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NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Kāinga Ora sells off ‘landmark' Wellington Dixon Street Flats
The property's most recent rating valuation is $18.9m. Kāinga Ora said the extent of work needed to upgrade the building is 'extremely high'. The Dixon Street Flats have sat derelict for nearly a year. Photo / Mark Mitchell 'After carefully considering the cost and complexities of continuing to use this historic building for social housing, we decided selling it would be the best course of action as it would open up opportunities for others to make use of the building.' Kāinga Ora deputy chief executive central Daniel Soughtton said. Housing Minister Chris Bishop said the sale is 'a good outcome for Wellington'. Bishop revealed cost estimates for remediation and strengthening were costed at more than $125m, more than $1m per apartment. 'Instead of allowing the Dixon Street Flats to become another derelict Wellington eyesore, Taranaki Whānui Limited has purchased the property using their right of first refusal under their Treaty settlement. I look forward to seeing what they do with it,' Bishop said. The iwi have the first right of refusal for Crown land in the area under the Port Nicholson Block Settlement. The agency also noted the high ongoing cost for security on the building. Last year, it said it faced 'significant challenges' with squatters and unauthorised entry, spending $124,012 on security guards between June 3 and August 18. Last year, the agency would not confirm its plans for the site, but a Tenancy Tribunal document showed it was considering selling the property. The Dixon Street Flats have always been used as social housing, being built in the 1940s as a part of the first Labour Government's state housing programme. They were the second block of social housing apartments to ever be built in New Zealand, after the first were completed in Berhampore. The building has the highest level of heritage protection, listed as a Category 1, and is not listed as earthquake-prone on MBIE's earthquake-prone building register. Heritage New Zealand describes the building as an 'archetype of Modernist apartment blocks in New Zealand' that 'marked a new era of domestic architecture'. The Dixon St flats viewed from the intersection of Ghuznee and Willis Streets in 1943. Photo / Heritage New Zealand Wellington City Heritage said when it was built, the project 'was of a magnitude unprecedented in the history of domestic architecture in New Zealand and caused considerable excitement'. When the building was boarded up last year, chairman of Inner-City Wellington, the local resident's association, Reverend Stephen King urged Kāinga Ora to make progress on the site, saying leaving it vacant is 'outrageous'. 'It's a cornerstone to our inner city residential population', King said at the time. The nearby Gordon Wilson Flats were built in the same era as the Dixon Street Flats as part of the Government's state housing programme. The 11-storey building is now owned by Victoria University and has sat empty on The Terrace for more than a decade. The Gordon Wilson flats at 320 The Terrace, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell Bishop yesterday passed an amendment to the Resource Management Act to remove the protected heritage status of the Gordon Wilson flats making them eligible for demolition. The university is currently working through a business case for the site, with the preference for building new purpose-built student accommodation. Ethan Manera is a New Zealand Herald journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 as a broadcast journalist with Newstalk ZB and is interested in local issues, politics, and property in the capital. He can be emailed at
RNZ News
04-08-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Historic Ophir office's postmistress retires after 26 years
Ophir Post Office is the longest continuously operated in New Zealand. Photo: After 26 years as the postmistress at the historic Ophir Post Office, Val Butcher has retired. The post office is the longest continuously operated in New Zealand, and the historic building, which was built in 1886, is also one of the most photographed in the South Island, but for Butcher it is the people that made the job so special. Butcher told Morning Report she moved to Ophir from Australia to retire. "When I first moved here there was only 25 people. The town was shrinking and I didn't expect to get a job," Butcher said. The post office was run by a woman who was in ill health, and she asked Butcher if she could fill in on days she wasn't feeling well, and when she left, Butcher applied for the job and got it. "I was in the right place at the right time," Butcher said. "I'd never been a postmistress before, so it was all new to me. It was great and it was good for me, and it was only four doors from where I live." The towns population now numbers about 70 and Butcher has got to to know them all, and also enjoys the tourists from the nearby rail trail who flock to the historic building which is owned by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. "It's been a really, really interesting job, and I've had good bosses all the way through, so I can't complain," she said. Butcher also enjoyed learning about the heritage of the Central Otago town, which is an old gold mining town. Butcher is staying in Ophir, and described her decision to retire as "a little sad, but glad I've made the decision now, it was a very hard decision to make". She said she will still visit the post office to see her friends and helps to run a local community newsletter. "I write what's called 'The Tatler', which is part of the newsletter," she said. "I was writing the whole lot, and that got too much." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
03-08-2025
- General
- Scoop
Ophir's Postmistress Retires After 26 Years
