Timing Right to Drop in Again
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Winter 2017 NATIONAL FOCUS Timing right to drop in again The stage is set for the return of the Timeball tower and mechanism to Lyttelton’s skyline, with work at the Reserve Terrace site expected to begin in July. THE TIMEBALL, housed in a neo-Gothic tower, operated daily from the 1870s until the devastating earthquake of June 2011 sent it tumbling to the ground. It provided accurate timekeeping to countless ships over the years, the navigators checking their chronometers using the drop of the Timeball before leaving port. Heritage New Zealand put on-site work on hold last June so significant earthquake repair roadworks could be carried out by the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team. Access to the site overlooking the port town and harbour means returning the tower and its distinctive, internationally rare, Timeball can finally get underway. CONTINUED OVER > A sign of how deeply the locals felt about the loss of the Timeball. (CREDIT: SARAH LAMONT/HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) heritage.org.nz 1 FROM PAGE 1 > “Heritage New Zealand has really Contents appreciated the community’s patience since we dismantled the Timeball Station following the June 2011 earthquake which effectively destroyed the property,” says Heritage Destinations General Manager Nick Chin. “We know, from earlier community 1 NATIONAL FOCUS 13 CENTRAL REGION consultation and regular feedback to staff Timing right to drop in again Test in faith fulfilled at St Mary of to this day, that interest is high in seeing the the Angels Timeball return. There is no question it is a 2 CONTENTS much loved part of not only Lyttelton, but 14/15 MAORI HERITAGE Christchurch and New Zealand. Some of the 3 EDITORIAL Cultural monitoring key role in comments from the community referred to Heritage New Zealand Chief understanding history the Timeball as ‘the heart of Lyttelton’ and Executive Andrew Coleman school children wrote and drew some very 16 MAORI HERITAGE powerful words and imagery. 4/5 FEATURE INTERVIEW Excavation reveals early “It is the first major rebuild project Heritage David Watt: Capital connection settlement site New Zealand has undertaken so we are well in place Significant pa mapped taking time to make sure we do it right. The logistics involved in using existing 6 NATIONAL FOCUS 17 CENTRAL REGION heritage fabric and combining it with Securing the future of iconic Big changes for historic Central what effectively is a new build have been heritage buildings Hawke’s Bay homesteads considerable.” 7 MAORI HERITAGE 18/19 SOUTHERN REGION The project’s budget remains within the approximately $3 million raised through Wahi tapu listing for prominent, Strong family connection to fundraising. The plan is to return the sacred rock St Barnabas Timeball tower, flagpole and landscaped 8/9 SOUTHERN REGION NATIONAL FOCUS grounds with interpretation to the site. Christchurch street art a valuable Battle of Messines remembered “The tower will be built first to historic resource accommodate the Timeball. The 20 SOUTHERN REGION stonemasonry work will take place in the 10/11 MAORI HERITAGE Instant success at Invercargill spring and summer months when the St Faith’s listed as a wahi tupuna landmark weather is at its best to ensure proper curing,” says Nick. 12 CENTRAL REGION “It is an ambitious and unique project, and Exciting restoration work ahead very exciting.” at Bushy Park Sanctuary The Building Intelligence Group will project manage the rebuild. Following the June 2011 earthquake the CONTRIBUTORS: Timeball Station was dismantled and as Jamie Douglas, John O’Hare, David Watt and Melissa Reimer. much heritage material as possible was put into storage so it could be later returned to the site. “The stonemasonry component of the Members of Heritage rebuild will be exciting because we’re New Zealand can visit its properties for free, visit bringing back what was originally there to www.heritage.org.nz. keep the physical link to 1876, when the Timeball first dropped, alive.”n 2 heritage.org.nz EDITORIAL n Prioritising and celebrating the most where Maori heritage places are safeguarded. significant places Acknowledgement of traditional and customary associations of whanau, hapu and iwi with their n Building support by working with iwi, local places of significance, and their kaitiakitanga of authorities, volunteers, owners, members these places, is at the heart of the Maori Heritage and communities Council’s vision of Tapuwae. Recognition of n Promoting the vision of Tapuwae to Maori heritage places by all New Zealanders is conserve Maori heritage intrinsic to this vision, increasing the value with which people regard this irreplaceable part of n Prioritising our advocacy with a focus our nation’s heritage. on educating, promoting, advising and regulating. Recognition of sites of significance to Maori on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero ANDREW COLEMAN Outcomes for New Zealand’s significant heritage is one means of increasing public awareness places are improved greatly where communities and we will continue our work with iwi, hapu of interest