In October 1902 the SS Ventnor was sailing from New Zealand to China carrying the remains of 500 Chinese who were to be buried in their ancestral villages.
Sadly, the ship sank off the Coast of the Hokianga Harbour with the loss of cargo and 13 of the crew.
Over the course of the following years the remains were washed ashore and respectfully collected and, in some cases, re-buried by the local Iwi and Pakeha.
Ironically, even though the spirits of the Chinese never made it to their destination this tragic event has brought together the Maori, Pakeha and Chinese cultures in a unique New Zealand Story.
Design Concept
The SS Ventnor Memorial is conceived as a place where visitors can come to honour the lives of the lost Chinese and crew and to learn of the history of the sinking.
The concept of the afterlife has been prevalent in both Maori and Chinese culture. The passage from the physical to spiritual worlds is the basis of the memorial as experienced in a 7-step ‘journey’.
The visitor encounters a series of stepped platforms and benches with the following inscriptions: -
· Departure 離開 Te Hokianga Nui
· Hope 希望 Tumanako Tumanak
· Gratitude 感謝 Mihi Aroha
· Waiting 等待 Noho Wahangu Ana
· Tears 眼淚 Roimata Maturuturu
· Memory 記念 Nga Maharatanga
· Honour 榮譽 Mihi Mahaki
Adjacent to the benches is an array of stelae that fan out and support bronze panels that list the names of the 500 Chinese and 13 lost crew.
The principal materials of raw concrete and Cor-Ten steel were selected to reflect the no nonsense ruggedness of the New Zealand landscape.
The rising steps and weathered panels suggesting the tectonic forces which formed the land over the passage of time.
Status: Built