The Loburn Domain Advisory Board has been planning the project for several years with the support of the Waimakariri District Council and the Rangiora Ashley Community Board.

Representative for the Rangiora Ashley Community Board on the Loburn Domain Advisory Group, Ivan Campbell says the memorial will properly commemorate those on the Honour Boards from World Wars I and II.

“The Honour Boards were previously housed in Coronation Hall, and building served as a special space where people could meet to honour those from their community who served during the wars,” says Ivan.

The Hall was demolished in the early two-thousands due to health and safety concerns. The Advisory Board was determined that the names not be lost to the Reserve, relocating the boards to the Loburn Pavilion until they could be displayed on a more fitting local public memorial.

Chair of the Loburn Domain Advisory Group and previous Councillor and Community Board Member Duncan Lundy has been extensively involved from the inception of the project.

“It has been important from the start of design that the memorial be unique and have a specifically Loburn feel to it while also using elements, which speak to the harsh nature of war,” says Duncan.

The new memorial features a Corten steel portal frame pergola with laser cut panels including a roll of honour recognising both those who returned and those who have fallen. Seats have been designed incorporating local Loburn stone and the accessible path is coloured to match this rock.

“Of the numerous designs we considered, I believe the final outcome has a true uniqueness to it.

“The steel portals reflect the old Coronation Hall that stood on the site and was home to the Honour Boards; as it ages it will reflect the stark nature of war and the names will remind us of the true cost of conflict.”

The memorial honours the ten main conflicts New Zealand has been involved in, as well as our peace keeping missions.

The space was designed, not just for annual services, but as a reflective space for individuals and groups to come at any time to remember and reflect on the past, and it’s hoped, bring new meaning to the names.

Loburn School has recently contributed to the project by completing the planting around the memorial as part of their community service.

Greenspace Design and Planning Team Leader Grant Stephens worked on the design with the group.

“It’s great to see the memorial built and to have worked alongside such an enthusiastic and passionate advisory group,” says Grant.

“Also to see the students contributing to their local community at the planting day was fantastic, and we hope in years to come they will continue to visit with their families.”

The official opening will occur on 27 February 2025 at 11am.

Council would like to extend our gratitude to the generous individuals and organisations who have supported this project through time and/or financial contributions. This support and dedication honours the memory of those who served, and will ensure their legacy lives on:

• Loburn Domain Advisory Group – present and past members
• Rangiora-Ashley Community Board
• Veterans’ Affairs
• RNZRSA
• Rata Foundation
• Daniel Smith Industries
• DGI Morgan
• Loburn School

Loburn War Memorial is located on the northern part of the Domain, north of the upper car park and between the pottery shed and Loburn Whiterock Road.