Hear From Those Who Built The Memorial. |
and Make a Submission. |
Concerning the Boffa-Miskel Re-Concept Plan for our War Memorial Park. |
In August 2018 Heritage Consultant Ann McEwen recommended a ‘heritage assessment‘ Heritage Assessment morphed into: Development Plan and then into a ‘Concept Plan' Given consistent protesting public response and contrary advice, it was not rational for a Service Delivery Committee to pursue a re-concept for a memorial park, because 'staff' recomemnded it. In July 2019 Boffa Miskel were appointed to develop a ‘Concept Plan’. ie’ a Re-Concept of the Memorial. Boffa Miskel: |
No further concept is required. The park is a memorial complex. Te Awamutu and District War Memorial Park. 17 April 2020. View from the Scenic Drive-Way. ![]() The Rocky Knoll now restored with foliage. Perennials are required. |
13 Aug’ 2019 Boffa Miskel met with the Te Awamutu Community Board seeking input for a concept plan for the Memorial Park. Next to no input was given. |
There is a misconception that the Sunken Cross alone is the Memorial. Such unawareness that the entire park was planned, built and was dedicated as, a war memorial, was warned of by Arthur Warburton in his 5 Dec 55 editorial following the formal opening of the park. |
![]() See The Sunken Cross Inscription List. |
![]() Opening Day Ceremony, Sunday 4 December 1955. Photos c/o Stirling Family collection/ not for reproduction without permission. |
See 5 Dec’ ’55 Opening day speech of Prime Minister Sidney Holland. Courier articles during the parks construction casually refer to the park as a whole being a memorial. |
A Triad of Stone-built Monuments to Peace. The Cross, Semi-Sunken Garden and Fountain. ![]() Waikato Times. 5.12.55. Viewed from low altitude. Prime Minister Sidney Holland: "A beautiful piece of work" |
![]() Into the Fernery Gully |
A Lasting Memorial. Council forgot. The same error is now being repeated by consultants Boffa Miskel, Council staff and Mana Whenua with their Draft Concept Plan that would decimate the park. |
The Semi-Sunken Garden and its Historic Mural Wall: The Historic Mural wall within its Semi-Sunken garden was well designed, crafted and placed. |
![]() Our Ways of Life. United in Peace and Prosperity under “One Government and One Crown.” |
See 7 Nov’ 52: “We want the actual Memorial Cross to be in a quiet and dignified area in keeping with its purpose.” See 11 May ’55. “Well planned contours of the park…make themselves prominent…around the natural mound in which the Sunken Cross has been set…sunken rock gardens (the Sunken Rose, lily pond rockery and Semi-Sunken Garden) leading around to the fernery and continuing the wide semi-circular sweep around the cross with the colonnades in the pergola” The Cross was the Central Idea of the Memorial Complex. |
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The draft proposal builds upon a misunderstanding of this memorial feature because of recent misuse of the Semi-Sunken Garden as a ‘function space’ for stage plays. (In the absence of a stage) Appropriate proposals for the Semi-Sunken Garden. |
Stage/Classroom. (Boffa Mskell objective) “Upgrade current assets and develop new assets to enhance the visitor experience and provide opportunities for education grounded in ecology and culture.” Despite the government pound for pound subsidy a funding shortfall in Nov’ 52 meant cutbacks on the full developement of the memorial park concept, including one footbridge and a pergolla with arch-ways to accompany the Sunken Cross. The park designer; Harrold Babbage, envisioned additional Maori Culture depictions within the Semi-Sunken Garden. See Original Concept, 16 June 1953: H Babbage: “It might be possible to depict in the vicinity” A ‘Taniwha Rau’ of ‘Waikato’s Hundred Taniwha’s’ and also a ‘Manaia’ A favoured bird like design of the Ngati Ruakawa. It would be fitting to realise from the original memorial concept, such desirable sculptures, or mural additions to the Semi-Sunken Garden, along with its re-established Mercury Bay lawn. |
![]() The bronze Inscription explaining the historic mural was fitted in Sep’ 57. A fuller version was considered for an illustrated booklet, expanding on the history of the district. |
![]() c/o Stirling photo collection. |
The Sunken Fernery should be protected and maintained. |
