Navigators & Naturalists: French Exploration of New Zealand and the Pacific (1769-1824). As well as fascinating descriptions of what the French saw when they travelled around NZ's coast, author Mike Lee will focus on the key characters of this age of French exploration (names such as de Surville, Dufresne, La Pérouse, D'Entrecasteaux, Duperrey, Freycinet, D'Urville and Lesson), their relationships with Māori and the desire of France to compete with the British in the Pacific. 

 WHEN: Friday 18 October 2019 at 6.30 pm 

 WHERE: Remuera Library

Wilson’s beach and jetty at the bottom of Victoria Avenue, Remuera has been a local place of transport, sport and recreation for over 100 years. Nearby residents Joseph Liston Wilson (of Wilson & Horton, publisher of the N Z Herald) and Captain Thomas Tilly, R.N. (captain of the Southern Cross of the Melanesian Mission) were involved in the building of the jetty for ferry and boat access to the harbour. Restoration of the beach and the jetty has been a focus of local residents since the sewer line was removed in 2010. Come and hear about the history of Wilson’s beach and jetty and plans for the future from Bruce Renshaw, a descendant of Captain Tilly. 

WHEN: Thursday 10th October 2019 at 6.30pm 

WHERE: Remuera Library

Following Peter Cropper's talk on his family history and business "The Croppers: Merchants and Engineers" on Friday 13th September 2019 at Remuera Library, copies of the book are available for sale through Peter at a cost of $30 plus $5 postage. Please contact Remuera Heritage for details.

Peter Cropper will present his book: “The Croppers: Merchants and Engineers", published in 2018. 

His family formed the New Zealand company Neill, Cropper & Co. which was innovative in introducing many new products to New Zealand and was involved with major New Zealand companies over the last 100 years. The Cropper family lived at Te Araroa, 7 St Vincent Avenue, Remuera. 

WHEN: Friday 13th September 2019 at 6.30pm

WHERE: Remuera Library 

Please RSVP for catering purposes to the library on (09) 520-2532 at the library. 

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

The Alexander Turnbull Library is holding a talk at the Auckland Central Library. Dr William Cottrell will discuss a century of colonial-made furniture - The printed image & colonial furniture Dr William Cottrell is an art historian specialising in colonial furniture, and the award-winning author of Furniture of the New Zealand Colonial Era (1830-1900) in 2006. 

A former television editor, he quit his job to pursue a love of woodworking, design and history – which often means “poking around in junk shops”. Dr Cottrell says that New Zealand's earliest furniture from the 1830s-60s can be traced to just a handful of London designers whose patterns were interpreted by migrant cabinet makers. By the mid-1870s, however, even small New Zealand furniture-making firms were producing their own 'brand' trade catalogues – actually illicit copies reproduced from the in-house designs of large English cabinet-making firms. His illustrated talk, “Patterns: the printed image and a century of colonial-made furniture” will discuss three aspects of pattern production that influenced colonial domestic furniture design: designers, manufacturer's trade catalogues and publisher's subscription magazines. 

When: Thursday 5 September, at 5.15 pm - 6.15pm

Where: the Whare, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero – Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne Street, Auckland Central Library

HOW TO NOMINATE YOUR HOUSE FOR A HERITAGE LISTING 

Valerie Muir will talk about the history of her house and how she went about getting it listed on the council’s Historic Heritage List. She will be joined by Megan Walker, Built Heritage Specialist of the Heritage Unit, Plans and Places Department, Chief Planning Office, of Auckland Council to talk about the council process of listing a property on its Historic Heritage List. 

 WHEN: Friday 23rd August 2019 at 6.30pm 

WHERE: Remuera Library 

Please RSVP for catering purposes to the library on (09) 520-2532 at the library. 

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

Wilson’s Jetty is located on Wilson’s Beach at the northern end of Victoria Avenue. Extending north into Hobson Bay, the jetty (or pier) is a timber structure built on a series of piles, with a boardwalk edged by braced posts and rails. Currently the jetty is inaccessible from the beach.

The earliest reference to a jetty was found in an 1881 newspaper article documenting the request by the Remuera Land and Building Company for such a structure. It is unclear whether this work was ever implemented. The earliest ‘dated’ photograph showing a jetty in the current location is from 1918, followed by several others dating from the 1920s and 1930s. These photographs show the jetty extending north from Wilson’s Beach, up and over the sewer line, providing access into Hobson Bay. Some of these images also show people ‘promenading’ along the jetty and the sewer line. the jetty has long been considered a valuable public amenity. 

Located at Wilson’s Beach, a place of local recreation since at least the 1880s, the jetty is strongly associated with Remuera’s social history. With a The jetty having existed on the site for over 100 years and with many of the earlier boat and bathing sheds now gone, the structure remains a tangible reminder of the area’s recreational past and positively contributes to its coastal landscape. 

Submission on the proposal to extend the - 

Hobson Bay Walkway - Wilsons Beach to Shore Road Reserve 

Remuera Heritage recognises that much of the structure of the jetty has had to change over the last 100+ years to keep it safe. We submit that the Council now take the opportunity to repair and restore the jetty for community use as part of the proposed development of the Hobson Bay walkway extension, so as to be accessible by residents, as it has been over the last 100+ years. We request that as much of the jetty as is feasible be kept. The development is an opportunity to keep what can be kept and build anew what can't be kept. Wilson's jetty is an important and tangible part of the social history of Remuera. 

Submissions can be made here until Sunday 28th July 2019. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/hobson-bay-walkway/Pages/default.aspx 

You can see and read more about the history of Wilson's beach and jetty here.

The Orakei Local Board is holding a drop-in session on 22nd July where you can have your say on a walking connection from Wilson's Beach to Shore Road Reserve in Ōrākei, covering about 600m along the water's edge. 

