Twelve Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century.
History
The establishment of the commemorative sculptures was driven by the Twelve Local Heroes charitable trust. The project had been four years in the making before the bronze busts were unveiled on 18 March 2009. The artwork was produced by the sculptor Mark Whyte.Local Heroes
The Twelve Local Heroes can be grouped by having died prior to the project commencing, by agreeing to be included but having since died, and by being alive.Deceased prior to project start
Members of this group had no influence on their inclusion as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, as they had died before the decision was made to create a memorial.| Name | Life years | Description | |
| Bill Sutton | 1 March 1917 – 23 January 2000 | artist | |
| Elsie Locke | 17 August 1912 – 8 April 2001 | writer, feminist and social activist |
Deceased since project start
Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, but have since died.| Name | Life years | Description | |
| Charles Luney | 28 June 1905 – 18 November 2006 | building industry leader | |
| Sir Angus Tait | 22 July 1919 – 7 August 2007 | electronics pioneer and businessman | |
| Sir Robertson Stewart | 21 September 1913 – 13 August 2007 | industrialist and exporter | |
| Professor Sir Donald Ward Beaven | 31 August 1924 – 4 November 2009 | medical researcher in the area of diabetes treatment and prevention | |
| Margaret Mahy | 21 March 1936 – 23 July 2012 | author of children's and young adult books | |
| Diana, Lady Isaac | 1921 – 23 November 2012 | conservation, arts and architecture benefactor |
Alive
Members of this group were asked and agreed to be included as one of the Twelve Local Heroes, and are still alive today.| Name | Born | Description | |
| Frank Dickson | b. ca 1932 | former Canterbury Savings Bank chief executive | |
| Sir Richard John Hadlee | 3 July 1951 | former cricketer | |
| Sir Tipene O'Regan | 1 January 1939 | Māori leader | |
| Sir Miles Warren | 1929 | architect |
The sculptures have been temporarily removed from their current position on Worcester Blvd to facilitate the post earthquake restoration of of . Following the restoration, it is envisaged that they will return.