The Ministry of Culture and Heritage is now seeking a new site for the Erebus memorial instead of Sir Dove-Myer Robinson Park.

“It’s been a team effort to defend a taonga that could not defend itself,” Dame Naida said. “No one opposes a memorial to those lost at Erebus. The site needs to be appropriate, and this sacred site was simply not.”

Community, mana whenua, tangata whenua and Erebus families have been united in their opposition to the 26+ metre long, 8 metre high, double walled concrete and steel structure. The public campaign by Protect Mataharehare was backed by 24,000 petition signatures.

The Ministry has advised that the Sir Dove-Myer Robinson Park site was not suitable after extensive slips occurred during the January and February weather events.

CTA had opposed the siting of the memorial in Sir Dove-Myer Robinson Park and wrote to Waitematā Local Board members in November 2020, asking them to decline landowner approval. We also had a letter published in the Sunday Star Times on 5 December 2021 on the matter.

More here.

Image: Ministry for Culture and Heritage