The drop in session is on 22nd July at 5.30-7pm at the Parnell Cricket Club. It’s an informal session with no set agenda. You can drop in at any time to speak with council staff about the consultation.

The walkway extension will include:

• extending the western end of Wilson's Beach using imported sand
• building a rock wall to protect the beach from sand loss
• constructing a timber boardwalk
• 3m wide concrete path along the extended beach.

Researching your house history - 

Keith Stuart and James Armstrong from Auckland Council will give a presentation on Council Archives and researching the history of your house, which includes: 

• An overview of Auckland Council Archives 

• Examples of Archives’ series, including rate books and building permit plans 

• Using Auckland Council Archives for information on houses 

• Searching Archives Online 

• Online exhibitions 

• Online indexes / 1908 City of Auckland map 

When: Thursday 11 July 2019 at 6.30pm 

Where: Remuera Library. Please RSVP to 09- 520-2532 at the library.

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

Image: Hutchison house at top of Victoria Avenue,1890s. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A1103

1. PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE 26 TO THE AUCKLAND UNITARY PLAN. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 11 July 2019. 

Property owners in Remuera may have received a letter from Auckland Council if the council deems their property to be directly affected by the proposed changes. The Plan Change was notified on 30 May 2019. Submissions now close on Thursday 11 July 2019. The plan change is a policy response by Auckland Council to an Environment Court declaration to clarify how the Special Character Areas Overlay – Residential (SCAR) - works with underlying zones eg the Single House zone which covers a large area of Remuera. Auckland Council are proposing the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay prevail over those of the underlying zone, e.g.Single House zone. 

2. Plan Change 26 

2.1. In general, Remuera Heritage supports the intention to clarify the difficulty and confusion that exists around having two sets of standards, activities and provisions applying where there is both the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay and an underlying zone. The proposed change appears to support the protection of special character and heritage through recommending that the provision in the Special Character Areas Overlay will prevail over the corresponding provision in the underlying zone. However, in actual fact, the SCAR Overlay is less restrictive in allowing anyone wanting to develop their property greater freedom to do so. It is not clear how the proposed change will assist owners who want to protect the character and amenity of the Special Character Area where the Single House Zone also applies. It allows more lenient rules about heights and yards, which will lead to much greater density, bulk and heights to the side and rear of properties. 

 2.2. For example: 

 2.2.1. Height to Boundary: The Special Character Area Overlay rule for height in relation to boundary defines the envelope based on a 3 metre vertical height and then a 45 degree incline, where the sites have a road fronted boundary less than 15 metres in width. This is far more imposing than the standard of the Single House Zone which is based on a 2.5 metre vertical height and then a 45 degree incline. The outcome of this proposed more lenient rule is that buildings can be built higher with great bulk and visual impact. It is not clear why bulkier houses should be allowed when the width of the property is less. 

2.2.2. Rear Yard: In the rear yard the proposal is to reduce the current 3 metre boundary to just 1 metre. This will allow building to occur only one metre from a neighbour’s boundary and will have a significant visual and privacy impact on neighbours. Relaxing the 3 metre setback for the rear yard will have a highly detrimental impact in areas where sections near corner junctions have rear yards adjacent to side yards. By allowing the Character Overlay to predominate, it puts neighbours in special character and heritage areas at a disadvantage from those in the single house zone without an overlay. These neighbours will be impacted by more encroachments into their side and rear privacy.  

2.3. The size and scale of more development to the side and rear of houses in the SCAR Overlay will add visual bulk that will detract from the character features of the area. The plan change will result in the original fronts of heritage houses being dwarfed and dominated by large rear and side developments. This will allow a form of facadism and is not genuine heritage protection. 

2.4. Remuera Heritage opposes the intention to reduce the requirement for sufficient space to be provided in rear yards in order to separate housing and ancillary buildings from the rear boundary of a site. Remuera Heritage submits that the current 3 metre rear yard should be retained. This will maintain character and amenity values in the area. Having rear yards of only 1 metre will reduce the privacy, tree cover, landscaping, views and general amenity of neighbours and neighbourhoods. 

2.5. Environmental effects and privacy. The plan needs to take into account the effects of development on neighbours as well as on streetscape. In particular, we wish to note that when special character and heritage houses were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, privacy was much easier to maintain. Then there was significantly less light, air and noise pollution from radio, television, music, technology, outdoor living, recreational facilities and traffic. We want to retain respect for our neighbours and social and community wellbeing in the 21st century. These are now universally acknowledged as being of primary importance to a healthy society. The more restrictive requirements should apply regarding rules, standards and provisions which affect these environmental factors in our communities. 

 2.6. Also, Remuera Heritage does not support anything which will make special character and heritage buildings more easily able to be demolished and special character areas to be eroded.  

2.7. Remuera Heritage wants all neighbours in special character areas to be notified when there is development proposed on their boundary. 

3. In summary, the proposed plan change 26 is less about protecting special character and heritage and more about protecting individual property rights to develop character / heritage houses to the detriment of neighbours, community wellbeing and zoning values in traditional areas like Remuera. Remuera Heritage seeks that the underlying zone, the Single House zone, prevail over the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Overlay, where both are applicable. 

Note that Auckland Council are proposing the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay prevail over those of the underlying zone, e.g.Single House zone. You can read the council's statement here - 

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/proposed-plan-changes/Pages/pc-26-clarifying-relationship-special-character-areas-overlay-underlying-zone-provisions.aspx

You can make a submission here. The deadline is Thursday 11 July 2019.

Wilson’s Jetty is located on Wilson’s Beach at the northern end of Victoria Avenue. Extending north into Hobson Bay, the jetty (or pier) is a timber structure built on a series of piles, with a boardwalk edged by braced posts and rails. Currently the jetty is inaccessible from the beach.

