Kennedy's Bush Scenic Reserve#Sign of the Bellbird

In 1906 a survey found 96 species of flora in the reserve.{{cite web|title=Kennedy's Bush: Dr Cockayne's Visit: His Description of the Plants|language=en|via=Papers Past|work=The Lyttelton Times|date=28 March 1906|page=4|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19060328.2.14?end_date=31-12-1920&items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=Kennedys+Bush&snippet=true&start_date=02-01-1856&title=LT}} Today the reserve still contains a wide variety of native species of plant. These include ferns, grasses, trees and climbing flowers, as well as and some threatened species including native speargrass, kānuka, rōhutu,{{cite web|title=Kennedys Bush SR (KEND)|language=en|website=New Zealand Plant Conservation Network|access-date=2 January 2024|last=Kelly|first=GC|url=https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/publications/plant-lists/plant-lists-by-region/kennedys-bush-sr-kend/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925190026/https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/publications/plant-lists/plant-lists-by-region/kennedys-bush-sr-kend/|archive-date=25 September 2023|url-status=live}} and tōtara.{{cite web|title=Best short loop tracks in Christchurch's Port Hills|language=en|website=Stuff |first1=Yvonne|last1=Martin|date=25 January 2018|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/canterbury/100692771/best-short-loop-tracks-in-christchurchs-port-hills}}{{cite book|title=The Summit Road Christchurch New Zealand|publisher=The Summit Road Scenic Society|date=1973|page=7|url=https://archive.org/details/summit-road-Christchurch-New-Zealand/page/n7/mode/2up|section=Native flora along the Summit Road}}

Native birds are present in the reserve, including korimako, riroriro, kererū, and pīwakawaka.{{cite web|title=Kennedys Bush Scenic Reserve Check List|language=en|website=iNaturalist |access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/197248-Kennedys-Bush-Scenic-Reserve-Check-List?iconic_taxon=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102052632/https://www.inaturalist.org/check_lists/197248-Kennedys-Bush-Scenic-Reserve-Check-List?iconic_taxon=3|archive-date=2 January 2024}} Tūī were also present during the early 20th century.{{cite web|work=The Lyttelton Times|via=Papers Past|date=2 March 1907|first=George|last=Marriner|title=Animal Life in Kennedy's Bush|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19070302.2.97?end_date=31-12-1920&items_per_page=10&page=5&phrase=2&query=Kennedys+Bush&snippet=true&start_date=02-01-1856&title=LT|access-date=2 January 2024}}

Pest control has been ongoing in the area as far back as 1920, when more than 4000 rabbits were trapped in the area.{{cite web|work=The Lyttelton Times|via=Papers Past|date=17 June 1920|title=Summit Road Reserves Board|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19200617.2.64?end_date=31-12-1920&items_per_page=10&page=9&phrase=2&query=Kennedys+Bush&snippet=true&start_date=02-01-1856&title=LT|access-date=2 January 2024|page=9}} Multiple agencies and community groups have been working to eliminate pest animals in the reserve since the 1990s. Pest species include rats, feral cats, mustelids and possums.{{cite web|type=Report|first1=John |last1=Parks |first2=Manaaki |last2=Whenua |editor=Schmechel, Frances |title=The War on Pests|date=April 2009|agency=Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust; Environment Canterbury |others=Funded by the Biodiversity Advice Fund, Supported by the New Zealand Landcare Trust, Christchurch City Council and Department of Conservation |url=https://api.ecan.govt.nz/TrimPublicAPI/documents/download/1172438|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102051146/https://api.ecan.govt.nz/TrimPublicAPI/documents/download/1172438|archive-date=2 January 2024|access-date=2 January 2024|url-status=live|page=31}}

