By David Watt

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga extends congratulations to well-known Palmerston North retired architect, David Chapple, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the New Year Honours List, for services to the community and to heritage preservation.

David, who retired after over 50 years of service in the Manawatū, has had a long working relationship with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as it was formerly known, now Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. He continues to work with staff on heritage conservation work, in particular, on the historic Hoffman Kiln, a category 1 listed building, which has a heritage order for its protection.

David was a good friend of the late Jim Lundy, also closely associated with the former New Zealand Historic Places Trust and former Trust Manawatū Branch Committee, and author of a book on the history of the Hoffman Kiln, ‘Nine thousand bricks a day’. Jim was concerned to make sure there was someone to look after the kiln for him and David felt a duty to honour that request as a kiln trustee and volunteer worker.

David was a member of the local Historic Places Trust Regional Committee as it was first known, and the Manawatū Branch Committee of the Trust for over 25 years, serving as its chairman on two occasions. He has continued as a member of the now independent Historic Places Manawatū-Horowheua committee.

He has provided outstanding leadership on the conservation of many churches in the Manawatū and elsewhere, and was for several years property manager for the Anglican Archdiocese of Wellington. He continues to work with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga on Anglican Church properties.

A Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and a Palmerston North Civic Award holder, David has been closely involved in several civic projects, including serving on the trust board of the historic Caccia Birch House and leading a working party hearing community views on the redevelopment of Te Marae o Hine – The Square, prior to its makeover.

His church conservation work has included the 106 year old All Saints Church in Palmerston North and seismic work on St Paul’s Cathedral in Wellington, additions to St John’s Church in Feilding and the blending of Māori and European styles at St Michael’s in Highbury. He was part of the team that secured heritage status many years ago for Palmerston North’s premier theatre, the Regent, on Broadway.

David has been a member of the Rotary Club of Awapuni for 45 years and is a Past President. The club has made huge contributions to the well-being of the city, including environmental enhancement projects and assistance for those with health issues in the community. He was a one of the founders of Palmerston North’s first Menzshed which he chairs.

Through his Rotary Club, David has been working hard to obtain support from businesses and wider community organisations for the continued conservation and protection of the Hoffman Kiln. His leadership in this direction is warmly appreciated.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga looks forward to continuing to work with David on conservation projects that are close to his heart.