Sheila Watson - Canterbury Heritage Awards

CHRISTCHURCH HERITAGE AWARDS CHARITABLE TRUST – ON PAUSE

The Christchurch Heritage Awards Charitable Trust celebrated its 10^th anniversary in June 2021. Over this time the Trust, in conjunction with its family of sponsors and supporters, has witnessed outstanding success of this biennial event. Each event attracted a diverse and exciting range of entries from cabins to mansions, from small to large commercial and public buildings, from rural to urban structures and country houses and the best of the best new builds as heritage of the future. The events were occasions where networking of like-minded heritage advocates and professionals from around Canterbury came together in celebration of this important social event.

The Awards were initiated by myself in 2010 and have been run as a not for profit trust. Their success can be attributed to invaluable sponsorship from several key businesses and organisations over the past 12 years. As the awards are totally reliant on sponsorship it has been increasingly difficult to continue without it. Therefore, the decision has been made to pause the awards for the time being. We are deeply appreciative of the support our previous sponsors have shown and understand entirely that in some cases their time has come to stand aside for others to step up and show the support required to run future awards.

This means a long-term pause for the Canterbury Heritage Awards, as we, the trustees, take time to re-think and re-imagine the awards in a manner that enables a sustainable future and of recognising those who have contributed to the protection and future of historic heritage in Canterbury.

Expressions of interest to support a future event as a key sponsor are invited. Please call Geoff Bone (Event Convener) on 0274 858 185 if you wish to know more.

So, in the meantime, on behalf of the trustees, keep up the good work. You have all either individually or collectively been complicit in keeping our history alive, to be remembered and cherished.

With kind regards
Dame Anna Crighton
DNZM, QSO, JP, PhD(Otago)

September 2022

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Sheila Watson started her new role as Southern Region General Manager of Heritage New Zealand, based in Christchurch, on 16 November 2015. “I am excited to join Heritage New Zealand and contribute to the stewardship of New Zealand’s important historic and cultural heritage,” says Sheila.

Sheila is a planner by training and has previously held senior positions with Mighty
River Power, Meridian Energy and CERA. She also spent seven years as a commissioner on the bench of the Environment Court.

“Sheila brings considerable expertise and awide range of skills to this position,” says Heritage New Zealand Chief Executive Bruce Chapman.

“Her general management, environmental policy and planning background, coupled with significant mediation experience will be very useful in her new role.”