The Christchurch Heritage Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of Council collaboration with heritage organisations and community event providers to share events with our district.
While the festival has evolved over the years, its kaupapa remains unchanged: sharing the stories of the past helps strengthen our relationships and connects us to this place.
The 2025 programme will run from 11-27 October at various locations across Christchurch, Banks Peninsula and Selwyn. This year’s theme is Building Place – evolving communities.
“The festival offers the opportunity for residents to connect with and find out more about the place we live,” says Festival Coordinator Deborah Cosgrove.
“Events in this year’s festival share stories related to historic events, buildings and people that shaped the development of our region and some events acknowledge anniversaries which fall this year.”
One of the anniversaries marked by an event during the 2025 Heritage Festival is 200 years since the birth of Canterbury architect Benjamin Mountfort.
Benjamin Mountfort played a key role in defining the Gothic Revival architectural character of Christchurch.
His designs include the Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings, and buildings at Canterbury College – now Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre – and the Canterbury Museum. Experience the Great Hall Mountfort designed, at an event which celebrates the proposal by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to recognise Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre as a National Historic Landmark.
A lecture at the Art Gallery on 15 October will examine Mountfort’s contribution to New Zealand’s colonial architectural history.
Other anniversary themed events include:
- 150 years since the Akaroa Coronation Library was built. Visit an open day at the historic library between 17-27 October.
- 140 years of Richmond’s Avebury House. Celebrate Richmond’s Avebury House during an open day on 18 October.
- 80 years since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. View an exhibition at the University of Canterbury from 11 – 28 October.
- 50 years since the 1975 Māori Land March. Join a tour of the exhibition, He Kapuka Oneone – A Handful of Soil, at the Art Gallery between 11 – 27 October.
- 50 years of creativity at The Arts Centre is celebrated with an event showcasing some the amazing talent fostered here at the National Historic Landmark event. Join an evening of celebrations on 23 October.
- 30 years of the Christchurch Tramway. Come along for an exclusive tram ride on Saturday 18 October.