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Public Statues and Sculpture Association

The Christchurch Citizens’ War Memorial: rediscovering and relocating (Public Sculpture in Focus series)

Wednesday, 20 November 2024 at 8pm

The Christchurch Citizens’ War Memorial: rediscovering and relocating

When Mark Stocker was invited by the Burlington Magazine to contribute an article on New Zealand and World War One a century on, he had no hesitation in writing on William Thomas Trethewey’s Citizens’ War Memorial in Cathedral Square, Christchurch. A fortunate survivor of the series of earthquakes in 2010-12, it was for several years fenced off and forlorn, causing distress to the many thousands for whom it was a focal point of ANZAC Day ceremonies. A decision was made to relocate it, slightly further from the Anglican Cathedral, and in the process the memorial was given extensive conservation treatment. New things about it emerged, and the splendid-looking memorial was reinaugurated by Princess Anne in early 2023. In this special PSSA event, Mark will be in conversation with two people crucial to the memorial’s recent history, heritage consultant Jenny May, ONZM, and public monument sculptor Mark Whyte.

Mark Stocker, Deputy Chair of the PSSA, is a semi-retired art historian living in New Zealand with teaching and museum experience dating back 35 years. He has prolifically published especially on British and New Zealand public monuments and sculpture, Victorian art and coin and medal design, and is also an Art Deco enthusiast.
Mark Whyte  graduated with a BFA in Sculpture from the Ilam School of Fine Art, University of Canterbury, NZ. He specialises in stone sculpture, heritage restoration, public statuary in marble and bronze, and bronze portraiture. His earliest work in stone heritage restoration was with Takaka marble for the Wellington Parliament refurbishment project in the early 1990s. Since then he has played a key role in restoring many of the Gothic Revival buildings around Christchurch and Lyttelton some designed by Benjamin Mountfort, most of which were destroyed or severely damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The largest of his various public works in the Canterbury region is the statue of double Victoria Cross winner Charles Upham at Amberley. In 2009 Whyte was commissioned by the Local Heroes Trust to make twelve bronze busts of prominent Cantabrians to commemorate their achievements in business, culture, sport and the arts. These portraits are currently installed in the grounds of Canterbury University.

Jenny May ONZM is an architectural historian and independent heritage consultant. She has worked on many heritage projects over the years and following the devastating earthquake in Christchurch of 2011, Jenny was seconded by the Christchurch City Council to lead the heritage recovery team in the inner city and has been involved in many restoration and reinstatement projects such as the Arts Centre of Christchurch, the Citizens’ War Memorial and Christ Church Cathedral.  Jenny has been involved in a number of Trusts and is currently a trustee of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra Foundation, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir Education Trust, the Cathedral Chapter, the Ravenscar Trust and is Deputy Chair of the  Court Theatre Board. Jenny is an Honorary Canon of the Christ Church Cathedral. She received the ONZM in the 2007 New Year’s Honours for her work in governance and heritage.

Event information

The Christchurch Citizens’ War Memorial: rediscovering and relocating, introductory talk by Dr Mark Stocker FSA, followed by discussion with heritage consultant Jenny May, ONZM, and public monument sculptor Mark Whyte.

An online Zoom talk, free for PSSA Members. £3.50 for non-members (join the PSSA).

Free tickets and charged tickets book via Eventbrite

This event has concluded.

William Thomas Trethewey, Citizens’ War Memorial in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand, with conservation team.

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