May 01, 2023
Erebus Memorial delay win for heritage
The leader of an occupation that delayed work on a national Erebus memorial says the saga should be seen as a lesson in what not to do.
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage has scrapped plans to build the massive concrete ramp at Dove Meyer Robinson Park in Parnell because extreme weather has undermined the adjoining cliff face.
Dame Naida Glavish says it’s a reprieve for Taurarua/ Mataharehare and the 200-year-old pohutukawa tree Te Hā which she says was threatened by the development.
“This is the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and a 200-year-old tupuna rakau surely is a culture and heritage the ministry should be looking after. Why does it have to rely on us at the flax roots who are not in paid positions to do what looking after our culture really means,” he says.
Dame Naida says she hopes a suitable site will be found for the memorial.