New future looms for a former asylum and its 'enchanted forest'
At the time it was the country’s worst fire, claiming the lives of 37 women locked in a psychiatric hospital.
Now all that remains of the former Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, about 30km north of Dunedin, are some stone remnants and a few smaller buildings in private ownership.
The Robert Lawson-designed building was the largest commissioned in the country when it opened in 1884, but was plagued by issues, including landslips, before the fatal fire on December 8, 1942.
A resulting inquiry determined the asylum, which later housed noted author Janet Frame, was well past its use by date, but it would remain open until 1973.
Part of that site now forms the Truby King Reserve, a recreation area of about 16 hectares.
The Dunedin City Council, which was given power over the land from the Department of Conservation in 1991, will discuss a management plan for the reserve on Tuesday.
An extensive report on the reserve noted the importance of the asylum’s history, which represented “the evolution of mental health care in New Zealand”.
Changing norms and methods of treatment coupled with the instability of the land under the institution led to its eventual closure, the report notes.
The site was named after Plunket pioneer Sir Frederic Truby King, with his recommendations including patients growing their own food grown in the substantial gardens.
The reserve’s “enchanted forest” has hundreds of specimen trees planted by King, a botany enthusiast.
The report noted many of the trees were unsafe, and an audit was required.
The reserve, which has stone remnants of the former asylum, also includes an historic cricket ground, tennis court and community orchard.
The council was advised to approve the new management plan, which will include a new car park, picnic and barbecue area, and new signage tracing the footprint of the historic building.
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A reminder this hunting season
As thousands of hunters are making their plans for autumn – the Roar – recreational firearms groups are urging hunters to always be 100% sure of their targets.
Te Tari Pureke - Firearms Safety Authority NZ, which chairs the Recreational Firearms Users Group, has begun a public information campaign reminding hunters everywhere of Rule #4 of the Firearms Safety Code: to identify their target beyond all doubt.
Director Communities and Corporate, Mike McIlraith, says there is an estimated 50,000-60,000 New Zealanders involved in big game animal hunting each year, and the Roar is the key event for many hunters each year.
“The Roar is a fantastic time of year for hunters to get out into the hills after a trophy animal but hunting safely and making sure everyone gets home in one piece, still must be the most important goal of every trip,” says Mike McIlraith.
“The consequences of not fully identifying your target beyond all doubt can be catastrophic. Our message to hunters is a really simple one: If you are not sure, then don’t shoot.”
Mike McIlraith says while hunting fatalities are thankfully rare, research has shown that misidentification of the target is the largest firearms related risk to New Zealand deer hunters, and 80% of the time this involves members of the same hunting group.
The Authority says hunters should not feel pressured to take a shot: “Instead, hunters should take the time to analyse their target, wait and see if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how many points does its antlers have? Identifying your target means never firing at sound, shape, colour or movement alone.”
Mike McIlraith says good hunters will slow down, and run through some simple mental checks:
- Can I see the whole animal, or could this be another hunter?
- Where are my hunting companions – could this be them or someone else?
- How much of the animal can you see, if it is a hind or stag, how old is the animal, how - many points does its antlers have?
“Taking a little extra time to identify your target and check the firing zone is the key to safer hunting. No meat or no trophy is better than no mate,” he says.
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