A much loved heritage stalwart is retiring after more than two decades serving her community. Val Butcher, the postmistress of the historic Ophir Post Office, is leaving her old stamping ground after 26 years working in the iconic building which is cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. But although her days of serving the public behind the counter may be over, she won't be going far. "I'll probably still loiter at the Post Office to catch up with people - and I've still got to write my monthly community newsletter," she says. With its distinctive schist finish, the Ophir Post Office is one of the most photographed buildings in the South Island, drawing visitors from around the country and the world. Built in 1886, it also happens to be Aotearoa New Zealand's longest running post office. History aside, however, it's the people that make the place so special according to Val. "The community is very caring, and the visitors that come from all over the world all bring something in the way of knowledge," she says. "It's amazing how many people who have helped me learn the histories, or have passed on their stories of the place, or their own family history of the place." Although Val won't miss getting up on cold winter mornings - "the mail must get through regardless" - she will miss the daily interactions with the community she loves. "Things happen everyday that are enjoyable - it's these moments that are so lovely that rub off on me; people celebrating birthdays or having a new grandchild. The Post Office is such a hub for this community that the news is often delivered here too, and that makes it so enjoyable," she says. "There have been sad things that happen as well - but the community rallies around when they do." Val almost fell into the role by accident after doing some relieving work for the previous post mistress. Val was the obvious replacement when she left. "I was just here at the right time and the right place, and it was the right job for me," she says. "I feel it has given me a lot of confidence - and it got me out of bed each day!" Highlights over the years have included being profiled in Shepherdess magazine, and of course celebrating her grandson Finn Butcher's gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after he won the mens' Kayak Cross event. "People popped in to congratulate me all week," she says. Val believes the Post Office is a place that keeps the community together, and says the role has kept her connected with the community. "I have never been lonely and have made so many friends," she says.
NZ Herald
20-07-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
World War I soldier's journal detailing scientific breakthrough gifted to National Army Museum
The journal belonged to Private Hugh Montgomery Purdie and contained entries on everything from basic physics formulas to chemical compounds. Purdie was a plumber from Auckland who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Europe. The Heritage New Zealand team found his notes on water sterilisation particularly interesting. 'Purdie's observations of a particular method of water sterilisation are remarkable,' Edwards said. 'What he describes is a method of sterilising water using ultraviolet light generated by large military searchlights, which he had likely come across in France.' Purdie tested his theory with water from the Seine that was purposely contaminated to assess the effectiveness of the method. 'The process was subjected to severe tests. The water to be treated was drawn from the Seine below Paris and was further contaminated with germs of cholera, diphtheria – indeed, every effort was made to make the water as poisonous as possible,' Purdie wrote. 'The germ-contaminated water was then drawn off in the usual manner, being induced to flow over the lamp, and upon withdrawal was found to be absolutely sterile – all contagious germs having been completely destroyed as a result of exposure to the ultraviolet rays.' As a qualified plumber, Purdie recognised the importance of sanitation and, therefore, the significance of these findings. 'What's also impressive is Purdie's ability to see the potential for this new technology to improve the lives of many, suggesting that it would only take a small dynamo to feed the lamps with the necessary current,' Edwards said. 'The fact that he took time to record what he knew of the process in such detail shows he could see the potential of the method. 'What he would not have known was that, after technology improved in the 1930s, the UV method would become a widely accepted and scientifically proven method of treating water adopted by large cities around the world.' Currently, Paris uses a mix of carbon, UV light and ozone to sanitise its drinking water. After the armistice that ended World War I in November 1918, Purdie was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the army's education department. Edwards believed it was possible his writings were notes that he may have used in some of the teaching in his new role. The National Army Museum said it would add the notebook to its collection of WWI soldiers' diaries and memorabilia. 'Purdie's notebook is an incredible piece of the New Zealand First World War experience,' collections and exhibitions manager Caitlin Timmer-Arends said. 'We are grateful for the diligence of the Hospice Mid-Northland staff and volunteers, and thankful to my former colleagues at Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for their part in the donation.' However, Purdie's story still has some details missing, which Edwards is keen to resolve. 'We have managed to find out some information about Hugh – that he served in the RNZAF during World War II, though probably not overseas; that he was married with two children and that he died in 1980. 'If anybody has any additional information about Hugh Purdie, his family or his notebook, we'd love to hear from them.' People with more information can contact Bill Edwards at infonorthland@
Newsroom
19-07-2025
- General
- Newsroom
Throwaway culture is a recent privilege we just can't afford
