Christchurch, as a 'Peace City', works towards implementing the recommendation from the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Non Proliferation Education which encourages municipal leaders to work with citizen groups in establishing peace cities, ‘through, for example, the creation of peace museums, peace parks, web sites and the production of booklets on peacemakers and peacemaking.’
The Peace City status paves the way for the development of a Culture of Peace in Christchurch. There are now five Peace Cities in New Zealand: Christchurch, Auckland, Waitakere, Hutt Valley and Devonport.
Mayors for Peace
Christchurch has been a member of the international 'Mayors for Peace' association since 1988. In November 2002, 603 Mayors from 108 countries were listed as members of the association and by April 2010 this had swelled to 3,793 cities from 143 countries and regions, including 32 from New Zealand.
Former mayor Gary Moore was an executive of Mayors for Peace in 2005 and then a Vice President. He represented the Oceania region until retiring in October 2007.
Peace Mural
Under a programme aimed at redirecting the talents of those responsible for graffiti into more legal activities, several young artists painted a peace mural on a wall in our Tuam Street car park in 2003.
The 30m x 8m mural features native flora and fauna combined with scenes of people pro-actively working for peace in the local environment.
The artwork was initiated by the Peace Foundation's Disarmament and Security Centre, which worked with the Council's Legal Arts Team.
Peace Mandala
To commemorate Christchurch’s declaration as a Peace City, the Council purchased this mandala named Contemplating the Next Century (IV) in 2002.
The mandala, part of the Mayor's lounge at the former Council offices on Tuam Street, focuses attention on some of the issues we face in the next century, for example, the depletion of the rainforest, global warming, genetic engineering, nuclear issues, racism and discord.
Contemplating the Next Century (IV) was designed and made by the late Vivienne Mountfort and Maeve Harrison in 2000.
Peace awards
Christchurch celebrated its 20th anniversary as a Nuclear Weapons-Free city by presentation a number of Peace Awards to campaigners and peace groups in the city. The awards were made in recognition of their commitment to peace in our city:
• Harold J Evans, LLM., QSO
• Lawrence F J Ross, QSM
• Mia Tay
• Reverend Maurice Manawaroa Gray MZNM
• Sumner Peace Group (15)
• Patricia Morrison
• The Christian Pacifist Society (15)
• Dr Neil James Cherry, ONZM
Dr Kate Dewes, ONZM, (pictured)was also presented with a Peace Award in 2007.
Camphor Tree
This tree from the cutting of the original
This Camphor Tree, propagated from a tree that survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb, was presented to Christchurch by the Mayor of Nagasaki, Iccho Itoh during a visit to Christchurch in 2003.
Today it stands proudly in the Kurashiki Garden at Halswell Quarry Park where it was planted by the Mayor of Kurashiki (Christchurch’s Japanese Sister City) during a visit to the city.
Cuttings from this tree have been propagated and were presented to Auckland and Wellington, and to Southern Wairarapa and Palmerston North. A cutting was planted in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in September 2007 (right).
Peace Bell
New Zealand’s only Peace Bell is located in Christchurch’s world-renowned Botanic Gardens.
The Peace Bell is made from melted coin and was presented to Christchurch as the Country’s first Peace City by the World Peace Bell Association (WPBA) of Japan.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the indigenous people of the Christchurch/Otautahi region, donated a piece of pounamu/greenstone which was blessed and named Ira Atua Tane (which is the masculine life force of the Divine).
A piece from that pounamu has been sculpted into a pyramid shape and, along with some black granite, placed into the reflection pond beneath the bell.
The Bell and the stunning pavilion it is housed in were unveiled by the then mayor of Christchurch, Garry Moore and Keizo Ohashi, a Director of the WPBA of Japan on 3 October 2006.
In 2007 the pavilion received four significant awards:
• New Zealand Concrete Society Award for Landscape (2007)
• NZIA Resene Local Award for Architecture for the Community and Cultural category (2007)
• NZIA Resene Colour Award
• New Zealand BEST Design’s Silver Award for Public and Institutional Spaces.
These awards are a fine testament to the brilliant skills of the designer, Crispin Schurr, Architect at the Christchurch City Council
Read the full report of the project from its conception to its unveiling. [PDF 621KB]
Nagasaki Sculpture
Nagasaki Sculpture
Another piece from the Ngai Tahu pounamu was presented alongside a sculpture from the people of New Zealand that was gifted to the people of Nagasaki to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city.
The sculpture, by Wellington sculptor Kingsley Baird, was a gift from the Government and the cities of Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Napier, Waitakere and Whakatane.
The sculpture was transported to Nagasaki in September 2006 and unveiled by the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, the Hon. Phil Goff on 21 October 2006.
Peace Walk
The Christchurch Peace Walk is a two kilometre-long corridor in the City scattered with reminders and commemorations to peace.
The path was established by Christchurch City Council and the Peace Foundation Disarmament and Security Centre as a Christchurch Peace City initiative. The walk includes:
• The Fire Fighters Memorial
• Clock Tower
• Elsie Locke Park
• Site of Lantern Ceremonies
• Queen Victoria Statue
• Cenotaph at Cathedral Square and Cathedral Square
• Memorial to Vivienne Mountfort
• Kate Sheppard National Memorial
• Purple Plum Tree
• Bridge of Remembrance
• Peace Pole and Friendship Corner
• Bandman’s Rotunda
• Dalai Lama Stone
• Camphor Tree
• Rotary Plaque
• Peace Bell
Contact
For further information please contact Dr Kate Dewes, Disarmament and Security Centre, Christchurch,
kate@chch.planet.org.nz,
http://www.disarmsecure.org