The wire netting and brush covering enabled forest floor light conditions. Climbing Clematis later replaced the brush. The covering was removed in the late 80’s as the trees had matured. Trees, water channels and paths through the fernery require maintenance largely due to leaf fall. A constructive proposal for the Sunken Fernery. |
Pergola/Colonnade VS Shared Pathway Spine. The Pergola’s curved proximity to the Sunken Cross was planned to contribute to the dignity of the sunken cross. |
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See 11 May ‘55. “Well planned contours of the park…make themselves prominent…around the natural mound in which the Sunken Cross has been set…sunken rock gardens (the Sunken rose gardens, the lily pond rockery and the Semi-Sunken Garden) leading around to the fernery and continuing the wide semi-circular sweep around the cross with the colonnades in the pergola” See 24 July 2018 Service Delivery Committee Report page 44. Stats from consultation:Access to Park: Walk-45, Drive 145, Bike-8. The original park design included an area for bikes. |
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Use within the 'two and a half acres' of open space north of the Pergola for an entry/exit. If the pioneer walk, north of the Mangaohoi stream was used, the Navy footbridge (Mutu st end) and the Army footbridge (netball end) would require widening. This would be very expensive. Affordably, a shared path not requiring a bridge, could enter the park off Mutu St, along the south side of the Mangaohoi stream all the way to the netball courts via: the open space along the south edge of the stream, across the existing flat access bridge that spans the Fernery Gully, (no need for a boardwalk section) along the north edge of the lake, then along the lower river path (currently washed out by road drain 3; that should instead contribute to the lake) to the netball courts. As pedestrians have two separate existing paths along this ‘lake to netball’ section, this portion of bike track can be much narrower. This allows for a repaired Airforce footbridge (the last of the original rustic design) to remain intact and for the lower river path to be repaired. As there are three river paths, in a park themed in three’s, Mayor F Parsons: ‘much in the general layout was to commemorate engagements’ the paths could be separately named in memorial. Thus, with bicycle use developed elsewhere in the park (as was originally planned) the sunken cross and other stone built and sunken memorial features, are respected and dignified with their purpose and identity protected. Or, cyclists might also prefer to use the existing Scenic Drive-Way. Or just simply use the existing Scenic Drive-Way through to the netball end and keep bikes out of the park. The re-concept plan's inappropriate 'shared path-way' ploughs through the current playground area. There is also wild life to consider. |
An appropriate proposal for the pergola would be to enhance it, rather than demolish half of it. The Scale Model of the Park. Harrold G. Babbage’s Commemorative Archways over the Columned Pergola. |
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The Peace Fountain. |
The fountain’s perimeter stones differ in colour, texture and shape from the limestone and rock used throughout the park. Its stone pillar and perimeter depict the column and blast wave of an atomic detonation, making the fountain additionally significant as a memorial sculpture. It is possibly unique in the world as the only such WW2 memorial feature. |
In the 1950’s, Atomic Developments were popularised as great solutions for mankind. An Appropriate Proposal for the Peace Fountain. |
![]() Source image: www.wired.com/2010/02/0201ktla-atomic-test/ |
See 20 Oct’ 52. “much in the general layout scheme were to commemorate engagements in which our servicemen took part.” Community engagement and signage educating visitors on the price paid for peace could take the form of a plaque fixed to one of the fountains perimeter stones, acknowledging V’J’ Day, the end of WW2 and subsequent J Force conscription service of our drafted J Force soldiers of 1946-48 for their service in Japan. The Ornamental Lake. |
Only one of three road drains contributing for 19 years. ![]() March 2020. Looks OK where there are stones lining the shore, during low water level. |
