Paddling Pool and Playground A popular playground, it's been entertaining generations of Christchurch children for many years. Close by the playground a Jurassic-era species, Wollemi Pine was planted in 2013, the first of its plantings in New Zealand. Climatological station The Climatological Station has provided daily readings for well over a century. Gardens staff record the information at 9 am each day. Cloud cover, visibility, wind direction, rainfall and other details are forwarded to the national Meteorological Service. The 1940s wooden building beside the Climatological Station is a remnant of the Magnetic Observatory set up here in 1901. In 1897 Adolf Schmidt proposed a magnetic field observatory to improve the distribution of magnetic observatories across the world; there were then 4 in Britain and 5 in Japan, but only 3 south of the equator; Jakarta, Mauritius and Melbourne. In 1901 a magnetograph house, an absolute house (for celestial and magnetic measurements) and an office and seismograph room were built. The observatory was famously used by both Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic teams to make magnetic surveys in preparation for their expeditions. However, electrification of the tramways in 1905 interfered with the magnetic measurements. As a result, between 1912 and 1929, a new observatory was set up at Amberley, though some of the work continued until the land reverted to Christchurch City Council in 1970. GNS now does the work at Eyrewell. Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk The Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk opened in 1990 to commemorate a pioneer who fought hard to achieve the right for New Zealand women to vote. The white camellia became a lasting symbol of women's suffrage and achievement in New Zealand. Canterbury women's groups gifted 100 camellias to the gardens in 1990, forming the beginnings of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk. In 1993, a new variety of white camellia, named Kate Sheppard, was created to mark the 100th anniversary of the successful campaign. Recent events 2011 Christchurch Earthquake The Christchurch Botanic Gardens tea kiosk was closed due to damage from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Upon repair, the kiosk temporarily housed the Enchanted Garden exhibition by artist Jenny Gillies but is now the home of the Canterbury Horticultural Society. 2019 Mosque Shooting After the Christchurch mosque shootings, Christchurch residents and visitors placed flowers, cards and teddy bears against the Botanical Gardens wall as they mourned for those killed and sought a way to