It’s good to see the heritage recognition that modernist architecture is now getting – see this interesting item broadcast recently on RNZ’s Standing Room Only programme. Click here for the link.

The SOUL campaign, working to protect land next to the Otuataua Stonefields reserve, is continuing to gather supporters and be profiled. TVNZ’s Sunday programme has produced a thorough and thoughtful item on the issue. The SOUL campaigners outline why this special land should not be used for housing, and Fletcher...

CTA was approached to support the petition to save Crater Hill in Papatoetoe, a scheduled Outstanding Natural Feature on which the Independent Hearings Panel had permitted the building of more than 550 houses.  We provided the following comment: Civic Trust Auckland is concerned about rejection of past local and regional...

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...

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...

Auckland Council’s recent upzoning out-of-scope submissions, further to the original notified plan in 2013, have been raising concerns throughout suburban Auckland. The increased intensification is considered a breach of natural justice, as people who did not put in a submission to the original notified plan have no ability to participate...

A coalition of local authorities and private landlords that want the cost of strengthening earthquake-prone buildings to be tax deductible may be making some progress. Inland Revenue has put out a discussion document on the issue and is asking for submissions on whether businesses should be allowed to write off the...

On 24 November 2015, councillors were briefed behind closed doors on the proposed changes to the single house zone in the proposed Unitary Plan, from the notified draft. The changes are significant – from 35% of the city zoned single house zone, down to 21% in some areas. This is...

Caroline Cheong, a doctoral candidate at the University of Pennsylvania, explains the economic benefits of saving historic places, including her fascinating research into how historic preservation can reduce poverty.  Her research is focused on the relationship between urban heritage conservation, poverty reduction and displacement.  Caroline’s case studies are focused on developing...