On Saturday 11 June, a whole day of walks and lectures was organised to educate the public about the Ihumatao peninsula. Over 80 people were guided over the area, with commentary by archaeologist Dave Veart, geologist Bruce Hayward and others. Congratulations to the organisers, including the SOUL group and Ilmars...
Otuataua Stonefields, situated on the Ihumatao peninsula, north west of the airport and south of the Mangere Treatment Station, has been controversially designated as a Special Housing Area. The land in question is known as the Wallace Block, and has been owned by the Wallace family since 1856, when it...
In this week’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list, George Farrant, Auckland Council’s Principal Heritage Advisor was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to heritage preservation The New Zealand Herald described his career: George Farrant has been Principal Heritage Advisor since 2010 for the Auckland Council and...
A team effort by Auckland Council heritage staff and Steve Bielby, representing one of the owners of the St James Theatre development, is achieving a positive outcome for a mid-century art work. As a result of apartment development in Queen St, involving the demolition of the old Odeon and Regent...
CTA Board members Allan Matson, Audrey van Ryn and Helen Geary met yesterday with mayoral candidate Phil Goff. The purpose of the meeting was to brief potential mayor Phil Goff on the many issues and threats to heritage in Auckland, both due to the current Unitary Plan process and the...
A 1920s building in Sandringham Village was demolished last month, without any public input or notification, despite the building being subject to the council’s Historic Character heritage overlay. This is very disturbing and throws into doubt the effectiveness of the proposed heritage overlays in the Unitary Plan, which council touts...
Auckland 2040’s Richard Burton was interviewed recently by Bernard Hickey for the website Interest.co.nz. Bernard was a critic of the recent decision by Auckland councillors to reject the extra upzoning proposed by council staff. In this interview the issues are comprehensively discussed, and Bernard gives Richard Burton an opportunity to...
Current city planning ideas for laneways are supporting our commercial heritage. The popularity of the shared streets in Auckland such as Elliot St, O’Connell St are showcasing the existing heritage buildings and adding to their value. Laneways developments in Newmarket have been successful, as have the newly created lanes in...
The stunning Art of Remembrance project, which covered the face of St David’s Church in Khyber Pass in 2015 over the Anzac Day period, is now showing at Te Papa, for Anzac Day 2016. The brass quatrefoils artworks by leading NZ artist Max Gimblett, who has had a life-long association...