If you’ve seen historians roaming the streets of Wellington in the last two weeks, looking depressed and despondent, this is why. In the last two weeks, since the earthquake:
Category: Heritage news
The changing pace of heritage
In the first of a series of blogs by students at the excellent post-graduate Museums and Heritage Studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington, Anna Abernethy reflects on Wellington Mayor Justin Lester’s recent announcement of his intention to reduce the deadlines for owners of earthquake-prone buildings to upgrade, or demolish, their buildings. Growing up in Auckland in the…
Elms Homestead, Kaikoura
The tragic death of the homeowner of Elms Homestead in Kaikoura after the weekend’s earthquake prompted me to hunt out the history of the building, and I found on the Heritage New Zealand website that it was actually a very early example of New Zealand poured concrete construction, and was part of a particularly cohesive complex of…
Wellington Cathedral Organ
The enormous organ at Wellington Cathedral, with 3,500 pipes, has been badly damaged in the November 2016 earthquake. It has been in the cathedral only since 1964, prior to that it was down the road on Mulgrave Street in Old St Paul’s since 1877.
Adaptive Reuse
How better to celebrate the weekend than a shiny, pretty example of adaptive reuse? The future of many heritage buildings relies on clever architects providing clever solutions for buildings that no longer have a use in their old form. Not only does it save many buildings, but it is a much more environmentally friendly solution than…
On the move
Since setting up my business I have found some great stories about fascinating buildings. One of my absolute favourites is the twice-moved All Saints Church (Te Hunga Tapu Katoa), now located at Pakowhai Marae in Waituhi, 20 kilometres northwest of Gisborne.
Who comes first?
Tamati Kruger, Tuhoe negotiator and chair of the Te Urewera Board asks his own question in response to a question from Radio New Zealand about the architectural worth of John Scott’s Te Urewera National Park Visitor Centre at Aniwaniwa at Lake Waikaremoana:
A (small) spoonful of sugar
Maggie Barry, the Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage recently announced (Aug 2016) the government’s new Heritage Earthquake Upgrade Incentive Programme (EQUIP) fund, which is to fund seismic strengthening for heritage buildings to the tune of $12 million over the next four years.
More money for Wellington heritage
Wellington City Council has just released its next round of funding for heritage buildings from its Built Heritage Incentive Fund. It’s great to see the fabulous Futuna Chapel getting a substantial $34,000 for seismic strengthening and conservation work, along with large amounts for two Frederick De Jersy Clere religious buildings: St Gerard’s Monastery, and St Matthias in…
Cultural Landscapes v Development
A recent Environment Court ruling seems to me to have the potential to have a real chilling effect on the effectiveness of the ability of Heritage New Zealand to protect heritage places of importance to Maori.
Heritage News: Risingholme Fire
Christchurch has already lost so much heritage, so the news of the fire at Risingholme is particularly sad. The house was built in 1864 by the parents of William Pember Reeves (1857-1932), and was his family home as he was growing up.
Heritage News: Maurice Clark receives an honour
Heritage ‘hero’ Maurice Clark was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday honours list, in recognition to his services to heritage preservation and the construction industry. He has been responsible for a series of heritage preservation projects, including the high-profile Public Trust Building, my personal favourite the old Defence House (now Ministry…
Bay Heritage Consultants Wellington 