Charles Drace was a CAFCA member from 2012 until his death. Ed.

At the memorial of Charles Drace, who died on 24 June 2025, his daughter, Felicity related a story of sitting with her sister and Charles in hospital. Upon hearing a doctor in a neighbouring cubicle ask a patient to rate their pain on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being none and 10 being bitten by a bear, Charles turned to them and said "I've been bitten by a bear". This turned out to be true and involved luring the bear away from a small child and fortunately only a very small scratch, and it was a perfect example of the often surprising, amusing, adventurous and unconventional life of Charles Drace.

Charles was acutely aware of the planetary overshoot crisis and of threats posed to democracy. He was one of Christchurch's most prominent activists and very active in a range of movements raising awareness about climate change, genetically engineered food, problems with free trade agreements and the urgent need for emissions reductions. Born in San Mateo, California to Glatha and Charles Snr, Bud (as he was known to family) was elder brother to Richard and John (both still living in California with their families). The family moved about during his childhood, living in California and Colorado, and eventually he settled with his mother and Richard in Santa Maria, CA, for his high school and college years.

Skiing, Army, Acting

The family spent some years living at Nebelhorn, a ski field his father owned in northern California near Lake Tahoe. Naturally Charles was a skier from an early age. In his teens he had a season of ski racing and remained a keen and skilled skier until his late seventies. Over several seasons he worked in the Ski Patrol in Zermatt, Switzerland and skied on the slopes around the Matterhorn, at one point just making it out of an avalanche!

During his high school and college years he discovered a love of acting which stayed with him for life. He performed in amateur theatre at school and college and he later went on the train formally at a drama school in London. Throughout his life he performed in more than 60 theatrical pieces, films, videos or TV productions. He even had a couple of stints in Spain filming spaghetti Westerns which was a highlight for him.

After leaving college in Santa Maria, he realised he was in danger of being drafted into the forces and posted to Vietnam, but when walking down the street one day he saw a "Join the Army and see the world" billboard. He enlisted and signed up for four years in West Germany rather than three in South Vietnam. He had some previous experience in electronics and was trained and assigned to be a missile technician. He did not like Army life but appreciated being in Europe and travelled away from his base as often as he could.

Move To NZ

When his time finished with the Army he stayed and travelled some more. While he was living and working in Zermatt he met and married Rachael (a Kiwi working there as a physio), and after some time spent in London, Spain and California they eventually settled in Christchurch. They had two daughters, Lisa and Felicity, and lived in Burwood, on the banks of the Avon River, in a house which he built himself.

He had a varied career in their early days in Christchurch - with stints in ski retail, insurance and marketing among others. He relished acting roles at the Court Theatre, the Repertory Theatre and TV and commercials. His love of skiing took him up to Mt Hutt regularly through the season and he became one of the founders of The Disabled Skiing organisation in New Zealand.

Eventually Charles set himself up as a financial investment advisor, building a successful and well-renowned business which he operated for over 40 years. He wrote books on investing and one of them sold very well after he was interviewed on national news. The timing of its release was impeccable, though not entirely foreseen. After Lisa met and married her husband, Charles became grandfather to two boys.

Leading Climate Campaigner

Since at least the early 2000s, Charles played an instrumental role in climate campaigns and helped to build a powerful climate movement in Christchurch. His expertise regarding local and international issues, the extensive range of contacts he built up, and his organising ability, energy and commitment were highly valued in groups such as It's Our Future, Hands Across the Sands, Oil Free Ōtautahi, 350.org Christchurch, School Strike for Climate and Climate Action Ōtautahi. Wanting to dispel the impression that climate action is a concern solely for hippies, Charles was always seen at protests and rallies dressed in a suit and often sporting a distinguished black fedora.

When handing out leaflets, Charles was polite but firm in his approach and was able to engage people in thoughtful conversation by being genuinely curious about their views. In this way he was a mentor, a sounding board and advisor for everyone with whom he shared ideas. Mentorship was one of Charles' greatest gifts and one he gave freely and perhaps often unknowingly. He had the uncanny knack of spreading confidence, always upbeat, he showed what could be done and got on and did it.

His Legacy Lives On

Many of Charles' friends, colleagues and family did not hold the same or even similar views to him, but his ability to make friends across political boundaries had many small and large consequences. A collaboration importing commercial electric mowers saw these mowers now being used to cut the lawns in Christchurch's many parks and public gardens, a practical, ongoing saving of many thousands of litres of fossil fuels and their consequential carbon dioxide emissions. Charles represented an incredible range of dimensions. He was intensely interested in art, philosophy and non-sectarian spirituality. He was very well informed about world affairs, particularly eastern Europe and Russian expansionism and discussions with him could range over a huge variety of issues from personal to universal.

Despite ill-health he attended pro-Palestine rallies in Christchurch and even during the last couple of years of his life, when he was quite unwell, Charles was always full of good ideas and wise suggestions for climate action. He was always excellent and interesting company, maintaining a great sense of humour even as he faced his final illness with enviable and inspirational courage. Eventually he had to limit and then abandon his involvement in marches and protests, but climate action meetings shifted to his home so he could still participate and contribute. More recently Charles had engaged a biographer so in due course we hope there will be a full and no doubt very interesting account of his entire life.

In a world where it seems harder and harder to find consensus on what we value, Charles' values were an admirable example: generosity of spirit and resources, a strong love of life and of connecting with people, and a devotion to something beyond his own self-interest. There were many, many people whose lives were touched by knowing Charles and he will be deeply missed. His legacy lives on in the example he left us - to continue fighting for a viable future.

DEATH IN THE FAMILY

CAFCA extends our condolences to former Committee member Ann Currie, whose husband Drew Gibb died in June 2025, in Christchurch, aged 71, after a years-long serious illness.

Watchdog - 170 December 2025