The earliest reference to a jetty was found in an 1881 newspaper article documenting the request by the Remuera Land and Building Company for such a structure. It is unclear whether this work was ever implemented. The earliest ‘dated’ photograph showing a jetty in the current location is from 1918, followed by several others dating from the 1920s and 1930s. These photographs show the jetty extending north from Wilson’s Beach, up and over the sewer line, providing access into Hobson Bay. Some of these images also show people ‘promenading’ along the jetty and the sewer line. the jetty has long been considered a valuable public amenity. 

Located at Wilson’s Beach, a place of local recreation since at least the 1880s, the jetty is strongly associated with Remuera’s social history. With a The jetty having existed on the site for over 100 years and with many of the earlier boat and bathing sheds now gone, the structure remains a tangible reminder of the area’s recreational past and positively contributes to its coastal landscape. 

Submission on the proposal to extend the - 

Hobson Bay Walkway - Wilsons Beach to Shore Road Reserve 

Remuera Heritage recognises that much of the structure of the jetty has had to change over the last 100+ years to keep it safe. We submit that the Council now take the opportunity to repair and restore the jetty for community use as part of the proposed development of the Hobson Bay walkway extension, so as to be accessible by residents, as it has been over the last 100+ years. We request that as much of the jetty as is feasible be kept. The development is an opportunity to keep what can be kept and build anew what can't be kept. Wilson's jetty is an important and tangible part of the social history of Remuera. 

Submissions can be made here until Sunday 28th July 2019. https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/have-your-say/topics-you-can-have-your-say-on/hobson-bay-walkway/Pages/default.aspx 

You can see and read more about the history of Wilson's beach and jetty here.

The Orakei Local Board is holding a drop-in session on 22nd July where you can have your say on a walking connection from Wilson's Beach to Shore Road Reserve in Ōrākei, covering about 600m along the water's edge. 

The drop in session is on 22nd July at 5.30-7pm at the Parnell Cricket Club. It’s an informal session with no set agenda. You can drop in at any time to speak with council staff about the consultation.

The walkway extension will include:

• extending the western end of Wilson's Beach using imported sand
• building a rock wall to protect the beach from sand loss
• constructing a timber boardwalk
• 3m wide concrete path along the extended beach.

1. PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE 26 TO THE AUCKLAND UNITARY PLAN. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 11 July 2019. 

Property owners in Remuera may have received a letter from Auckland Council if the council deems their property to be directly affected by the proposed changes. The Plan Change was notified on 30 May 2019. Submissions now close on Thursday 11 July 2019. The plan change is a policy response by Auckland Council to an Environment Court declaration to clarify how the Special Character Areas Overlay – Residential (SCAR) - works with underlying zones eg the Single House zone which covers a large area of Remuera. Auckland Council are proposing the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay prevail over those of the underlying zone, e.g.Single House zone. 

2. Plan Change 26 

2.1. In general, Remuera Heritage supports the intention to clarify the difficulty and confusion that exists around having two sets of standards, activities and provisions applying where there is both the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay and an underlying zone. The proposed change appears to support the protection of special character and heritage through recommending that the provision in the Special Character Areas Overlay will prevail over the corresponding provision in the underlying zone. However, in actual fact, the SCAR Overlay is less restrictive in allowing anyone wanting to develop their property greater freedom to do so. It is not clear how the proposed change will assist owners who want to protect the character and amenity of the Special Character Area where the Single House Zone also applies. It allows more lenient rules about heights and yards, which will lead to much greater density, bulk and heights to the side and rear of properties. 

 2.2. For example: 

 2.2.1. Height to Boundary: The Special Character Area Overlay rule for height in relation to boundary defines the envelope based on a 3 metre vertical height and then a 45 degree incline, where the sites have a road fronted boundary less than 15 metres in width. This is far more imposing than the standard of the Single House Zone which is based on a 2.5 metre vertical height and then a 45 degree incline. The outcome of this proposed more lenient rule is that buildings can be built higher with great bulk and visual impact. It is not clear why bulkier houses should be allowed when the width of the property is less. 

2.2.2. Rear Yard: In the rear yard the proposal is to reduce the current 3 metre boundary to just 1 metre. This will allow building to occur only one metre from a neighbour’s boundary and will have a significant visual and privacy impact on neighbours. Relaxing the 3 metre setback for the rear yard will have a highly detrimental impact in areas where sections near corner junctions have rear yards adjacent to side yards. By allowing the Character Overlay to predominate, it puts neighbours in special character and heritage areas at a disadvantage from those in the single house zone without an overlay. These neighbours will be impacted by more encroachments into their side and rear privacy.  

2.3. The size and scale of more development to the side and rear of houses in the SCAR Overlay will add visual bulk that will detract from the character features of the area. The plan change will result in the original fronts of heritage houses being dwarfed and dominated by large rear and side developments. This will allow a form of facadism and is not genuine heritage protection. 

2.4. Remuera Heritage opposes the intention to reduce the requirement for sufficient space to be provided in rear yards in order to separate housing and ancillary buildings from the rear boundary of a site. Remuera Heritage submits that the current 3 metre rear yard should be retained. This will maintain character and amenity values in the area. Having rear yards of only 1 metre will reduce the privacy, tree cover, landscaping, views and general amenity of neighbours and neighbourhoods. 

2.5. Environmental effects and privacy. The plan needs to take into account the effects of development on neighbours as well as on streetscape. In particular, we wish to note that when special character and heritage houses were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, privacy was much easier to maintain. Then there was significantly less light, air and noise pollution from radio, television, music, technology, outdoor living, recreational facilities and traffic. We want to retain respect for our neighbours and social and community wellbeing in the 21st century. These are now universally acknowledged as being of primary importance to a healthy society. The more restrictive requirements should apply regarding rules, standards and provisions which affect these environmental factors in our communities. 

 2.6. Also, Remuera Heritage does not support anything which will make special character and heritage buildings more easily able to be demolished and special character areas to be eroded.  

