Tourist attraction ‘still there and it’s still hurtful’

CHRISTCHURCH: A Christchurch tourist attraction which has offended customers for years is still running after delaying promised updates.

First opened in 2006, the Time Tunnel (soon to be renamed the Discovery Ride) is a carriage ride at the top of Christchurch’s gondola, which takes passengers through a history of Canterbury.

It has attracted complaints for mispronouncing Maori words and celebrating colonisation.

Anahera Clarkson (Kai Tahu, Nga Ruahinerangi) said she found the ride distasteful and embarrassing when she rode it in 2020.

‘‘It was quite a shock to me, and even though it was so long ago it feels like it was yesterday — like it’s still there and it’s still hurtful,’’ she said.

‘‘I felt so disappointed and so saddened that my tupuna [ancestors] were portrayed the way that they were.

‘‘It felt as though the colonisation of my people was being glorified.’’

The ride featured models of ‘‘cavelike’’ Maori crouched over fire, and narration focused heavily on European migration.

‘‘The early settlers arrived, and it didn’t take long for this shanty town in swampy Christchurch to be transformed into a thriving city,’’ the narrator said.

‘‘Selling products from the land, such as livestock, flax and wheat, helped the colony prosper.’’

The ride ended with an uplifting soundtrack and a haka, where eight high achievers of Canterbury — all of whom were Pakeha — were celebrated.

Ms Clarkson said the experience made her feel excluded.

‘‘We have stories about our whenua far before colonisation took place, and I also think that being noninclusive and also not making a conscious effort to pronounce kupu Maori correctly is quite embarrassing and distasteful on their behalf.’’

Chief executive of Christchurch Attractions, which owns the gondola, Sue Sullivan said the company was still working towards an update.

‘‘We acknowledge the current 17yearold attraction needs to be updated.’’

Updates had been under way since early 2019 but had been put on hold due to Covid19, she said.

The company was working closely with Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke, who are mana whenua of the area, on the updates, she said.

‘‘Part of the ride includes sharing the korero [story] of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke as mana whenua.’’

Nuk Korako of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke confirmed this, and said he was confident the updated attraction would depict the city’s history in a more inclusive way.

‘‘Rapaki is working in partnership with our Treaty partner Christchurch City Attractions in the spirit of kotahitaka [unity], to refresh the Christchurch Discovery Ride and ensure it aligns with the cultural values of Te Hapu o Ngati Wheke, Rapaki,’’ he said. — RNZ