Noun : oculus, plural noun : oculi Meaning: A round or eyelike opening or design, OCULUS in par�cular June 2020 Historic Places Aotearoa President James Blackburne It has been a turbulent time for the country over the past few months and no doubt things will remain some what fluid for the foreseeable future. For many of us, the lock down has meant a change in the way we all operate and for many heritage organisations we have not been able to connect with our members. Over the coming years domestic tourism is likely to boom and this will provide an opportunity for local heritage tourism as many people will be looking for things to do as they travel around. This will provide an opportunity to tell the stories of your place to the people of Aotearoa. The Executive is concerned that the governments desire to fast track projects around the country will place heritage at a greater risk. We will be lobbying government about this and ask that you also contact you local MP's and advocate for our heritage to be protected in any new legislation. The conference date and location has been set, so please put the weekend of the 17th and 18th October in your dairies and start planning for a trip to Whanganui. More details on the planned events and speakers will be released over the coming months as they come to hand. Architectural Term Doric: The Doric order, the earliest type of classical Greek architecture, has a simple yet powerful capital design. Wikipedia: Original source was an engraving from A. Rosengarten, A Handbook of Architectural Styles, NY, 1898 New Year Honours 2020 “To be a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: CRIGHTON, Dr Anna Louisa de Launey, QSO, JP” “For services to heritage preservation and governance” Dame Anna Crighton was the founding President of Historic Places Aotearoa. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 8 June 2020 Annual Conference of Historic Places Aotearoa Sat 17th October 2020 “Our Heritage Visible, Valuable and Protected for Future Generations” We are pleased to invite you to Historic Places Aotearoa Annual Conference on Saturday 17th October 2020 in Whanganui, one of New Zealand’s most significant heritage cities. Historic Places Aotearoa (HPA) represents a nationwide network of independent heritage organisations and is an important voice for heritage. Our Patron is Dame Anne Salmon. We expect to hold welcoming drinks at NZ Glassworks on Friday 16th and a dinner on Saturday evening, with the possibility of tours to heritage points of interest, on Sunday morning. The Conference is hosted by the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust Board in partnership with HPA and invitations will go to heritage organisations, the Ministry for Heritage, relevant Government Ministers and heritage portfolio holders in central and local governement. Heritage representatives from the Whanganui District Council will also attend.!! ! This Conference is an opportunity to connect grass-roots heritage organisations throughout NZ with policy-makers and Heritage NZ in a relaxed setting, for better heritage outcomes. Key discussion points will include strategies to make our heritage “Visible, Valuable and Protected”. HPA has developed a comprehensive plan of initiatives that will assist New Zeland’s heritage become an incredible asset for future generations. Through projects that raise the profile of heritage, HPA is keen to work with you to form an effective partnership. This conference is a mechanism to discuss and share ideas together. Together we can make a real difference. Full details of the Conference will be forwarded in due course. Please feel free to contact me on [email protected], Ph 021 1030737 if you have any questions. Yours sincerely Helen Craig Trustee Conference Coordinator HPA Executive PS: Air routes should include Air New Zealand flights to Palmerston North from throughout the country, and a one-hour drive to Whanganui. Direct flights between Auckland and Whanganui should be available with Air Chathams. Premier accommodation is available at Aotea Motor Lodge. Early bookings are recommended. ! ! “We have already received confirmation that Heritage New Zealand will attend this event in strength, including their Chief Executive Andrew Coleman, Board Chair Hon Marian Hobbs and HPA Patron, Dame Anne Salmon.We would expect Government Ministers with related portfolios to also attend.” Helen Craig (text form email) New Zealand Heritage “Blue” Plaque Update One new Plaque at Kurow, five ordered for Timaru and five more planned for Ashburton After another successful year delivering five more Blue Heritage Plaques for Mid Canterbury, HPMC are looking at doing a further five plaques within the region this year. The South Canterbury Historical Society (an HPA Associate member) and the Timaru Civic Trust have also ‘picked up the baton’ and are progressing the Blue Plaque initiative in South Canterbury, with the first five Blue Plaques currently on order and due to be placed on five heritage buildings in Timaru in the first half of 2020. We also had an enquiry from the 87 year-old Grandson