2.7. Remuera Heritage wants all neighbours in special character areas to be notified when there is development proposed on their boundary. 

3. In summary, the proposed plan change 26 is less about protecting special character and heritage and more about protecting individual property rights to develop character / heritage houses to the detriment of neighbours, community wellbeing and zoning values in traditional areas like Remuera. Remuera Heritage seeks that the underlying zone, the Single House zone, prevail over the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Overlay, where both are applicable. 

Note that Auckland Council are proposing the rules, standards and provisions of the Special Character Areas Residential Overlay prevail over those of the underlying zone, e.g.Single House zone. You can read the council's statement here - 

https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/proposed-plan-changes/Pages/pc-26-clarifying-relationship-special-character-areas-overlay-underlying-zone-provisions.aspx

You can make a submission here. The deadline is Thursday 11 July 2019.

PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE 26 TO THE AUCKLAND UNITARY PLAN - Submissions close on 28 June 2019.

Property owners in Remuera may have received a letter from Auckland Council if the council deems their property to be directly affected by the proposed changes.  

The Plan Change was notified on 30 May 2019. Submissions close on 28 June 2019.   

The plan change is a policy response by Auckland Council to an Environment Court declaration to clarify how the Special Character Areas Overlay – Residential (SCAR) - works with underlying zones. The Special Character Areas Overlay applies to various older parts of Auckland and applies to 50 different special character areas; each area has a ‘character statement’ in the Auckland Unitary Plan that summarises the particular values and qualities of that area. The overlay seeks to retain and manage the special character values of identified residential areas. However, Devonport Heritage have raised a very relevant issue about which rules should apply in protecting heritage and special character. Should the SCAR overlay apply or the Single House Zone? 

Devonport Heritage argue that the Single House Zone rules, standards and provisions should apply – especially in relation to Height in relation to Boundary and the rear yard set-back. You can read about it here: http://www.devonportheritage.net/news  

You can make a submission here - 

Chair of the Planning Committee for Auckland Council, Councillor Chris Darby, has created a “simplified version” of the proposed plan change 26 here .

You can read the Remuera character statement here at page 167+ in Schedule 15

The timeline is very tight for a complex technical issue, only 29 days for submissions, as opposed to Plan Change 27 which corrects errors and anomalies in the Historic Heritage Schedule (46 days allowed).

As many residents know, changes to zoning, parking availability, and public transport have impacted, in recent times, on the popularity and attractiveness of our main shopping centre on Remuera Road. There is a vision, however, for a more active, alive and atmospheric experience that will improve visitation and utilisation of our Town Centre. 

Commercial building owners have a part to play, and many opportunities exist to create innovative and practical enhancements that will develop Remuera into a destination of choice – not only for local residents, but also for those from further afield. 

Come and hear how potential developments centred on the Clonbern Road carpark can be a catalyst for that change. Adrian Barkla, operator of Remuera New World and Chairman of the Remuera Business Association, has agreed to address our meeting and share his insights on the progress towards the vision for a vibrant Remuera. Part of the meeting will be taken to canvas the views and aspirations of residents present, and in that way provide an opportunity to shape the future of our Town Centre.

When: Thursday 11 April at 7.30pm

Where: Remuera Library

Read more here.

The N Z History Federation has forwarded details of a petition to the government by the N Z History Teachers’ Association to “pass legislation that would make compulsory the coherent teaching of our own past across appropriate year levels in our schools, with professional development and resources to do so provided.” Let’s get New Zealand history properly taught. Over 2,500 people have signed the petition so far. The petition closes on the 31st March 2019 – you can find the petition here to have your say if you think it's a good idea to have New Zealand history taught in schools. 

Remuera Heritage is submitting on Auckland Council's draft Ten Year Plan and also the Auckland Plan and we encourage all members to make their own submissions on both plans. Submissions are due by 8pm on 28 March. Get a copy of the paper Have Your say form from the Remuera library or go online to akhaveyoursay.co.nz 

10 Year Plan Budget / Long Term Plan 

 There is nothing included for Remuera in the 10 year plan or budget. 

1. Community facilities:  

a. Remuera needs a community centre to service its diverse community needs with a focus on the town centre and the library. There are only 2 community facilities in Remuera – the Remuera Library and 4 Victoria Avenue which houses the CAB and Plunket. There are no rooms available for hire at the current facility at 4 Victoria Avenue, the future of which is very uncertain. 

b. Remuera is a substantial size district with a diverse population of 28,000. It has a large long-established town centre. There is a need to service a large area with a growing diverse community, focused on the town centre 

c. Proceeds from any sale of Victoria Avenue should be reinvested in the Remuera community – in a Remuera community centre in the Remuera town centre. 

2. Village Green and buildings: It is unclear what is happening to the Village Green area at the back of the shops. The brick buildings were the original Remuera Roads Board office and works depot, and then Remuera’s first fire station. We would like to know about the redevelopment, intensification, any loss of heritage buildings and green space (the Village Green) – the Remuera community needs to be kept informed.

3. Ohinerau/Mt Hobson: Remuera Heritage supports the Tūpuna Maunga Authority’s proposed management plan and operational plan for Ohinerau Mt Hobson, focusing on upgraded paths and signage, pest control and regular vegetation management and maintenance. Also important for Remuera Heritage is the preservation of the memorials to the Remuera service men and women who served in WW2 – this includes the daffodils on the northern slope. 

4. Cultural Heritage: The 10 year plan budget also needs to include increased budget for key Auckland cultural heritage institutions – Auckland Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery, MOTAT and the Sir George Grey Special Collections at Auckland Libraries. They all have urgent need for improved infrastructure to meet visitor needs and protection of collections over the next 10 to 20 years. 

In particular, all Auckland Councillors must support Mayor Phil Goff's proposal of the 1 February 2018 to increase the Auckland Art Gallery's funding by $20m over the next ten years as part of the LTP. We request this amount is targeted for the Auckland Art Gallery when the annual Auckland Council distribution is made to Regional Facilities Auckland. 

