Over 350 events for Carter Group Heritage Week: 13 to 23 October

28 September 2006

This year’s Carter Group Heritage Week: “Celebrate – Great times, Great people, Great places” from 13 to 23 October - will bring together more than 350 events and activities to mark a year of celebrations in a city that’s just turned 150 years old.

Mayor Garry Moore says the theme “Celebrate Great times, Great people, Great places” plays on the major steps Christchurch has taken in carving a fabulous city out of very little in its 150 years. The city has achieved “Great times” thanks to the foresight of “Great people” who built “Great places” to nurture strong communities.

This year will be Christchurch’s 13th Heritage Week and the longest yet – spanning two weekends or 10 days jam-packed with opportunities to get first-hand experiences of local heritage.

Local communities and business groups will run events with core funding from the City Council, with activities and programmes focussed on aspects of local history for residents and visitors to Christchurch.

From listening to music in the unique settings of the Edmonds Factory Garden, the hold of the MV Tuhoe at Kaiapoi, Christ Church Cathedral, and Rose Historic Chapel, to following “undertaker” and historian, Richard Greenaway, around historic cemeteries as he recounts spine-tingling stories of those buried there on the Decra Art Spirited Cemetery tours, all tastes are catered for.

You might join a walk with Graeme Stanley, who was awarded the Heritage Week Ambassador 2004, or “Beat the Bounds” with Mayor Garry Moore. This is an adaptation of a centuries-old English tradition of walking the boundaries of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, during which historic features are explained and some musical items enjoyed.

Our City – Otautahi is exhibiting John Pascoe’s “Songs of Innocence – Photographs of New Zealand Childhood”, and the Christchurch Art Gallery has “Facing an Era”. This is a remarkable collection of early 20th century portrait postcards of anonymous New Zealanders, which capture the faces of a newly forged nation. Entry is free to both exhibitions.
 
Community-based events include “Hornby History comes to life at The Hub”, the official opening of the New Brighton Local History Museum, and a display of “Local buildings past and present” of Sumner Redcliffs areas at the Sumner Museum.

Christ Church Cathedral, as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations of the cathedral’s consecration and to raise funds for continuing restoration, also offers a wide range of events. This includes musical concerts in jazz, choir, Celtic, rock, chamber music, organ, and brass band, along with a Mystery Tour of the Cathedral, Circus in the Cathedral, a celebrity debate, and an exhibition of Seadrift – New Zealand’s first children’s book.

A radio documentary on Plains FM will explore two very diverse icons of local heritage - the Christ Church Cathedral and the State house on the 13 October.

The full programme of over 350 events is available at all Council libraries and services centres, and can be viewed on line at www.heritageweek.co.nz or requested by phoning 941 8628.

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