Freedom Park
The 1970’s and 80’s were exciting politically for me. Within weeks of returning to New Zealand I joined the Values Party. The VP was the forerunner of the Green Party. The Christchurch group were an interesting combination of academics, trade union organizers, Marxists, teachers and students. A rather eclectic group, all very motivated and focused on the state of the nation.
I ran the Rangiora electoral branch. Our big house on George Street was action central. Monthly meetings, fundraising gatherings, policy formulation groups and so on. We organized a nationwide petition to ban nuclear energy ( vessels and power plants ) which helped the government formulate a non nuclear policy which is still the case today some 40 years later. We were instrumental in promoting MMP ( proportional representation ). One of my close mates was Rod Donald, who was Chair of the MMP group and who later became the Co leader of the Green Party. He also founded Piko, the finest organic whole foods shop in town. Sadly he died of a heart attack in his late ‘40’s. A razor sharp mind and an activists activist.
There always seemed to be an issue that needed to be brought to the attention of the authorities and the wider public. The photo that accompanies this section illustrates the point. In downtown Christchurch ( opposite the Riverside Market ) there was a small triangle of land that appeared to have no particular purpose. When it was mooted that a parking lot be made there, we protested. How? We organized with office workers in the vicinity to come to this parcel of land every day to eat their lunch. Within weeks there were hundreds of people eating their lunches there.The Christchurch City Council got the point. The argument was that maybe 15-20 cars could fit into the proposed parking lot. This would mean infrastructure expense, for what purpose? In their wisdom and clearly having heard our plan, they decided to make a small park which was named ‘ Freedom Park ‘. Tables and benches were placed among the trees that were planted.Fast forward to the picture. In 1983 the Chinese Premier Zhao Ziang was a guest of the city. He was asked to plant a Ginko tree in ‘ Freedom Park ‘. The tree is now 10 meters high and truly a fine specimum.
I read that Mr. Ziang was going to plant the tree and I was on hand for the ceremony. I doubt that anyone had told him of the history of the tiny park, but I thought it was a significant moment. I clapped along with a couple of others who were present. That’s my idea of gentle activism. The picture was taken by my Canadian friend Steve Stafford who owns Hovey Manor which I have written about elsewhere in these ramblings. He and Kathy came to NZ and we had a lot of fun for a few weeks.
I ran the Rangiora electoral branch. Our big house on George Street was action central. Monthly meetings, fundraising gatherings, policy formulation groups and so on. We organized a nationwide petition to ban nuclear energy ( vessels and power plants ) which helped the government formulate a non nuclear policy which is still the case today some 40 years later. We were instrumental in promoting MMP ( proportional representation ). One of my close mates was Rod Donald, who was Chair of the MMP group and who later became the Co leader of the Green Party. He also founded Piko, the finest organic whole foods shop in town. Sadly he died of a heart attack in his late ‘40’s. A razor sharp mind and an activists activist.
There always seemed to be an issue that needed to be brought to the attention of the authorities and the wider public. The photo that accompanies this section illustrates the point. In downtown Christchurch ( opposite the Riverside Market ) there was a small triangle of land that appeared to have no particular purpose. When it was mooted that a parking lot be made there, we protested. How? We organized with office workers in the vicinity to come to this parcel of land every day to eat their lunch. Within weeks there were hundreds of people eating their lunches there.The Christchurch City Council got the point. The argument was that maybe 15-20 cars could fit into the proposed parking lot. This would mean infrastructure expense, for what purpose? In their wisdom and clearly having heard our plan, they decided to make a small park which was named ‘ Freedom Park ‘. Tables and benches were placed among the trees that were planted.Fast forward to the picture. In 1983 the Chinese Premier Zhao Ziang was a guest of the city. He was asked to plant a Ginko tree in ‘ Freedom Park ‘. The tree is now 10 meters high and truly a fine specimum.
I read that Mr. Ziang was going to plant the tree and I was on hand for the ceremony. I doubt that anyone had told him of the history of the tiny park, but I thought it was a significant moment. I clapped along with a couple of others who were present. That’s my idea of gentle activism. The picture was taken by my Canadian friend Steve Stafford who owns Hovey Manor which I have written about elsewhere in these ramblings. He and Kathy came to NZ and we had a lot of fun for a few weeks.