Auckland Plan 2020-2050 

Remuera Heritage is submitting on the draft Auckland Plan and we encourage all members to make their own submission. Submissions are due by 8pm on 28 March. 

Our main concern is that the draft plan does not have a chapter on historic heritage or arts and culture, including cultural heritage. The previous Auckland Plan’s chapter 4 consists of 14 pages about the importance of the city’s historic heritage and the need to protect it. 

Page 8 of this chapter states: “On behalf of the community, the Auckland Council will continue to develop initiatives to ensure innovation, good practice and improved heritage outcomes.” It is important to submit that the chapter on historic heritage be put back into the plan. You can also ask that Focus Area 4 be amended to “Protect Auckland’s significant environments, cultural and historic heritage from further loss” and that Outcome 5 be amended to “Environment, Cultural and Historic Heritage.” 

Also ask for a reinstatement of the previous plan’s definition in the glossary of cultural heritage as: “The legacy of tangible heritage resources and intangible attributes that are inherited from past generations. Heritage includes historic heritage, taonga tuku iho (heirlooms), and other forms of heritage such as books, works of art, artefacts, beliefs, traditions, language and knowledge”.

Community Meeting on 22 March: “Have Your Say” 

Remuera Residents Association Community Meeting: “Have Your Say” 

 When: 7.00pm, Thursday 22 March 

 Where: Remuera Library  

The meeting will traverse the issues raised by the content of Auckland Council’s proposed 10 year Budget and the draft Auckland Plan 2050. All residents will have received the feedback form (within the March Our Auckland monthly magazine) which needs to completed by 28 March. There are many issues that are of concern and worthy of discussion. 

Ask questions of your Local Board member, hear the opinions of fellow residents, and form your own views based on this interaction. The real issues will be highlighted for you to consider, including the future of 4 Victoria Avenue and why there is little mention of historic heritage in the Auckland Plan– the evening should greatly assist your expression of feedback to the Council at this important consultation opportunity. 

We suggest you bring the feedback form with you – if you have not already submitted it. Have your say. For further information call – 524 2602

You can read the Remuera Heritage submission here.

Remuera Eastern Bays Citizens Advice Bureau: Public Information Evening 

Public Information Evening: Trees, Fences, and Boundaries 

When: 6.30pm, Tuesday 20 March 

Where: Remuera Library 

 ALL WELCOME.

TEN YEAR PLAN BUDGET– Remuera issues

The Mayor has a goal that Auckland is a great place to live. “While our focus must necessarily be on creating the infrastructure needed for transport accessibility and housing and a clean environment, we will not overlook other things that make this region a desirable place to live. Within the constraints of our resources, we need to promote the innovation, diversity, inclusiveness, cultural and recreational facilities that make Auckland a great place.” 

1. Community facilities: Remuera is a substantial district and town centre with a large population of approx. 28,000 in 2018, (57% European, 38% Asian, 2% Maori, 2% Pacific). Many of the shops in the town centre go back 100 years but the town centre is changing and needs a community centre and heart. 45% of Remuera South people were born overseas, compared with 39.1 percent for Auckland as a whole. Remuera needs a community centre to service its diverse community needs with a focus on the town centre and the library. Often the Remuera library staff are asked if they have space for hire. When a public meeting is held in the Remuera library, the staff have to return at 8 or 9pm at night to lock up. Community groups in Remuera are forced to go outside the area to meet as halls in churches and schools in Remuera are busy during the days and often lack access and security at night.  

There is a lack of transparency around the future of 4 Victoria Avenue, which houses the CAB and Plunket. The CAB may be moving to St Luke’s Church near Newmarket. There is speculation that the council will sell 4 Victoria Avenue and put the money into the rebuild of the Meadowbank Community Centre. Unlike Meadowbank which has 2 community facilities for hire – the Meadowbank Community Centre and Tahapa Crescent Hall, Remuera has only 2 community facilities, the Remuera Library and 4 Victoria Avenue. which have no rooms available for hire.

The council may seek to develop the Meadowbank Community Centre from the sale of 4 Victoria Avenue, but there will be a loss and a cost to the Remuera ratepayer. If the council sells 4 Victoria Avenue, the proceeds should be reinvested in the Remuera community in the form of a Remuera community centre near the library. Remuera Heritage is looking for a space to own or rent and to be able to display its resources – we would support a local community centre. We ask that any funds from a sale of 4 Victoria Avenue be targeted for the benefit of the Remuera community – in Remuera. 

The Orakei Local Board has also looked at the redevelopment of the Glendowie Community Centre – this is only 2 kms from the St Heliers Community Centre. The Meadowbank Community Centre is 2.9 kms from 4 Victoria Avenue – Remuera is large enough to deserve its own community centre.  Panmure will also benefit from a multi-million investment from the sale of $100million+ worth of council property in Panmure.(East & Bays Courier, March 6 2018)

NB: The population figures given in the Meadowbank, Remuera, Orakei Community Needs Assessment (Mobius, 20 July 2017) are not geographically exact and grossly underrepresent the population of Remuera. The segments used of Remuera West and Remuera South from the 2013 Census do not even share a common boundary. If all Remuera segments are used (Remuera West, Remuera South, Waiata, Waitaramoa, Mt Hobson, Orakei South, Abbotts Park), Remuera’s population is 2.1 times the population of Meadowbank South and Meadowbank North. If St John’s and Stonefields are included in the Meadowbank calculation, then Remuera’s population is approx. 1.5 times the population of Meadowbank. Either way, Remuera has by far the bigger population than Meadowbank. (See attached table). 

2. Council carpark: It is also unclear what is happening to the council carpark on Clonbern Rd. Rumours abound of redevelopment, intensification, loss of heritage buildings, loss of green space (the Village Green) – the Remuera community needs to be kept informed. 

