity of necessary to secure full funding. The development as they were brought this garden (Fig. 14 A–D). cost of the project was now assessed together. It was a meeting of two to be NZ$6,500,000 of which some The work that had to be done in cultures and in the words of Warren NZ$2,725,800 had been raised. There Dunedin was a matter of practicality McEwen “they knew as much English was still a long way to go to reach the (Fig. 15). In effect, this local work as I did Mandarin but we understood target. was supportive of the visible Chinese each other”. The site management In due course the then Prime Minister content and in general, not evident was under Warren’s overall control but Helen Clark presented the Trust with to the eye so it did not detract from he worked closely and formed a good a cheque of NZ$3,774,200. The quest the effect the completed garden rapport with the Chinese foremen of for funding was completed and we presented. their team. The skills and techniques had found our ‘Sun Gum Shan’. they brought to the site were about as alien to us as the structures they built.

New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) 17 However, in the end tradesmen are The only parts of the garden visible the same throughout the world in that to the public that were sourced within they know their work and want to get New Zealand were the plantings. on with it without any fuss (Fig. 16).

Fig. 20 Other plantings including ground covers. We will be given guidance from the people of Yu Yuan to refi ne the Fig. 16 The old fashioned method of Fig. 18 The newly completed structures. transferring heavy granite stones by hand for selections in due course. This is the bridge might not appeal to New Zealand part of the ongoing relationship with tradesmen but was a quick and effi cient Shanghai. means of moving heavy objects in a tight space with no room for machinery. An example of the folklore importance is the ‘ten famous fl owers of China’ Building the rock mountain was also (azalea, camellia, chrysanthemum, a work of art. Every gardener knows fragrant tea olive, jonquil, orchid, that although you can design a rock peony, plum, rose, and water lily or garden in conceptual terms, the lotus) some of which are represented actual building needs the on-site skill in the garden (Fig. 21, 22 A–C). Those of considering the merits of each rock that are not will be introduced later and its place in the scheme of things. so the stories attached to them can Mr Gu, the acknowledged rock expert be told in the interpretation of the in Shanghai, knew this too and was garden. There are other signifi cant skilled at his work. plants such as those relating to the Lake Taihu rock is much prized signs of the zodiac or the years of the in China for building the mystical rat, horse, and dog etc. These are representations of mountains into a intriguing to the Westerner and add a Fig. 19 These container grown trees were garden art form. Mr Gu is illustrated as big as the root zone would allow – 500 dimension to the garden that we do building his Dunedin masterpiece mm to the water table. not normally encounter. (Fig. 17). The techniques used would These were initially selected by the boggle the Farrer’s2 of this world Chinese designers and based upon but he is not imitating nature. He is tradition. There are folklore stories distilling it. attached to many of these plants and their uses in the customs of the people. These connections are important to the Chinese but not necessarily known or understood by Europeans. So it became important that plants representing Chinese Fig. 21 The garden photographed on Chinese New Year. The willows were added traditions were used in this garden. because they could cope with the close Of course, some of them were not proximity of water. The Nelumbo (lotus) suitable in Dunedin for climatic or growing in the lake was a ‘must have’ as it Fig. 17 Mr Gu building his rock mountain. other practical reasons. In general, is one of the 10 famous fl owering plants of China. It remains to be seen how it copes By the time the Chinese artisans had the selections of plants initially made with the Dunedin winter. fi nished their work the feeling of the were trees and shrubs (Fig. 19). They place was apparent (Fig. 18). could be described as the structural In all, more than 3000 plants have plants. been used in this garden. Most are The structures, roofs, and stonework within the walls, although there are were completed. Now it was time The selection of plants for ground over 1000 plants outside the garden for the electricians and gardeners cover was largely left to us to do. We proper in the entrance courtyard, to enter the scene. The spaces for were given NZ$10,000 worth of plants between the carpark and shops to the gardens were small and while from a local nursery from which we the south, between the museum and the Chinese insisted on having large selected plants we thought suitable garden on the western side, and to specimens to begin with there was no for the purpose (Fig. 20). Some of the north near the tower pavilion. room for large root balls. The water our choices were not right but others table was less that 500 mm below the work. Simplicity is the key for a garden surface! such as this.

2 Reginald Farrer (1880–1920) was an English traveller and plant collector best known for his infl uences on rock garden design. In 1907 he published My Rock Garden which was continuously in print for more than 40 years.

18 New Zealand Garden Journal, 2009, Vol. 12(1) A B C Fig. 22 Three of the ten famous fl owering plants of China. They all have stories attached to them and are interesting additions to the garden. A, Osmanthus fragranss (fragrant tea olive). B, Paeonia suffruticosa (tree peony). C, Prunus mume (Chinese plum).

Conclusion Douglas (Mick) Field has a long and varied career in horticulture. The Dunedin Chinese garden itself He completed an apprenticeship at Christchurch Botanic Gardens in the early has only just begun. Like all gardens 1950s, and then studied for a National Diploma in Horticulture before going its development will never end to England where he continued his horticultural studies at Wisley and Lower even though the essential form is Basildon. now complete. The plants will grow and will need to be shaped and Returning to New Zealand in 1962 he again worked in Christchurch where he formed to assume the character that designed and built several parks/sports-fi elds. From Christchurch he moved tradition prescribes. Some plants to Australia and was involved in construction of the Mt Lofty Botanic Garden, are not suitable and will be changed. design work at the Adelaide Botanic Garden and the teaching of students. Paintings and other artefacts will be From Adelaide, Douglas moved back to New Zealand, working from 1971 for the donated and performing artists will Dunedin Parks and Recreation Department as a Landscape Architect. Following come to animate the spaces from local body reform in 1987 he was appointed Recreation Planning Manager. time to time. This is just the beginning. In 1988 he was made a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Parks and Recreation Administration. His work in Dunedin has included input into the development strategy for the Otago Harbour, boat harbour development, cemetery design, establishment of Polytechnic Training for Ornamental Horticulture and numerous community amenities, latterly as a private consultant.

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