Christ's College wins Vero Supreme Heritage Award

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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The winners of the 2014 Vero Canterbury Heritage Awards were announced at the newly rebuilt Knox Presbyterian Church on Thursday night (October 23).

Christ’s College Board of Governors won the Vero Supreme Award with their restored Harper and Julius Houses. Judges praised the Board of Governors for recognising the importance of restoring the iconic building within the School’s quadrangle both to the culture of the School and the heritage of Christchurch and Canterbury, a sentiment echoed by Jimmy Higgins, Executive General Manager, Vero Earthquake Programme:

“Vero would like to congratulate Christ’s College on winning this prestigious award. It is a privilege to sponsor the Supreme Heritage Award and we would like to commend the Board of Governors for their vision and commitment.”

Fittingly the Awards venue, the Knox Presbyterian Church, was awarded the CeresNZ Seismic Award for the seamless execution of knitting together a new exterior build with the retention of the historic timber arched interior.

A new category was introduced this year to recognise the Christchurch rebuild and the buildings that will secure a cultural legacy for the future: The Christchurch Heritage Trust Future Heritage Award was won by the new Stranges Building.

Other projects to take out top awards were:

PKF Goldsmith Fox Heritage Retention Award – Ironside House

TDM Events Heritage Restoration Award – Orion Powerhouse Gallery/Akaroa Historic Hydro Generator and Christ’s College’s Harper and Julius Houses (equal winners)

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism Heritage Tourism Award – Christchurch Tramway Heritage Tours Re-Start

Continental Heritage Champion Award – Waimakariri District Council’s Landmarks Team

Category winners were presented with a Neil Dawson designed trophy in recognition of their achievement in front of an audience of Canterbury heritage advocates and representatives from major sponsor Vero.

“Vero has a long history in New Zealand and we’ve remained committed to Canterbury during the worst natural disasters in recent years. Our approach is to partner with our customers to achieve the best outcome for all.

“We are proud of our involvement in the reinstatements of some of the most iconic buildings in Canterbury and we are committed to resolving all our customer’s claims as efficiently as possible,” said Mr Higgins.

The judging panel for the awards was chaired by Anna Crighton and included international heritage expert Jim Gard’ner from Heritage Victoria, David Hill from Wilson and Hill Architects Ltd, Paul Campbell from Opus International Consultants Ltd and Rob Hall General Manager of Heritage New Zealand.

The Vero Canterbury Heritage Awards recognise excellence in heritage retention and conservation, heritage tourism and education within the public and private sector and promotes the values of best practice heritage retention and conservation to the wider community.

Christ’s College wins Vero Supreme Heritage Award