3. Ohinerau/Mt Hobson: Remuera Heritage supports the Tupuna Maunga Authority’s proposed management plan and operational plan for Ohinerau Mt Hobson, focusing on upgraded paths and signage, pest control and regular vegetation management and maintenance. Also important for Remuera Heritage is the preservation of the memorials to the Remuera service men and women who served in WW2 – this includes the daffodils on the northern slope. 

4. Cultural Heritage: The 10 year plan budget also needs to include increased budget for key Auckland cultural heritage institutions – Auckland Museum, the Auckland Art Gallery, MOTAT and the Sir George Grey Special Collections at Auckland Libraries. They all have urgent need for improved infrastructure to meet visitor needs and protection of collections over the next 10 to 20 years. In particular, all Auckland Councillors must support Mayor Phil Goff's proposal of the 1 February 2018 to increase the Auckland Art Gallery's funding by $20m over the next ten years as part of the LTP. We request this amount is targeted for the Auckland Art Gallery when the annual Auckland Council distribution is made to Regional Facilities Auckland. 

AUCKLAND PLAN 2020 – 2050 

1. The Draft Auckland Plan only talks about environmental and cultural heritage as types of heritage, and a definition of cultural heritage includes no recognition of built heritage at all. Cultural heritage appears to be a subset of the environment and is confined to archaeological landscapes – it is not mentioned in the glossary. Rather cultural heritage should be the over-arching category, not a sub-category. The 2012 Auckland Plan included this definition of Heritage in the glossary: a. “The legacy of tangible heritage resources and intangible attributes that are inherited from past generations. Heritage includes historic heritage, taonga tuku iho (heirlooms), and other forms of heritage such as books, works of art, artefacts, beliefs, traditions, language and knowledge”.  

2. The first Auckland Plan released in 2012 had an entire chapter 4 outlining the importance and value of historic heritage, with strategic direction statements, key priorities and targets to “protect and conserve Auckland’s historic heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations”. This 2012 text should be incorporated into Outcome 5: Protecting and Enhancing our Environment, in the Auckland Plan 2050. Text in this outcome must include a definite statement about the importance and value of historic heritage, and specifically that it is included in Focus Area 4, to read “Protect Auckland’s significant environments, and cultural and historic heritage from further loss”. 

3. The first Auckland Plan also had an entire Chapter 3 on Arts and Culture which is now missing. There should be a section in the new draft plan outcome Environment and Cultural Heritage on cultural heritage, which includes the regionally and nationally significant cultural institutions such as the Auckland Museum, MOTAT, Auckland Art Gallery, and Sir George Grey Special Collections, amongst others. The draft plan mentions only “Local and Auckland-wide” community facilities. To omit and exclude the regionally and nationally important cultural heritage organisations in Auckland is a huge oversight.

Population Projections 2013-2043 for Remuera and Meadowbank. Source Stats NZ Census 2013.

The Remuera Residents Association has reported that the Orakei Local Board is proposing that the Remuera CAB move out of 4 Victoria Avenue to the St Luke's Community Centre at 130 Remuera Road. 

 http://remueraresidents.org.nz/latest-news/remuera-citizens-advice-bureau-at-risk/ -

"The Ōrākei Local Board is considering moving the 4 Victoria Avenue CAB to St Lukes Community Centre. Concern has been expressed that no consultation has been undertaken with our local CAB or community, that work has already been undertaken on the site, and that long term decisions on the future of the service have already been made.The CAB is an important community resource and we are very disturbed at the lack of transparency about the future of our CAB and the 4 Victoria Avenue site. We want clarity and honesty around this matter from our local board."  

Remuera has only two community facilities - the Remuera Library and 4 Victoria Avenue which houses the CAB and Plunket. Is the Orakei Local Board and Auckland Council selling our community facility?
There will be a public meeting on 22nd March 2018 at the Remuera Library to discuss this and what is happening at 4 Victoria Avenue. 

The RRA now has a Facebook page – get the latest news etc here:

https://www.facebook.com/remueraresidentsassociation/

The eastern suburbs have seen significant removal of the single house zone to be replaced with the increased density of the Mixed House Suburban or Urban zones. This will lead to the development of individual properties being intensified to 3 stories, alongside single houses, destroying the collective value and amenity of the area which the community has strived to protect for future enjoyment. Urban amenity has to be collective – individual owners cannot do both high density and still expect to retain the existing character and amenity. 

The Independent Hearing Panel wrote “there was an insufficient basis to restrict the demolition of buildings based solely on their age. The argument that the unitary plan should, on an alleged precautionary basis, manage the demolition of buildings in areas that may have ‘unidentified significant historic heritage places or unidentified ‘special’ character areas’ was not supported by evidence of the likelihood that such values would be identified, or that the rate of demolition required such a restriction”. 

During the Unitary Plan process, Auckland Council said it was not resourced to carry out character area surveys to identify significant historic heritage places or unidentified ‘special’ character areas’ but would cooperate with community groups to do this. Remuera Heritage offered its help to the Heritage Dept. and through Councillor Cameron Brewer but we never heard back. Council staff had countered to the IHP that a plan change to add or extend character areas should be ready for notification in early 2017. RH gave evidence of the removal of character buildings from Remuera South, parts of Remuera north and Newmarket to no avail. 

As a result, The Panel has kept most of the currently notified special character overlay over Auckland, with one notable exception – it has been almost erased throughout all the eastern bays, including Remuera, Orakei, Kohimarama, Mission Bay and St Heliers. The pre-1944 demolition control overlay has been removed in its entirety and there is now no protection for any identified or non-identified character buildings in Auckland. The pre-1944 overlay was only an interim measure to allow for the identification of character housing, so now demolition is a permitted activity. 

