The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts in Christchurch, New Zealand. Sculpted by Mark Whyte, the objective was to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century. The artwork series was initially installed in the central city on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre. Removed after the earthquakes, the busts were reinstated in 2023 at the University of Canterbury campus in the suburb of Ilam.
The establishment of the commemorative sculptures was driven by the Twelve Local Heroes charitable trust. The project had been four years in the making before the bronze busts were unveiled on 18 March 2009.[1] [2] The artwork was produced by the sculptor Mark Whyte.[3]
The sculptures were removed from their position on Worcester Boulevard to facilitate the post earthquake restoration of the Engineering block of the Arts Centre of Christchurch. Following the restoration, it was envisaged that they would return. Instead, the busts were installed in January 2023 at the University of Canterbury campus in the suburb of Ilam as part of the university's 150th anniversary.[4] It is envisaged that the Twelve Local Heroes will remain at the university for two years.[5]
The Twelve Local Heroes can be grouped by having died prior to the project commencing, by agreeing to be included but having since died, and by being alive.
Members of this group had no influence on their inclusion as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, as they had died before the decision was made to create a memorial.
| Name | Life years | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Sutton | 1 March 1917 – 23 January 2000 | artist | ||
| Elsie Locke | 17 August 1912 – 8 April 2001 | writer, feminist and social activist |
Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, but have since died.
| Name | Life years | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Luney | 28 June 1905 – 18 November 2006 | building industry leader | ||
| Sir Angus Tait | 22 July 1919 – 7 August 2007 | electronics pioneer and businessman | ||
| Sir Robertson Stewart[6] | 21 September 1913 – 13 August 2007 | industrialist and exporter | ||
| Professor Sir Don Beaven | 31 August 1924 – 4 November 2009 | medical researcher in the area of diabetes treatment and prevention | ||
| Margaret Mahy | 21 March 1936 – 23 July 2012 | author of children's and young adult books | ||
| Diana, Lady Isaac | 2 September 1921 – 23 November 2012 | conservation, arts and architecture benefactor | ||
| Sir Miles Warren | 10 May 1929 – 9 August 2022 | architect | ||
| Frank Dickson | 11 May 1931 – 2 March 2023 | former Canterbury Savings Bank chief executive |
Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, and are still alive today.
| Name | Born | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Richard Hadlee | 3 July 1951 | former cricketer | |
| Sir Tipene O'Regan | 1 January 1939 | Māori leader | |