Agenda Items
1. War Memorial
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Type of Report: |
Procedural |
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Legal Reference: |
N/A |
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Document ID: |
1781798 |
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Reporting Officer/s & Unit: |
Steve Gregory, Manager Business & Tourism Thunes Cloete, Executive Director Community Services |
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1.1 Purpose of Report The purpose of this report is to update Council on the Napier War Memorial project and to identify any outstanding resolutions to be actioned.
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The Napier People and Places Committee:
a. Receive the War Memorial project update and note the status of outstanding resolutions for the project.
b. Consider the resolution recommendations as proposed in table 2, and make the following resolutions:
i. That Council revoke the decision to install a forecourt sign as it would hinder operations, specifically pack-in and pack-outs for functions and events.
ii. That an individual webpage on the Napier City Council website be developed presenting all the required information of the restoration project and the Roll of Honour details.
iii. That Council, in consultation with Hawkes Bay knowledge bank/ Historic places Hawkes Bay, establish a group to manage the Living Rolls ongoing contributions when received.
iv. That Council install CCTV cameras which will be monitored along with a verbal warning if people get to close to the memorial flame.
The Napier War Memorial restoration project has had a storied journey for the Napier community, it will probably be one of Napier City Councils most high-profile community and capital projects in the modern era highlighting how important it was to the Napier community that we respect and acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice our war heroes have given to our Country over a number of war campaigns.
Guy Natusch, arguably one of the regions’ most respected architects and a local war hero himself, designed the original Napier War Memorial Hall which was opened on the Marine Parade on 14 July 1957. The Napier War Memorial Hall was an innovative architectural design build for its time and incorporated a community hall and restaurant, a Roll of Honour with an Eternal Flame, fountain and pond. The War Memorial instantly became an important community asset that was the pride of the Napier community. Even today there are many family connections that go back generations.
The facility has been altered three times since opening, firstly in 1978, then again in 1995 and most recently in 2017. The 2017 refurbishment transformed the Napier War Memorial Centre, incorporating a state-of-the-art conference and events facility for Hawke’s Bay. Unfortunately, as a result of these upgrades, both the Roll of Honour and Eternal Flame were removed.
In November 2019, Napier City Council formed a reference group to help restore the Napier War Memorial. The reference group included members from the Napier and Taradale RSA’s, Historic Places Hawke’s Bay, community representatives and Napier City Council.
In March 2021, the War Memorial Reference Group agreed to the restoration concept drawings. The approved drawings were presented to the community on 22 March 2021 before being formally adopted by Council.
The completed Napier War Memorial and refurbished Floral Clock were officially re-dedicated and opened to the public on 6 August 2023.
Moving forward the following Directorates and teams have the stated responsibilities for the War Memorial and Floral Clock:
Table 1: Role Clarity
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Item |
Responsibility |
Directorate / Team |
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War Memorial maintenance |
Management and maintenance of the War Memorial including water features |
Building Asset Management team, Infrastructure Directorate. |
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Flag protocols |
Abiding all flag protocols for events and occasions that activate the appropriate protocol to be recognized |
Napier Conferences & Events (Business activity operating inside the Napier War Memorial Centre) |
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Floral Clock |
Management and maintenance of the Floral Clock |
Open Spaces, Infrastructure Directorate |
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Roll of Honour (RoH) queries |
All queries about the RoH coming through the Customer Service Centre |
Communications team, Community Services Directorate |
1.3 Issues
Since 2017 the Napier War Memorial project has had many resolutions and direction given formally by Council with which many have been completed though there are some outstanding. The project has achieved the following resolutions as per the Council meeting dating back to 5 March 2019 - War Memorial Design Options Consultation
That Council:
a. Consider the community feedback,
b. Reconfirms its decision made on 27 September 2017 to locate the War Memorial at the Floral Clock site, and
c. Provides direction on a design concept.
d. That Council staff take the following direction to create a revised community led design concept for adoption by Council:
1. That the reinstated Memorial be constructed at forecourt level, on the floral clock site, forming part of the War Memorial Site,
2. That a curved wall, open to the elements, reflective of the ballroom shape and physically connected to the building, display the Roll of Honour,
3. That the Perpetual Flame form part of the existing War Memorial Building Entrance so that it is visible when entering the building, from the Memorial and externally at night,
4. That water be incorporated into the design that is near to and complements the flame, so that they can be viewed together,
5. That a place/s to sit and reflect be included,
6. That physical access and visual connection to the formal lawn be incorporated,
7. That remembrance artwork be incorporated into the design, to connect the Memorial space with the Memorial Building and lower lawn, uniting the Memorial elements,
8. That landscaping is included that complements and promotes restful
contemplation, and unites the Memorial Building with the Memorial elements,
9. That the design include flag poles connection the Memorial and Memorial building,
10. That WW1 and WW2 Rolls be displayed in a prominent way flowing onto consecutive conflicts’ Rolls,
11. That the physical original Roll of Honour be respectfully incorporated into the design and that a small committee of appropriate representatives are given this brief, to provide Council a recommendation on ‘how to incorporate’.
e. Note Council’s intention to tender the development of a revised concept no later than August 2019 and tender construction as soon as practicable in the 2019/20 financial year.
f. Notes Council’s existing budget for this project and provides guidance, for the purpose of tendering, that construction costs (excluding remembrance artwork and all professional fees) to be up to $750,000.
Following the above resolutions, the below resolutions were made by Council relating to the War Memorial. Recommend resolutions have been suggested alongside these where actions are outstanding.
