A group of 30 people including Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Board Chair Marian Hobbs, Māori Heritage Council chair Sir John Clarke, Lady Kathy Clarke, and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Chief Executive Andrew Coleman, were treated to an enjoyable afternoon at Homewood in Karori, Wellington, on 13 February.  

Homewood was adapted from  an 1847 house believed to be one of the oldest surviving examples of domestic architecture in Wellington. In the early 20th century it was expanded to become a large ‘gentleman’s residence’ for its wealthy middle class owners. Homewood has been associated with a succession of leading figures in the legal, political, commercial, social and diplomatic life in Wellington and Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Homewood was purchased by the British Government in the late 1950s and it has remained the residence of the British High Commissioner to Aotearoa New Zealand since that time.  

At the event, Commission staff spoke about its history, and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Central Region Director, Jamie Jacobs, spoke about our involvement with Homewood. This included giving  advice on conservation and strengthening, and also on developing events with the Commission.  

Our members also had the opportunity recently to tour Historic Woodbourne Farm in Blenheim. 

Since 1849 only three families have been involved with Woodbourne Farm located near the Marlborough airport.  The Godrey family initially until 1907, then the Fairhall family  to 1946 and the Walsh family since the end of WWII, currently farmed by John and Lynne Walsh.   

Our members were treated to a wonderful tour by John visiting the history of early farming and machinery, the 1928 take-off site for Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith in the Southern Cross back to Australia, and the remnants of the Royal New Zealand Airforce satellite air training facilities, where pilots training for the defence of the capital and WWII action in the Pacific, were based.  

The historic homestead at Woodbourne Farm was taken over by the Royal New Zealand Airforce at the start of WWII to house the more senior pilots. Other pilots and technicians were housed on tree covered land with their aircraft that were also under cover nearby away from possible aerial spotting.  

All the history that the Walsh family has gathered and displayed at the farm since that time, and the farm activities today, including wine growing and deer farming were all there for members to view. 

Our programme of member-exclusive events are a popular membership benefit, that are well attended and received, and we appreciate and enjoy the opportunity to work with property owners to deliver them.