An argument over retaining the architectural record of the post World War II growth of Tauranga from a fishing village into a major provincial centre is likely to be decided in the Environment Court.

The Historic Places Trust is currently appealing a decision by Tauranga City Council to remove a number of buildings in the city from the heritage list allowing the owners to demolish and rebuild.

The Public Trust building on Grey Street in the central city.

The buildings under contention include the former Post Office on the corner of Spring and Grey Streets; the former Public Trust building, now Rydall House at 29 Grey Street; the former NZI building at 57 Spring Street; and the former Tauranga Electric Power Board building at 69 Spring Street.

The buildings were built in central Tauranga to house major public functions, like the Public Trust, the Power Board, and NZI.

From a Historic Places Trust point of view it gives the buildings high significance for the group values.

The HPT stepped in about 18 months ago after the City Council Hearings panel took the buildings off the heritage list, a move allowing the owners to demolish and rebuild.

'The hearings panel made a decision based on the information that they had at the time,” says TCC environmental policy manager Andy Ralph.

'The HPT didn't agree with that decision so they appealed. We are in the process of negotiations with the building owners and the HPT. We are still in that process, but probably at this point in time it's likely to go to a court hearing.

'The council has been trying to sort it out. The HPT won't let it go. We'll have to negotiate an agreed outcome or the court will do it for us.”

HPT hired an independent expert to assess the buildings who is of the opinion the historic buildings should be protected.

'That's the difference between where we were two years ago and where we are now. It's not as black and white as one person, one building owner is protesting and I don't think he understands the court process about evidence.

'The court is not going to be persuaded by newspaper articles. It is going to be about evidence and the only evidence is in the report.”

Barrie Harnett purchased the former Tauranga Electric Power Board building for $5million in April 2010 with a view to demolishing and rebuilding. He expressed his frustration in the media this week.

If the building is listed he won't be able to demolish and rebuild. He will have to earthquake strengthen the building and refit with considerable HTP input.

He has since applied to the council to demolish the building.

The Resource Management Act requires a consent authority to issue a decision on a Certficate of Compliance application within 20 working days. The council is required by the RMA to issue the decision based on the current operative rules.

'There's not just one side to this,” says Andy.

'I know the building owner has gone public out of frustration, but there are other sides to it. HPT have got a view and I respect their view to advocate for historic buildings, and we have an independent person, who has provided information for everybody that the original council hearing didn't really have. I think the game has changed a bit.”

The report states the post office building has moderate architectural values as a good example of the stripped classical style of high quality design, described as functional using good quality construction techniques and materials.
Apart from the Post Office, the building on the corner of Grey and Spring Streets also housed the regional offices of other important government department and has a high level of historic significance according to the HPT.

The building also has a high level of cultural significance as the regional focus of private and public communications activities for over 50 years.

The recommendation is that the former Post Office be listed as category B, of regional importance as the first purpose built Post Office in Tauranga, as one of a group of substantial mid 20th Century office buildings in central Tauranga and as a good example of the inter-war stripped classical style.

The former Public Trust Building is the first purpose built Public Trust Office in Tauranga. The Public Trust was the first institution of its type in the world and became a prototype for similar institutions in countries such as England, Canada and Australia.

It is designed by nationally acclaimed Wellington architect, Stanley Fearn, who has his surname incorrectly spelled Fearne on the building plaque.

Stanley designed many Public Trust offices throughout New Zealand and the Tauranga building is likely to be representative of his work indicating a high level of significance.

The Public Trust building has moderate architectural values as a good example of a transition between Modern Movement architectural styles and the formerly popular Classicism of inter-war Chicagoesque, as well as an example of Stanley Fearn's work.

The interior of the building uses very high quality materials such as marble, granite, terrazzo and tiles. It is recommended for a B listing, as is the former NZI House in Spring Street.

It is presumed to be the first purpose built New Zealand Insurance Office in Tauranga. As such it has a high level of rarity.

It's a typical NZI design prepared, usually, by nationally acclaimed architects Gummer and Ford.

The bronze clad columns appear in all NZI offices designed under this aegis, in which case, the Tauranga building is likely to be highly representative of his work indicating a high level of significance.
The NZI building has moderate architectural values as a good example of the Modern Movement corporate style of the NZI, which was applied throughout New Zealand. At least two other two other post-war NZI buildings are listed on City Plans or registered by the Historic Places Trust; in Nelson and Palmerston North.

The Tauranga Electric Power Board Office in Tauranga has a high level of rarity because of its history as the purpose built office of Tauranga's own electrical generation company. The building is considered a good representative example of Modern Movement design, and as such has a high level of significance. It is regarded as a good local example of the work of local architect N J Jenkins, and is recommended for a C listing.

The HPT is also recommending the remains of the cargo shed of Dive Crescent receive a C listing, and the whare waka on The Strand also receive a C listing.

'Tauranga's historic buildings are an important part of the character and heritage of this city,” says NZ Historic Places Trust's lower northern area manager Fiona Low.

'The NZHPT works with a wide range of owners of heritage buildings and structures in Tauranga and around the country who want these places to have ‘new lives'.”

The HPT takes a solutions-based approach to adaptive re-use, taking into account the heritage values of the place, says Fiona.

This results in some exciting and creative solutions that enable heritage buildings and other structures to survive and go forward into the future, making positive contributions to communities.