Table 2: Resolutions Recommendations
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ID |
Meeting |
Officer |
Subject |
Resolution + Recommendations |
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29/07/2018 |
Council resolution Extraordinary Meeting of Council - 29 June 2018, item 1c
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Napier War Memorial entrance forecourt flagstone |
Approve external signage Option two placement in the forward-most Centre of the building forecourt as demarcation of the War Memorial Centre as a site of significance; and that the words ‘Napier War Memorial Centre’ be placed on the external curved wall of the ballroom, and that the name be returned to the building by 1 October 2018. Resolution actioned: ‘Napier War Memorial Centre’ name is placed on the front road side of the Large Exhibition Hall. Resolution Recommendation: i.) That council revoke the decision to install a forecourt sign as it would hinder operations, specifically pack-in and pack-outs for functions and events.
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5881 |
21/5/2020 |
Steve Gregory |
Napier Conference Centre Renaming |
d. That a separate website be established for the Napier War Memorial Centre to tell the story of the Centre and our fallen heroes, and this is incorporated into the War Memorial Design Working Group process.
Resolution Recommendation: https://www.napier.govt.nz/napier/projects/the-napier-war-memorial-restoration/
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27/5/2021 |
War Memorial Reference Group: RoH policy - RoH Ongoing Management |
Community research group |
That a community organization/Trust group manage the Living Rolls ongoing contributions, research, and display functionality (with effect from the date of policy approval - 27 May 2021). Council will assist in the Trust creation if needed and fund by service agreement. The intent is to use specialized Historical researchers such as Hawkes Bay Knowledge Bank and/or Historic Places Hawkes Bay. Resolution Recommendation: Note: Council criteria and process has been communicated on the Roll of Honour webpage |
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27/5/2021 |
War Memorial Reference Group |
Outdoor vandalism warning signs |
Resolution Recommendation:
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Table 3: Outstanding resolutions
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ID |
Meeting |
Officer |
Subject |
Resolution |
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27/9/2017 |
War Memorial Reference Group: RoH Sub committee |
History of War Memorial be recorded and displayed inside the building foyer
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An interactive touch screen display should be located inside the WMC foyer, publicly accessible, that should display the history of the building. Action: Electronic display units have been scoped and priced. This was delayed as prioritization exercises of CAPEX. The Manager Arts, Culture & Heritage is progressing this resolution. Plan for implementation to be included in 25/26 Annual Plan. |
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21/5/2020 |
Steve Gregory |
War Memorial Centre rooms renaming |
e. That the rooms and halls in the Napier War Memorial Centre be re-named after battles and/or fall heroes of significance to Napier and this is incorporated into the War Memorial Design Working Group process Action: Apart from the naming of the Guy Natusch Ballroom all the other rooms are still to be formally renamed. The Community Strategy team did a preliminary community engagement on suggestions and ideas of names for rooms on the opening of the memorial in August 2023. The Manager Arts, Culture & Heritage will engage with the Roll of Honour sub-committee and other relevant stakeholders by December 2024. |
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6/5/2021 |
War Memorial Reference Group: RoH Sub committee |
Display case of artifacts (memorabilia) |
Action: · Identify an area inside the War Memorial Center building to display war memorial artifacts. · The Manager Arts, Culture & Heritage will work with the MTG and relevant stakeholders to scope and progress the display of artifacts. Plan for implementation to be included in 25/26 Annual Plan. |
1.4 Significance and Engagement
This project has been one of the most important in Napier’s history that had significant interest from the entire community. It was critical that we engaged with the community to seek their involvement with the design and ensure historical elements were reinstated that would satisfy the community.
In November 2019, a community reference group was formed to help restore the Napier War Memorial. The reference group included members from the Napier and Taradale RSA’s, Historic Places Hawke’s Bay, community representatives and Napier City Council staff. Coinciding with the War Memorial Reference Group was established a sub-committee for the Roll of Honour, this group had oversight of the reinstatement of the plaques back to the War Memorial and how the Roll of Honour list of names would be managed moving forward, specifically the introduction of new names and the process involved.
In March 2021, the War Memorial Reference Group agreed to the restoration concept drawings. The approved drawings were presented to the community on 22 March 2021 before being formally adopted by Council.
1.5 Implications
Financial
The overall cost of the War Memorial restoration project will be communicated to council through a council project update report and included in the council’s annual report.
Social & Policy
To ensure that the War Memorial was looked after and managed so future generations can appreciate and pay their respects for those in our community who have paid the ultimate sacrifice serving our country. A formal Napier War Memorial Policy (Policy) was developed. (Policy attached)
The purpose of this policy is to outline how the Napier War Memorial Centre, the memorial elements and its immediate curtilage will be used and managed in order for its heritage and memorial values to be retained and respected now and for future generations. The policy seeks to facilitate the maximum use of the Napier War Memorial Centre in its entirety for the benefit of the Napier community including community events, functions, weddings, conferences, meetings and commemorative ceremonies.
Risk
It was important we brought the community along with us on this journey and important to have community representation on the War Memorial Reference Group to support the design along with the Roll of Honour sub-committee. These key community representatives brought valuable insights and expertise to the completed project and final War Memorial that the community is now enjoying and cherishing.
If Napier City Council hadn’t sought community involvement there would have been a risk the design would have been not what the community wanted and that they felt mis-informed, not involved and as a Council that we didn’t value their input.
1.6 Options
The options available to Council are as follows:
a. Council to accept the update and information provided on outstanding and amended resolutions.
b. Council not to accept the update and would like more information on the outstanding and amended resolutions.
1.7 Development of Preferred Option
Council accept the update and information provided on outstanding and amended resolutions.
