Pegasus Post: February 21, 2017

6
Tuesday February 21 2017
Your Local Views
PEGASUS POST
War memorial deserves better
New Brighton
resident Linda
Street has
criticised
the city
council’s plan
to cover the
war memorial
on Marine Pde with polyglass
panels
I have never read anything so
shaming as the proposal to place
the New Brighton War Memorial
in a plastic box in a bid to prevent
graffiti.
The city council has attempted
to remove the graffiti using various
means, which have not been
successful.
The memorial is showing other
signs of damage from exposure to
the elements, so maybe it is time
for a makeover and there are plenty
of stonemasons working on the
Arts Centre who could be diverted
to this.
The New Brighton War
Memorial could be made a lot
more meaningful to future
Diversity enriches city in age of ‘conflict and chaos’
City councillor
Yani Johanson
writes about
the value of
diversity in our
society
At a time when the world is
coming closer together through
cheaper long distance travel
and greater connectivity via the
internet, it feels like there is more
conflict and chaos than ever
before.
Whether it’s the huge number
of refugees fleeing war zones or
the fear-based politics of Donald
Trump and Brexit, it is a time of
great concern for where we are
heading as humans.
As such, I believe we have
to ask ourselves why is this
happening? And, more
generations by including the names
of soldiers on the memorial who
had a connection to New Brighton.
Seeing the names of the dead
inscribed on the memorial
would make it more apparent that
this is essentially their gravestone,
and maybe this would deter people
tempted to vandalise it.
New Brighton Library has
several folders of information,
which has been compiled by
library staff, with the names
and details of soldiers who
had a connection to New Brighton.
Some of these men had their
names memorialised on the
honours board of the Central New
Brighton School, but this school
no longer exists, so how do we
now remember these men? This is
importantly, how can we stop
this from happening?
Last week, in my role as city
councillor, I had the privilege of
being involved in two positive
things to address this.
First, at the city council
we have signed off on a
multicultural strategy, which
recognises “the council has
a leadership role in making
Christchurch a city where
diversity is welcomed and
celebrated.”
This strategy has been long
overdue and is a fantastic start
on a journey towards being a
more inclusive place.
Second, I was asked to speak
at the opening of the Friendship
Force national conference.
Friendship Force is a voluntary
group with mission values
including mutual respect,
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another reason to have their names
added to the war memorial.
In addition to the names of the
dead, there is also ample room
on the surrounding block wall on
which more information could
be added, such as the battles in
which the first New Zealand
Expeditionary Force took part and
the inclusion of other wars.
This would make the war
memorial a more thoughtful
and informative experience, as
currently the only words on it are a
few place names and the words pro
patria (meaning ‘for one’s country).
I think in these centenary
anniversary years of World War 1,
and with the city council hopefully
embarking on a revamp of the
New Brighton foreshore area in
conjunction with its master plan,
we can do better than encasing our
war memorial in polyglass.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What
are your views on the city
council’s plan to cover the
New Brighton War Memorial in
polyglass panels? Email caitlin.
miles@starmedia.kiwi
cultural diversity, cultural
exploration and service.
Its members do this by
opening their homes and
hearts to host visitors from
other cities and countries
POLYGLASS: The city council plans to cover the New
Brighton War Memorial in protective panels to prevent
graffiti.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
PHOTO: DEB WILSON
throughout the world. They have
done an amazing job bringing
people to our city even after
the devastating impact of the
earthquakes.
The work they do and the work
the city council has done on the
multicultural strategy is based
on a simple premise that we all
have a common bond of being
human and that we all deserve
to be treated with dignity and
respect.
In my view, when people
are afraid of the unknown,
scared of difference or lacking
understanding, I believe the
world is fundamentally a worse
off place to live.
And yet, when we provide
opportunities for dialogue and
communication, for living and
learning and for understanding
and sharing, we are creating a
better world, a better country
and a better city.
In essence, we are creating a
community that celebrates and
cherishes difference rather than
being scared of it.
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