Created by artist Peter Majendie, the installation was meant to be temporary. Five years on a decision must be made - stay or go?

It was a “ground-up” response to a city’s most devastating day and was only meant to be temporary. But such was the response to Pete Majendie’s creation that 5 years on 185 White Chairs remains a must-see for visitors to Christchurch, and locals.

According to TripAdvisor, 185 White Chairs is Christchurch’s top landmark attraction and 4th ranked in New Zealand.

Artist, Majendie, doesn’t care for such accolades. He likes that his work touches people in different ways, and that “in a sense it transcends the earthquake, though it’s rooted in the earthquake.”

He wants to see the installation find a permanent site and his preference is Latimer Square. This week he will present to the City Council his plans which include aluminium-cast chairs arranged on a sloping, concrete plinth.