Rutherford's Den Appeal

Mayor Lianne Dalziel gave a stirring speech at an event to mark the donation of the Lord Rutherford of Nelson model locomotive to Rutherford's Den, see http://resources.ccc.govt.nz/files/TheCouncil/mayor/2014/20140916RutherfordsDen.pdf for the text of the speech.

Rutherford: Full Steam Ahead!

Canterbury Museum – Thursday 4th September 2014 – 5:30pm

Assoc Prof Richard Hartshorn, Jen Crawford Chair of the Arts Centre Board, Jenny May, Margaret

Austin Ladies & Gentlemen

In the post-quake era the initial focus of recovery was on the restoration of basic services and

infrastructure. However, from the outset it was acknowledged that recovery is about much more

than ‘bricks and mortar.’ It is about coming to terms with the social and emotional impacts of a

disaster, reviving personal wellbeing and sustaining community spirit. This is where cultural

heritage has an important contribution to make.

Before I speak about the event we are here for – can I just say how personally I know that to be

true. I watch the loving restoration of the Arts Centre from the Council building and show it off to

all my visitors – be they local or international. I was married in one of the quadrangles and we

held our reception in the Great Hall, so it is a very special place for me.

Following the devastation of the Canterbury earthquake sequence that began four years ago

today at 4.35am, the majority of the city’s established cultural heritage institutions including

galleries, museums, libraries and archives suffered damage and were either temporarily or

permanently closed. Among the institutions affected was Rutherford’s Den, located in the Clock

Tower of the Arts Centre.

This interactive exhibition space and education centre housed in the rooms where New Zealand’s

most famous scientist, Ernest Rutherford, studied, attended lectures and undertook his earliest

experiments, (along with the rest of the building), suffered extensive damage in the earthquakes,

forcing its closure.

In the post-quake context, bereft of a home, Rutherford’s Den reinvented itself and hit the road in

a van, delivering educational programmes in schools to inspire students and help primary and

secondary school teachers deliver aspects of The New Zealand Curriculum. This ‘reinvention’ is a

brilliant example of adaptation in the face of adversity – one of the true definitions of resilience.

The first part of the earthquake strengthened Arts Centre complex, including Rutherford’s Den, is

scheduled to re-open in 2015. This will mark an important milestone in the recovery of our city.

Until then, the work of the Rutherford’s Den Trust will continue to focus on the delivery of

innovative in-school education programmes.

When the “Den” is available again, I am assured by the Rutherford’s Den trustees that it will once

again provide students and visitors with information and hands-on experiences that bring to life

stories about Ernest Rutherford in new and exciting ways.

It will also provide a permanent home for the wonderful model locomotive, Lord Rutherford of

Nelson, that is the subject of this evening’s event - and the story of which we will learn from

subsequent speakers.