Queenstown Fallen Soldiers Memorial is located on the waterfront near the main town centre and at the entrance of Queenstown public gardens. Fallen Soldiers Memorial is a tribute to the citizens of Queenstown who served and suffered in World War I. At the inception of the design, two suggestions were made as to what form this memorial should take – One was a children’s play area where they could grow healthily and remember the tribute of the soldiers lives which enabled them to flourish and Another was a memorial arch. Finally the memorial was opened on ANZAC Day in 1922 in the form of the rock arch bearing the names of all those who served in the war on one side and the names of those who lost their lives in service on the other. A small plaque lists soldiers killed in World War II. The memorial is nicely framed by the avenue of birch trees. It reminds locals and tourists of the sacrifices made by the Queenstown community.
Christchurch was struck by an earthquake on 22/02/2011 where 185 people died. 185 chairs was a temporary art installation at the day of the earthquake’s first anniversary as a tribute to the loss of lives, livelihood and living in the city of Christchurch. It preceded as the official earthquake memorial known as the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial. It is located on both sides of the Avon River downstream from the Montreal Street Bridge. The memorial opened on the sixth anniversary of the earthquake i.e. 22/02/2017. The current site of 185 Chairs was once a vacant lot, ironically made up of about 185 square meters of grass. 185 chairs is also known as 185 Empty chairs or 185 White Empty chairs or 185 White chairs.
The concept of empty chairs depicting the loss of someone has been used repeatedly across time and culture all over the world. In Christchurch, 185 chairs of all shapes and sizes have been installed by local artist Peter Majendie which symbolizes those who all lost their lives in the earthquake. He painted the chairs white at the site of the demolished Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. The individuality of each chair pays tribute to the uniqueness of each person represented. The main inspiration for the installation came from paintings by Vincent Van Gogh of empty chairs, representing their owners’ different personalities.
Objectives of installation of the chairs :
1. Honours the 185 people who lost their lives, as well as those who were injured in the earthquake.
2. Remembers and gives thanks to the many organisations from across the world that assisted in the rescue and recovery.
3. Provides a space for hosting formal civic events, such as an annual memorial gathering on 22nd Feb.
This memorial is a very artistic and touching idea to commemorate the victims. A visitor can pay tribute to the people who have lost their lives in the earthquake and feel a quiet moment of reflection and peace at the memorial. A visitor can spend as much time he wants in this space. A visitor is allowed to choose and sit in any chair which speaks to them of those who died in the earthquake.
The Blue lake also known as the Tikitapu and the Green lake also known as Rotokakahi located in Rotorua, a city in the North Island in New Zealand is a Paradise for the nature lovers. Both the lakes are facing each other.
Blue lake:
In ancient times, the daughter of a high born chief lost her sacred greenstone neck ornament (tiki) while taking a bath in the crystal clear waters of the lake. The blue waters of the lake are believed to still be hiding the tiki, hence called as Tikitapu. The lake was formed approximately 13,500 years ago. The size of the lake is 150 hectares and the deepest point is 27.5 meters. The lake does not have direct surface outlet, it probably drains via underground to Lake Rotokakahi. It caters for swimming; boating; jet skiing; fishing and walking/running besides the lake. The lake looks turquoise/aqua blue due to reflection of the sun from white rhyolite and pumice bottom.
Green lake:
The Rotokakahi gets the name for it’s abundance of kakahi (shellfish). The lake was formed approximately 13,300 years ago. The size of the lake is 440 hectares and the deepest point is 32 meters. The lake is 21m (69ft) below the level of the Blue Lake. The lake flows to Lake Tarawera via the Te Wairoa stream. The lake is privately owned by local Iwi (Maori tribe). There is a small island located in this lake known as Motutawa Island, which holds significance as the burial-place of many ancestors of the tribe. The lake is hence considered very sacred (tapu) to the Maoris so there is no fishing, boating or swimming permitted in the lake. The lake looks emerald green due to shallow and sandy bottom.