AT RISK: The Remuera Library which is a listed and protected heritage building has now been zoned as being part of the town business centre and buildings either side have been upzoned to THAB (Terrace Houses and Apartment Buildings). This includes Cotter House, another listed heritage building (the 5th oldest house in Auckland) and the Hearing Association house at the top of St Vincent Avenue. This zoning change does not help the protection of these historic heritage places. It is impossible to understand why there is such a lack of consistency here in having Category A status for a brick public building such as a library and a historic heritage house when the underlying zoning anticipates high density. Houses such as Cotter House are now at significant risk of demolition and redevelopment. 

Gains in Remuera have been the inclusion of the Extent of Place around the Chapel of the Holy Child (formerly the stables) at Kings School to include The Towers, the 1855 Graham/ McCosh Clark house. The Remuera Railway Station has been upgraded from Category B to A: “Given its integrity, it’s now rarity, having an integral and original relationship with its signal box, and being the best of Auckland‘s historic suburban stations, it warrants elevation from a B to A in its heritage categorisation. Accordingly, the Panel supports the scheduling of the ‘Remuera Railway Station and Signal Box’ as Category A and adopts the extent of place and description proposed by Heritage New Zealand.” 

The volcanic viewshafts fared better than heritage. Most (though not all) proposed viewshafts have been retained; a few have been deleted, and there is a new category of locally significant viewshafts. One of the differences between regional and local is that if a proposed building would penetrate a regional viewshaft it is a non-complying activity, whereas for a local viewshaft it is a Restricted Discretionary activity. The Panel has provided the Council with maps which represent its recommendations. 

To view what these recommendations may mean for Remuera and your own property, click here and here.

Navigators & Naturalists: French Exploration of New Zealand and the Pacific (1769-1824). As well as fascinating descriptions of what the French saw when they travelled around NZ's coast, author Mike Lee will focus on the key characters of this age of French exploration (names such as de Surville, Dufresne, La Pérouse, D'Entrecasteaux, Duperrey, Freycinet, D'Urville and Lesson), their relationships with Māori and the desire of France to compete with the British in the Pacific. 

 WHEN: Friday 18 October 2019 at 6.30 pm 

 WHERE: Remuera Library

Wilson’s beach and jetty at the bottom of Victoria Avenue, Remuera has been a local place of transport, sport and recreation for over 100 years. Nearby residents Joseph Liston Wilson (of Wilson & Horton, publisher of the N Z Herald) and Captain Thomas Tilly, R.N. (captain of the Southern Cross of the Melanesian Mission) were involved in the building of the jetty for ferry and boat access to the harbour. Restoration of the beach and the jetty has been a focus of local residents since the sewer line was removed in 2010. Come and hear about the history of Wilson’s beach and jetty and plans for the future from Bruce Renshaw, a descendant of Captain Tilly. 

WHEN: Thursday 10th October 2019 at 6.30pm 

WHERE: Remuera Library

Following Peter Cropper's talk on his family history and business "The Croppers: Merchants and Engineers" on Friday 13th September 2019 at Remuera Library, copies of the book are available for sale through Peter at a cost of $30 plus $5 postage. Please contact Remuera Heritage for details.

Peter Cropper will present his book: “The Croppers: Merchants and Engineers", published in 2018. 

His family formed the New Zealand company Neill, Cropper & Co. which was innovative in introducing many new products to New Zealand and was involved with major New Zealand companies over the last 100 years. The Cropper family lived at Te Araroa, 7 St Vincent Avenue, Remuera. 

WHEN: Friday 13th September 2019 at 6.30pm

WHERE: Remuera Library 

Please RSVP for catering purposes to the library on (09) 520-2532 at the library. 

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

The Alexander Turnbull Library is holding a talk at the Auckland Central Library. Dr William Cottrell will discuss a century of colonial-made furniture - The printed image & colonial furniture Dr William Cottrell is an art historian specialising in colonial furniture, and the award-winning author of Furniture of the New Zealand Colonial Era (1830-1900) in 2006. 

A former television editor, he quit his job to pursue a love of woodworking, design and history – which often means “poking around in junk shops”. Dr Cottrell says that New Zealand's earliest furniture from the 1830s-60s can be traced to just a handful of London designers whose patterns were interpreted by migrant cabinet makers. By the mid-1870s, however, even small New Zealand furniture-making firms were producing their own 'brand' trade catalogues – actually illicit copies reproduced from the in-house designs of large English cabinet-making firms. His illustrated talk, “Patterns: the printed image and a century of colonial-made furniture” will discuss three aspects of pattern production that influenced colonial domestic furniture design: designers, manufacturer's trade catalogues and publisher's subscription magazines. 

When: Thursday 5 September, at 5.15 pm - 6.15pm

Where: the Whare, Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero – Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne Street, Auckland Central Library

HOW TO NOMINATE YOUR HOUSE FOR A HERITAGE LISTING 

Valerie Muir will talk about the history of her house and how she went about getting it listed on the council’s Historic Heritage List. She will be joined by Megan Walker, Built Heritage Specialist of the Heritage Unit, Plans and Places Department, Chief Planning Office, of Auckland Council to talk about the council process of listing a property on its Historic Heritage List. 

 WHEN: Friday 23rd August 2019 at 6.30pm 

WHERE: Remuera Library 

Please RSVP for catering purposes to the library on (09) 520-2532 at the library. 

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

Researching your house history - 

Keith Stuart and James Armstrong from Auckland Council will give a presentation on Council Archives and researching the history of your house, which includes: 

• An overview of Auckland Council Archives 

• Examples of Archives’ series, including rate books and building permit plans 

• Using Auckland Council Archives for information on houses 

• Searching Archives Online 

• Online exhibitions 

• Online indexes / 1908 City of Auckland map 

When: Thursday 11 July 2019 at 6.30pm 

Where: Remuera Library. Please RSVP to 09- 520-2532 at the library.