of Kurow’s first resident Doctor, who contacted us from the UK, where he resides, to see if we could produce a Blue Plaque to go on the original Doctor’s House in this tiny, but historic North Otago township. This house was later occupied by Dr D. G. McMilan, who, along with Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer and local Headmaster Mr A. M. Davidson (known as the ‘Three Wise Men’ of Kurow), met regularly in this house to develop what was eventually to become New Zealand’s ground-breaking Social Security system which was introduced when the first Labour government came to power in 1935. An earlier plaque on the site, which was produced by the North Otago branch of the former NZ Historic Places Trust neglected to mention the Kurow’s first resident Doctor, whom the house was originally built for. The wording on the replacement plaque now includes reference to the original date and purpose of this modest little (unlisted) 1893 Oamaru Stone bungalow. The new plaque was placed on an existing plinth outside the Doctor’s House (now a private residence) in January 2020. During the course of the research for this building, we also uncovered the original architectural drawings of the Doctor’s house which revealed that it was designed by the renowned architect John Megget Forrester, son of Thomas Forrester (of Forrester & Lemon fame) and the architect of the Oamaru Opera House. Government Announcements for Heritage: Budget 2020 Government Announcements for Heritage 2020 25 May 2020 Up to $70m for upgrades of marae, town halls, Pasifika churches and war memorials. The funding is expected to create hundreds of jobs throughout the country. “Renovating these buildings will provide work for local tradies and contractors while regular building and repair work is on hold. It is an opportunity to target Māori, Pasifika and other vulnerable workers who are not able to secure contracts through more substantial infrastructure projects. Funding of $70m will cover salaries and construction costs for these projects,” Shane Jones said. EARLY MAY 2020 Budget 2020 Announcement: Mātauranga Māori • $20 million over two years for mātauranga Māori initiatives to support iwi, hapū, whānau and Māori communities with projects that will protect their mātauranga and taonga from the impact and ongoing threat of COVID-19. Discussions to refine the details of the funding will take place with participating agencies, iwi and Māori communities post-budget. Final details on how to access funding will be available in September 2020. Annual Budget The annual Budget 2020 includes: • $3.1 million to Heritage EQUIP to support seismic strengthening of heritage buildings • $6 million to address Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga cost pressures • $250,000 to investigate the seismic upgrade and refurbishment of Turnbull House. Note $6 million was included in the subsequent $11. Announcement. See following HNZ PT Media Release. 7 April 2020 Reintroduction of building depreciation for Earthquake Strengthening See the following HPA Media Release on Depreciation for Earthquake Strengthening HNZPT to Receive$11.364 million This includes the $6 million and $250,000 Turnball Library Budget 2020 annoncements. See the following HNZPT Media Release. Budget 2020: HPZPT Media Release 1st June Budget 2020 funding allocations a huge boost Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is delighted with the Government’s continued commitment to heritage in Budget 2020 and last Thursday’s cultural recovery package announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Jacinda Ardern. The country’s lead heritage agency receives $11.364 million in support to recover from the impact of COVID-19. This total includes the $6 million allocation announced in the Budget on 14 May to help ease financial pressures arising from increased insurance, information technology, property management, accommodation and staffing costs, and prepare a business case for the seismic upgrade and refurbishment of the Category 1 listed Turnbull House in Wellington. “The cultural sector was amongst the worst hit by the global pandemic,” the Prime Minister said at Te Papa in Wellington last Thursday. “Museums, galleries and heritage sites closed, and individual artists and arts organisations like dance and theatre companies saw their incomes decimated almost overnight. “Funding announced today will help them get back on their feet. New jobs will be created, and the sector will innovate and connect with new audiences.” The funding is a huge boost for Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga to continue its ongoing management and development of the visitor experience to nationally important heritage properties it cares for on behalf of the nation, says Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Chief Executive, Andrew Coleman. “The confidence and support from the Government reflects our standing as this country’s lead heritage agency and the commitment and expertise our staff have in continually achieving positive opportunities and outcomes for heritage,” says Mr Coleman.