By Rosemary Baird

With fondness, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga staff remember Alexander Reko (known as Mick) Hesselin, long-time Southland heritage advocate and architect, who passed away 21 December 2022.

Mick was a descendant of the Māori chief Reko, who in 1853 guided the first European, farmer Nathaniel Chalmers to Wānaka. His passion for heritage and architecture was ignited when, as a young child he visited the old wooden house his grandmother had lived in. He moved to Invercargill with his family, aged thirteen, which signalled the start of a decades-long love for the city.

On leaving school, Mick trained as an architectural cadet with the Southland Education Board, and soon began studying architecture at night. By the 1970s he was fully qualified and back in Southland, working at Ford, Gray and Derbie Architects. Mick was a founding member of the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, the predecessor of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga. He was a passionate advocate for heritage and worked on many listed buildings including Yule House and Anderson House.

Mick was always generous with his knowledge. Acting Area Manager Otago/Southland, Sarah Gallagher recalls, “He was a wonderfully knowledgeable man. I have an abiding memory of him excitedly driving me around Invercargill to see some of his favourite buildings and then sharing lunch at the Botanic Gardens tearooms which he loved.”

For years, Mick also led walking tours of Invercargill’s Esk Street heritage buildings as part of Southland Heritage Month. When the buildings were slated for demolition in 2018, Mick’s stories and tours were filmed in The Last Tour. With his usual zest and humour, Mick’s tales bring the characters and social history of Invercargill’s history to life.

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Chief Executive Andrew Coleman attended Mick’s memorial service in Invercargill. “Southland and New Zealand heritage has lost a dedicated, active and committed person – Mick will be missed,” says Andrew.