Light refreshments provided; Members free; non-members $5

Image: Hutchison house at top of Victoria Avenue,1890s. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 7-A1103

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR MARGARET STANLEY, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ON AUCKLAND'S URBAN FOREST - Thursday 13th June 2019  

Despite efforts from Auckland Council to maintain tree protection, amendments to the Resource Management Act in 2015 lifted blanket tree protection in urban areas and removed protection for the vast majority of trees on private urban properties. When considered alongside urban development, threats from pests, diseases and the impacts of climate change, our urban ngahere forest is under threat and needs a special focus. The objective of the council strategy is to have average tree canopy cover of 30 per cent across our urban area, and for all local board areas to have more than 15 per cent canopy cover. The council wants more trees across all of Auckland. How can we save our trees from these threats and development?

Margaret Stanley, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, has broad ecological interests and her research group has covered a menagerie of organisms, from invasive ants, weeds and feral pigs, to urban trees and birds. Her research aims to understand and mitigate the impacts of people on biodiversity, particularly the impacts of invasive species and urban development. 

See - an urban forest for Auckland.

When: Thursday 13th June 2019 at 6.30pm 

Where: Remuera Library, 429 Remuera Road, Remuera

Members free; non-members $5.

REMUERA HERITAGE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - Friday 10th May 2019 at 6.30pm.

 Our speaker will be Mary Donald, Archivist & Oral Historian, talking on the Remuera Heritage oral history programme. 

Come and hear about the oral history project. Mary Donald, archivist and oral historian, interviewed John Stacpoole, Angela Caughey, Beverley Newton, Hal Lawry and Joan Thompson about their memories of Remuera. Their stories are an important part of the social history of Remuera and we will hear snippets of some of their stories.

WHEN:Friday 10th May 2019 at 6.30 pm

WHERE: Remuera Library, with light refreshments

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TILL LATER IN THE YEAR

Peter Cropper will present his book: “The Croppers: Merchants and Engineers", published in 2018. 

His family formed the New Zealand company Neill, Cropper & Co. which was innovative in introducing many new products to New Zealand and was involved with major New Zealand companies over the last 100 years. The Cropper family lived at Te Araroa, 7 St Vincent Avenue, Remuera. 

WHERE: Remuera Library Come and hear this author talk - a joint presentation with Remuera Library and Remuera Heritage

$5.00 for refreshments. 

Please RSVP to the Library or to events@remueraheritage.org.nz 

John and Katherine Strevens wish to invite members of Remuera Heritage to a function on Sunday 31st March from 2.30 pm at their historic listed home “St Ann’s” at 43 Arney Rd Remuera. 

There will be drinks plus sandwiches on the lawn and also the opportunity to look at the main reception rooms of the house. To assist catering requirements and to enable the preparation of name badges in advance, please RSVP to john@strevens.co.nz or at phone 09 5200505 no later than 28th March. 

If you are on our mailing list and are not currently a member, you can join now and your subscription will cover you for the year April 1 2019 to March 2020. To join please contact Stuart Hayman on secremher18@gmail.com or credit $25 for individual or $40 for family to our account 06 0257 0198761 00 with your surname as reference and email your full name and contact details to Stuart. You can check out the details here http://www.remueraheritage.co.nz/become-a-member

Image: St Ann's, Arney Road. 1960s. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 435-C5-51

DR MELS BARTON OF THE TREE COUNCIL ON SAVING AUCKLAND’S NATURAL HERITAGE AND FIGHTING KAURI DIEBACK DISEASE – Thursday 21st March 2019 

An environmental scientist turned coordinator, campaigner, organiser, networker and environmental advocate, Mels works with many community organisations and not-for-profits including The Tree Council, Friends of Regional Parks, Revive Our Gulf and Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand. She is Chair of both the Titirangi Residents & Ratepayers Association and the Combined Waitākere Ranges R&R Group and is a former Trustee of Ecomatters Environment Trust and the Weedfree Trust. She has been the National and Auckland Coordinator of NZAEE Seaweek since 2011 and is a leading member of the Waitākere Rāhui campaign and the Kauri Rescue project team. 

When: Thursday 21st March 2019 at 6.30pm 

Where: Remuera Library, 429 Remuera Road, Remuera

It's Christmas time again, nearly! Celebrate another successful heritage year with us. The Remuera Heritage Christmas party will be held at St Aidan's Church on the corner of Remuera Road and Ascot Avenue Remuera on Sunday afternoon 25th November from 2-4pm. 

Please bring a plate of food to share. A drink will be provided. 

There will be a talk about the stained glass windows, old and new. 

See you there.

AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 29 September – 14 October 2018 

The festival theme this year is Nga Iwi o Tamaki Makaurau – celebrating the heritage of our people and how diverse cultures from all corners of the world have contributed to Auckland’s heritage. 

Remuera Heritage will host two events this year.  

Rob Allen, Professor of Social History, AUT, talks about the Arts and Crafts Movement which originated in England with William Morris. There were many Remuera houses, including Coolangatta, which were influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement in their design in the early 20th century. 

WHERE: Remuera Library, 429 Remuera Rd 

WHEN: Friday 12 October, 7pm

AUCKLAND HERITAGE FESTIVAL 29 September – 14 October 2018 

The festival theme this year is Nga Iwi o Tamaki Makaurau – celebrating the heritage of our people and how diverse cultures from all corners of the world have contributed to Auckland’s heritage. Remuera Heritage will host two events this year.  

Remuera has been home to more than a dozen Chinese Fruiterers since the 1920s. Jack Lum & Co Ltd continues the tradition of providing high quality fruit and vegetables in Remuera. The 2018 publication of "Fruits of our Labours: Chinese Fruit Shops in New Zealand" includes the contributions of these Remuera fruiterers, families and their descendants. 

WHERE: Remuera Library, 429 Remuera Rd 

WHEN: Friday 5 October, 7pm