Opinion: Images of the Gordon Wilson flats on the Terrace in Te Aro, Wellington, may have persuaded many readers that Chris Bishop was right to amend the RMA so that the flats, owned by Victoria University, would be eligible for demolition. Bishop states: 'The flats sit as an ugly scar on the Wellington skyline,' and that they are, 'emblematic of a failed planning system that prioritises preservation of heritage, no matter the economic cost'. He got one part of that sentence right: the building is emblematic of a failed planning system, that allowed the building to fall into such disrepair that it was perceived widely as a scar on the skyline – a process that many have described as demolition by wilful neglect. It is not my intention here to argue in favour of the flats' heritage status; interested readers can read more about the McLean and Gordon Wilson Flats on Heritage New Zealand's website. Whether you think they are ugly or brutalist or represent a period in New Zealand history that should be preserved, is beside the point. Its heritage listing is being used as a scapegoat. The cold, hard, fact is that there are tons of embodied energy locked in the building, along with 87 housing units, at a time when there is a desperate shortage of housing. Yes, it needs to be refurbished but the fit-out costs would be the same whether it is a new building or a refurbishment. Demolishing this building would be a despicable act of waste – much of the developed world would be appalled. It would fly in the face of many international initiatives, such as the retrofit first policy, now adopted by three London boroughs, and gaining traction elsewhere. The policy is designed to discourage new buildings and encourage a circular economy, reliant on building reuse. Under the policy, developers are required to consider a whole life carbon assessment early in the feasibility stages of a project and assess varying degrees of retrofit, prior to considering demolition and re-build. The priority is on retaining at least 50 percent of the existing building's superstructure, because nearly 50 percent of a typical, large building's embodied carbon lies in the superstructure, with a further, nearly 20 percent, locked in the substructure. Circularity is also soon to be a legal requirement in Brussels, where Article 4 of the Regional Urban Planning Regulations states that: 'Every existing building will be conserved and, if necessary, renovated.' A similar legal framework is also proposed in the EU. Why do we in New Zealand feel that we should be exempt from these progressive principles – are carbon atoms somehow different down under? Sustainability architect Carl Elefante said in 2007 the 'greenest building is the one that is already built'. We now know that that the greenest building is the one that already exists and has been remediated to ensure it performs efficiently. The Gordon Wilson Flats were built as a model of high-density inner-city housing, close to employment and transportation routes. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Operational carbon emissions from buildings account for approximately 28 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. It also states: 'Towards the middle of the century, as the world's population approaches 10 billion, the global building stock is expected to double in size. Carbon emissions released before the built asset is used, what is referred to as 'upfront carbon', will be responsible for half of the entire carbon footprint of new construction between now and 2050, threatening to consume a large part of our remaining carbon budget.' Therefore, when building new, the target should be net zero or, ideally, carbon negative – the latter being an ambitious target that has yet to be achieved in New Zealand. But working with what already exists will always be achievable because we already have it – we have paid for it both in terms of carbon emissions and dollars. Why waste it? Wastefulness is a recent and poorly exercised privilege – one that was inconceivable to, for example, my grandparents, who managed to narrowly survive WWII, and then maintained a frugal existence for ever after, having learnt the hard way what going without really means. Our throwaway culture is exacerbating the climate crisis. Therefore, it is astounding that such a significant and substantial building is being considered for demolition. Yes, we could build new with 'sustainable materials' but as the UK engineer and contributor to Building Design, Anna Beckett, said, this is comparable to a fad diet: 'Ultimately, to consistently reduce carbon we have to build less.' The challenge is building less but delivering more, she explains, and this is where re-purposing existing buildings is so important. The Architecture Centre is currently working on a proposal that illustrates how the Gordon Wilson Flats could be seismically strengthened and refurbished so that the building envelope meets high thermal performance expectations and low operational carbon emission targets. In its proposal, an externally installed, mass timber structure, with steel dampers, would enclose the building, offering a reinterpretation of the original facade. This would ensure high thermal performance as well as increasing the ductility of the building, ensuring that it performs well in an earthquake, achieving at least 67 percent New Building Standard. Initial engineering advice suggests that this is not only a relatively simple solution, but a cost-effective one too. The internal spaces could be retained in their existing form. Retaining the superstructure of the building will save considerable money as the construction time would be reduced and the superstructure would not have to be demolished and re-constructed. Furthermore, this proposal also ensures that concerns about the 'ugly' aesthetic of the building are addressed. The building would be re-envisioned much like the Cité du Grand Parc, in Bordeaux, by Lacaton & Vassal has been, illustrated below. In this way, the site's most significant heritage values would also be retained. It would continue to be used as housing and the important legacy of the flats as a significant piece of New Zealand's social housing history would also be retained. The re-envisioned building could serve as much-needed (and highly desirable), post graduate housing or faculty housing, similar to the Symonds Street flats, which are owned by the University of Auckland and were refurbished for this purpose. The re-envisioned building would be an exemplar of how a large mid-century building can be both seismically strengthened and thermally efficient, one which Victoria University could showcase as a truly sustainable development it could be proud of.