The area was originally owned by Thomas Kennedy from 1856, who harvested timber from the forest. Beginning in 1900 politician Harry Ell began a campaign to preserve access to walking tracks{{cite web|title=Ell, Henry George|language=en|website=Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|first=Eric|last=Pawson|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3e4/ell-henry-george|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002175104/https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3e4/ell-henry-george|archive-date=2 October 2023|url-status=live}} and the remaining remnants of native bush on the Port Hills. In 1903 he was instrumental in getting the Scenery Preservation Act through parliament.{{cite web|title=The Scenery Preservation Act|language=en|website=New Zealand History|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/scenery-preservation/the-scenery-preservation-act|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929044514/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/scenery-preservation/the-scenery-preservation-act|archive-date=29 September 2023|url-status=live}} In 1906 with a subsidy from Prime Minister Richard Seddon and some additional fundraising, he was able to purchase {{convert|50|acres}} of the bush and release it as Crown land.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=309}}{{cite web|title=Kennedy's Bush poster|language=en|website=New Zealand History|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/kennedys-bush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409161843/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/kennedys-bush|archive-date=9 April 2023|url-status=live}} The remainder was acquired by the Scenery Preservation Board after 1908 from landowners including Heaton Rhodes.{{cite web|work=The Lyttelton Times|title=The Summit Road: Progress of the Work|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19140620.2.154?end_date=31-12-1920&items_per_page=10&page=5&phrase=2&query=Kennedys+Bush&snippet=true&start_date=02-01-1856&title=LT|date=20 June 1914|page=18}}

There was a fire that destroyed {{convert|50|acres}} of the native forest in 1931,{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=315}}{{cite web|work=The Press |title=Kennedy's Bush burnt Out: Blaze on Hills: Farmer's Fire Gets Away|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19311010.2.83|date=10 October 1931|page=14}} though it mostly only damaged the fringes of the forest.{{cite web|work=The Press |title=General News|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19311012.2.53|date=12 October 1931|page=8}}

The reserve contains a number of walking tracks, and is accessible from the Crater Rim walking track.{{cite web|title=Kennedy's Bush walks and tracks|language=en|website=Christchurch City Council|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/explore-parks/port-hills/kennedys-bush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929133309/https://ccc.govt.nz/parks-and-gardens/explore-parks/port-hills/kennedys-bush/|archive-date=29 September 2023|url-status=live}} In 2023 a carpark and lookout was opened in the reserve on the south side of Summit Road,{{cite web|title=Port Hills lookout officially opened|first=John|last=Spurdle|language=en|website=Otago Daily Times|date=21 June 2023|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-south-today/port-hills-lookout-officially-opened|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715223913/https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-south-today/port-hills-lookout-officially-opened|archive-date=15 July 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=John Jameson Lookout|language=en|website=Summit Road Society|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/reserves/john-jameson-lookout/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929031227/https://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/reserves/john-jameson-lookout/|archive-date=29 September 2023|url-status=live}} opposite the Sign of the Bellbird, with a cost of {{currency|370000|NZD}}.{{cite web|title=Construction of new Port Hills lookout gets green light|language=en|website=Otago Daily Times|date=6 December 2021|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/construction-new-port-hills-lookout-gets-green-light|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125225135/https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/construction-new-port-hills-lookout-gets-green-light|archive-date=25 January 2022|url-status=live}}

The reserve avoided sustaining major damage during the 2017 Port Hills fires.{{cite web|title=Port Hills fires: Decades of conservation work up in flames|language=en|website=Stuff|first1=Charlie|last1=Mitchell|date=17 February 2017|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/89468077/port-hills-fires-decades-of-conservation-work-up-in-flames|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427000043/https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/89468077/port-hills-fires-decades-of-conservation-work-up-in-flames|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}}

Since 1947{{cite web|work=The Press |title=Summit Road Reserves: Transfer to City Council: Area of 400 Acres Involved|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19471108.2.68?end_date=31-12-1989&items_per_page=10&page=5&phrase=2&query=Sign+of+the+Bellbird&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1861&title=CHP|date=8 November 1947|page=6}} the reserve is owned and administered by the Christchurch City Council, despite technically being outside of Christchurch City.{{cite act|title=Parks and Reserves Bylaw 2016|type=Bylaw|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925204006/https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/Plans-Strategies-Policies-Bylaws/Bylaws/Parks-and-Reserves-Bylaw-2016.pdf|archive-date=25 September 2023|access-date=2 January 2024|page=5|url=https://ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/Plans-Strategies-Policies-Bylaws/Bylaws/Parks-and-Reserves-Bylaw-2016.pdf|date=1 September 2016|language=en|article=8 (Note)}}

File:Sign of the Bellbird overlooking Canterbury Plains.jpg.]]

