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Encyclopedia > Hack Circle
The Hack Circle as it appeared on October 23, 2006

The Hack Circle or 'Hack' is a nickname given to an amphitheatre in central Christchurch, New Zealand.[1] It was built as part of the second phase of developing a pedestrian mall in the central city in 1989 and was officially opened on December 6 of that same year by then mayor Vicki Buck. For a time it was a popular hacky sack venue (hence the name), today it is a popular hang out for "black-dressed emos, goths, heavy metal fans and United States style gangstas".[2] A 2004 survey conducted by the Christchurch City Council identified the Hack Circle as a popular place for young people to "hang out, smoke, meet friends etc."[3] The same survey found that 90% of 13-15 year olds and 94% of 16-18 years olds came to the central city in their spare time.

Christchurch police say the Hack Circle is a venue for criminal activity; on October 20, 2006 a 19 year old was arrested for swinging a metal pipe around, and police claim that aggravated robbery, assault and the traffiking of cannabis happen in the area. Sergeant Murry Hurst told The Press that "Ninety per cent of the kids hanging around there are fine, the other 10% cause the problems."[2]
In February 2007 Senior Sergeant Glenn Dobson told The Press that the young people in the Hack Circle were not as intimidating as they could look to others, and commented that "[W]e can't move them on because they look different"[4]. Millionaire Christchurch property owner Antony Gough, who is considered one of the most powerful people in the city[5] has advocated stronger security for the Cashel Street mall, particularly the Hack Circle, telling The Press that the people who associate there "are just very scary"[4]
Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 352 KB) Photo of the Hack Circle in Christchurch, New Zealand taken by LordSirus and uploaded by Lossenelin. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 352 KB) Photo of the Hack Circle in Christchurch, New Zealand taken by LordSirus and uploaded by Lossenelin. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... For other uses, see Christchurch (disambiguation). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... December 6 is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Vicki Buck, Mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand for nine years from 1989. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Clan of Xymox - Goth band circa 2004 The image above is believed to be a replaceable non-free image. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... Gangsta can refer to: Eye dialect/Slang for a member of a gang, a gangster. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Christchurch is the regional capital of Canterbury, New Zealand. ... October 20 is the 293rd day of the year (294th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Look up Cannabis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...


Destruction of the Hack Circle

In October 2006, the city council announced plans to demolish the amphitheatre and replace the pedestrian mall its located in with a one way slow road. Daniel Griffiths, a student at nearby Unlimited high school, stated that the council plan was to remove an "undesirable youth element" though the council has stated this is not their intention.[2]
On December 14 2006 the city council voted 7-6 to go ahead with plans to build a road through the pedestrian mall that the Hack Circle is located in, despite "overwhelming opposition"[6]. Councilor Bob Shearing said the council's original decision to dump the slow-road happened because it was captivated by a group of people using the City Mall as a "school playground".[6] This comment was criticised by a number of Christchurch citizens, the December 19 issue of The Press carried a number letters to the editor on the subject, one stated "I am appalled at the sneering remark by Cr Bob Shearing, about young people using the mall as a school playground. What sort of message does it send to the young people who took the time and effort, not only to write a submission but to front up to the council to present it?"[7]. Another noted that of the 570 submissions to the council on the plans to build a road, 400 of them were against the proposal, commenting "it is clear the council cares not a jot for public feedback"[8] On May 18, 2007 Food not Bombs and students from Unlimited gathered in the Hack Circle to "reclaim public space" and oppose the plans of the city council and the business group appointed to manage the area (Central City Business Association/City Mall Business Steering Committee) chaired by Anthony Gough and also including business owner Richard Ballantyne and property developer Dave Henderson.[9] Unlimited paenga tawhiti is a relatively new state secondary school located in the city centre of Christchurch, New Zealand. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Logo Food Not Bombs is a loose-knit group of independent collectives, serving free vegan and vegetarian food to others. ... David Henderson (born 1950) is a New Zealand based property developer consided to be one of Aucklands most influential businessmen. ...


Anthony Gough is also the largest single property owner in New Brighton, where a road was put into a pedestrian mall against the wishes of a majority of the residents and visitors, as evidenced by petitions presented to Christchurch City Council. The process of forcing a road into a previously pedestrian area has drawn attention to the role of Council officials in public-private partnerships. Some concerns have focused on the loss of general access, since a road for cars excludes those who cannot afford cars or who want the health benefits of pedestrianism. Concerns have also been expressed that such public-private organisations evade the safeguard provisions in local government legislation, as well as evading scrutiny by the public and Parliamentary watchdog agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsmen. The Council official most deeply involved in the New Brighton road process was Kevin Mara. He was a key liaison member in the Revitalisation TaskForce that the Council set up to handle its obligation under the Resource Management Act (RMA) to consult with affected parties. This Taskforce was dominated by private interests and has since mutated into a purely private organisation, dominated by Anthony Gough. Critics of the Council processes in both New Brighton and City Mall have called attention to the similarity in role of the Isthmus Corporation and the New Brighton Revitalisation Taskforce, since both feature a mechanism of public-private partnership that evades accountability and degrades standards of local democracy. Kevin Mara moved on in his career as a public servant to a portfolio management position where he influences projects such as City Mall.


As of August 13 2007, demolition of the fountain near to Hack Circle has begun. A number of young people were arrested protesting the demolition in the afternoon. On hand, inspecting, were Kevin Mara and the Council's chief communications officer. The City Mall project manager himself was present and expressed optimism. However, he had been employed in that role for only seven weeks, and has offered no comment on the legacy of distrust and the shifts towards the privatisation of the public spaces of Christchurch, such as City Mall. On the morning of 13 August, the public benefactor offering to continue his families funding of the fountain, or an equivalent public works, sadly died. On the evening of August 13, the last arrested person to be released walked past a fountain that was occupied by a team of professional guards, whose corporate logo identified them as 'property protectors'. The nature of public spaces, and the question of who constitutes a public, continue to develop as part of the on-going history of City Mall.


Notes

  1. ^ Chch emos have style, lack anguish The Press 2006-10-21
  2. ^ a b c City Mall plan 'bars youths' The Press 2006-10-21
  3. ^ Urban Leisure Report - Young People in the Central City. Christchurch City Council.
  4. ^ a b Business group targets central city. The Press (2007-02-22).
  5. ^ Last years top 50. Stuff.co.nz (2006-12-11).
  6. ^ a b City Mall will be open to traffic. Stuff.co.nz (2006-12-15).
  7. ^ Council Not Listening (letter), The Press 2006-12-19
  8. ^ Feedback doesn't count (letter), The Press 2006-12-19
  9. ^ Reclaim Public Space, Chch. Indymedia Aotearoa (2007-05-27).

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 11 is the 345th day of the year (346th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

  • Christchurch Central City Revitalisation Project Christchurch City Council plan involving the removal of the "Hack Circle" amphitheatre.
  • 'Hack People' A Bebo online community for people who associate in the Hack Circle.

 

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