The driveway was sealed aprox’ in late May ‘55. Its road drains also helped fill the lake as the fountain was not finished untill 30 Nov 55. Road drains are now vital for refreshing the lake. Many trees surrounding the lake make leaf fall into the water. A partly felled tree had been left in the lake since August 2017. This, and a tree stump at the base of the river bank nearest the N-W lake edge, causing water to scour the bank, was reported to councils manager of facilities at the 14 Aug’ 18 Community Board meeting. Such stumps had caused recent riverbank erosion adjacent to the netball courts and on Pioneer walk leading to expensive repairs. Assurance was given that the lake was not being managed toward a case to dispose of it. The tree has just now been independently removed. The stump in the stream bend near the lake remains. Two jet fountains are in place in the lake to assist water quality. When last functioning a year ago, only one was working due to a break in its supply pipe. These and the waterfall run off a pump supplied by an inlet pipe to a sump. The inlet pipe is left high and dry when water levels drop, when it is needed most, like all through this summer without waterfall or jet fountains and just one of three road drains contributing. |
A Constructive Proposal for the Ornamental Lake. |
Ornamental Lake VS Play Trail Kitchenette Pavilion. |
![]() The Tea Kiosk. c/o Stirling family collection. |
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The Last Rustic Footbridge. |
The third ‘Army’ footbridge was finally built in ‘67-‘68 following a bequest from Marion Dawson of the Beautification Society. Its pier foundations were built in 1960. See parks report July ’60. Proposal for the Last Rustic Footbridge. |
Scenic Drive-Way with parking VS Biking/Scooting. Bikes have always been allowed on the road, initially referred to as a ‘Scenic Drive-Way’ An Appropriate Concept for the Parks Scenic Drive-Way would be: |
The Tea Kiosk was situated just in there. ![]() The Scenic Drive-Way could be named: Babbage Way. |
The second road drains outlet should be reconnected with the lake. The third road drain should be redirected into the lake. This would greatly assist the lake and also allow for the lower river path, toward the netball courts, to re-open.
The existing Scenic Drive-Way could be appropriately named: ‘Babbage Way’ |
Entry Archways VS Many Gateways. Gates were considered inappropriate for the Memorial Park. |
Mayor F Parsons: "Open At All Times To All People" ![]() See the Zion Sundal at the entrance of the Scenic Drive-Way. |
The original long term objective for the Memorial Park Concept, was a development from Albert Park to the racecourse. The Mangapiko Stream was realigned. It had wound its way toward the Mangahoi (as it was then spelt) to meet it head on, at the present confluence. The final section of that original Mangapiko stream bed still exists, full of branches and leaves, surrounded in trees. The area to the left of where pictured, lay under the protection of Kaipaka Pa. The Mangaohoi stream was also realigned at the netball end of the park some time prior to 1962. |
A Maori Culture extention of the Pioneer Walk. ![]() Take a bush walk to Kaipaka Park |
Puna Restoration See Park reports of 1967. In this area was a Double Sided Picnic Shelter. It and the Army footbridge, were installed as late as 1968 via a bequest from Marion Dawson in 1966. |
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The Lost Sunken Garden. 5 April ’07. The destruction was referred to as a “significant upgrade for the garden” with new drainage, footpath and kerb. $42,000 was spent levelling it, rather than making repairs. Opened by Sir Sidney Holland 4 December 1955. Designed by H.G Babbage and G. Gibbs. Constructed by H.J Webber and A.E Smart.” |
See the Sunken Cross Honour Roll 5 Dec’ 55 Arthur Warburton. “Will the People in their turn be as faithful? Will they as this generation passes on, hand down the same spirit of service and sacrifice?” Let this Submission also serve as a Heritage Assessment. |
The Memorial Park was Vested into Council Maintenance in May 1955. ![]() Should Boffa Miskel, Council’s Reserves and Biodiversity Planners and Community Services Manager be named here instead? |
That is our heritage to cherish and value, not to remodel or re-concept. God Save Our Memorial. By what reasoning do Waipa Council’s Reserves Planners, Biodiversity Planner and Community Services Manager determine that: only the Sunken Cross, Front Wall and Scent Garden should be protected? Forsaking the very many obvious features of the memorial complex and the Planned, Built and Dedicated Concept of our Novel, Artistic and Symbolic War Memorial Park? Marc Dawson. |