Harry Ell had a vision of a road along the Port Hills, with tea rooms at regular points for visitors to rest at. The first of these was a stone cottage at the top of Kennedy's Bush, which was finished in 1914{{cite web|title=The Sign of the Bellbird|language=en|website=Canterbury Stories|publisher=Christchurch City Council|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://canterburystories.nz/exhibitions/places-christchurch-buildings/sign-bellbird|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927162232/https://canterburystories.nz/exhibitions/places-christchurch-buildings/sign-bellbird|archive-date=27 September 2023|url-status=live}} and opened in 1915.{{cite web|work=The Lyttelton Times|title=Summit Road Association: Meeting of Executive|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19150213.2.82?end_date=31-12-1920&items_per_page=10&page=5&phrase=2&query=Kennedys+Bush&snippet=true&start_date=02-01-1856&title=LT|date=13 February 1915|page=12}} Designed by Samuel Hurst Seager,{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=310}} it was built from red stone quarried on location.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=310}} The first caretakers were the Potters, and then the Wilsons from 1915.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=310}} Ell initially named the resting place Orongomai, which is the te reo Māori name for Cass Peak.{{cite book|first=James|last=Cowan|title=Maori Folk Tales of the Port Hills|date=1925|publisher=Whitcombe & Tombes|location=Christchurch|url=https://ngaitahu.maori.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cowan-Port-Hills.pdf|access-date=2 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126142700/https://ngaitahu.maori.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cowan-Port-Hills.pdf|archive-date=26 January 2023}} In 1922 the location was renamed to be the Sign of the Bellbird.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=311}} The buildings were the site of a post office and telephone bureau until 1922.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=311}}{{cite web|title=Heritage Buildings: Sign of the Bellbird|language=en|website=Christchurch City Council|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://ccc.govt.nz/culture-and-community/heritage/heritage-in-the-city/heritage-buildings#item-bellbird|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608162828/https://ccc.govt.nz/culture-and-community/heritage/heritage-in-the-city/heritage-buildings#item-bellbird|archive-date=8 June 2023|url-status=live}} Ell died in June 1934.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=317}}

The buildings were abandoned in 1942. By the mid-1940s it was in a state of disrepair and had been the target of vandalism. In 1947 the Christchurch City Council took over the reserve and began to restore the buildings with a government grant.{{sfn|Ogilvie|2009|p=317}} The buildings were further maintained in 1958, with a new roof built for the dining room.{{cite web|work=The Press |title=At the Sign of the Bellbird|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19580816.2.142?end_date=31-12-1989&items_per_page=10&page=2&phrase=2&query=Sign+of+the+Bellbird&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1861&title=CHP|date=16 July 1958|page=14}} Some buildings were demolished and an open-air shelter for walkers was constructed using the original stone. The roof caught fire in 1967{{cite web|work=The Press |title=Council News in Brief|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19690520.2.138?end_date=31-12-1989&items_per_page=10&page=6&phrase=2&query=Sign+of+the+Bellbird&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1861&title=CHP|date=20 May 1969|page=26}} and was rebuilt in 1971.{{cite web|work=The Press |title=Roof for Sign of Bellbird|language=en|via=Papers Past|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19710819.2.212|date=19 July 1971|page=16}} A fire destroyed the roof again in 2015{{cite web|title=Suspicious fire at Sign of the Bellbird|language=en|website=Stuff|first1=Ashleigh|last1=Stewart|date=7 September 2015|access-date=2 January 2024|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/71782998/suspicious-fire-at-sign-of-the-bellbird|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607062829/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/71782998/suspicious-fire-at-sign-of-the-bellbird|archive-date=7 June 2023|url-status=live}} and this was replaced in 2017.

• Conservation in New Zealand
• Sign of the Kiwi
• Sign of the Takahe
• Harry Ell

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• {{cite book|first=Gordon|last=Ogilvie|author-link=Gordon Ogilvie|title=The Port Hills of Christchurch|publisher=Phillips & King|date=2009|location=Christchurch|isbn=9780958331562|edition=2nd}}

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{{Christchurch City Council}}

Category:Forests of New Zealand

Category:Geography of Christchurch

Category:Parks in the Canterbury Region

Category:Parks in Christchurch

Category:Protected areas of the Canterbury Region