exist. This highlights the importance and whanau to progress these listings. Through of awareness and engagement, either directly or the work of our specialist staff, Heritage New by learning more about these places. It increases Zealand Pouhere Taonga seeks to ensure Strategy of key the likelihood of their continued recognition and accurate, respectful and appropriate information use, and the desire for the places to become so about these places is available, increasing importance intrinsic to our sense of national identity that we access to matauranga Maori. The organisation’s cannot imagine a future without them. ongoing advice and skills development work RECENTLY THE Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga places programmes will continue to support kaitiaki Taonga Board and Maori Heritage Council a high priority on fostering awareness and as they make conservation, preservation and endorsed a revised Strategy for the organisation. support in relation to our most significant management decisions about these places. heritage places. We work closely with those The Strategy emphasises the purpose of our Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga delivers directly responsible for historic heritage, whether effort as: across the spectrum of regulation. To achieve through ownership, as kaitiaki or influencers and the outcomes sought it is a key priority to focus Tairangahia a tua whakarere; Tatakihia nga decision-makers. on educating and promoting heritage. It is from reanga o amuri ake nei We will seek to achieve more by increasing a sound base of knowledge and experience Honouring the past; inspiring our future awareness, through information we provide and that the leading advisor aspirations will be met. opportunities to work directly with volunteers The past is important as from it we learn and Heritage conservation and protection can be and the wider community on events and there is much to acknowledge – this is why challenging and there are often competing activities to support heritage understanding our purpose highlights ‘honouring the past’. demands and requirements. Maintaining the and appreciation. The connection to the future needs to be real, competency to regulate and hold those who meaningful and forward focused – this is why Partnerships with iwi, local authorities and challenge the intent of conservation to task is our purpose highlights ‘inspiring the future’. regional heritage organisations to build their a core part of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Tairangahia a tua whakarere; Tatakihia nga capacity, as well as our own, enables us all to Taonga’s regulatory framework. reanga o amuri ake nei. work with a broader range of communities. The Strategy contains key words that remind us This extends well beyond where Heritage New Heritage people and places, along with purpose, of the tasks we have – celebrating, significant, Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff are located, and form a critical strategy focus for us. It is pleasing prioritising, supporting, educating, promoting, enables a deeper level of heritage information, that in this edition they are all well represented. advising and regulating. Holding these words knowledge and understanding to be gathered. close provides a focus for the future. As an organisation our mandate is to ensure The New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero I encourage every person interested in the that ‘present and future generations of New continues to be vital in acknowledging the history and heritage of New Zealand to consider Zealanders appreciate their sense of place, importance of heritage. We will continue to the strategic intent outlined in the Strategy. No identity and nationhood’. One can see that add to the List, and review and upgrade the one person achieves a strategic intent; collective ‘people’ and ‘place’ continue to be important information it holds. to what we aspire to. wisdom and commitment goes some way. n A priority for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere The Strategy provides a focus for the work of Taonga is Maori heritage which, after all, is ANDREW COLEMAN Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga: New Zealand’s heritage. We seek a future CHIEF EXECUTIVE heritage.org.nz 3 David Watt has been at Heritage New Zealand for almost 20 years. (CREDIT: HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND) FEATURE INTERVIEW Tell me about your association with chemical company, in public relations Q: Heritage New Zealand and what management and industrial relations until you did before working here. 1989. While working with ICI I entered local I have been here almost 20 years and I have government and was a borough councillor in Capital enjoyed it. I have had an interesting work Tawa for six years, the last 2½ years as mayor, career. After completing an arts degree in before Tawa merged with Wellington City in connection political science and education at the end of 1989. I had two terms on the Wellington City the 1960s I joined the Tourist and Publicity Council as a councillor and deputy mayor well in place Department in Wellington as a press officer.