New home soon for news team

JUST DOORS AWAY: Roger Moroney is looking forward to moving into Hawke's Bay Today's stylish new Napier premises next year. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR HBT134142-02

Hawke's Bay Today's new Napier office - in one of the city's most important heritage buildings - is having finishing touches to its heritage refurbishment completed, ready for the news organisation's move in February.

Senior reporter Roger Moroney said 42 Tennyson St was "just a stone's throw away" from the current office.

"Just three doors down on the other side of the road," he said.

The classic Art Deco-style building was originally built in 1932 for the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company's offices and warehouses.

In 1968, it was converted to State Insurance's offices but a 1980s renovation damaged much of the interior decor.

Building owner Brendan Roberts is making the heritage refurbishment with Napier design architect Graham Weaver.

An important part of the refurbishment has been the seismic strengthening which has been achieved principally with the use of steel bracing with the advantage minimal impact of the internal aesthetics of the building.

Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton said APN was committed to having its staff in the highest standard of buildings possible.

"We are thrilled to be moving to new premises that are functional, stylish and important to Napier's heritage."

The building now provides multiple retail and office spaces, with tenants Forsyth Barr already home upstairs.

The facade of the building has had a colour change to emphasise its classical lines.

Permission was granted by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust to alter the four ground floor Tennyson St windows, where branded canvas window canopies for retail tenants will be added.

Bayleys agent James Haggerty said the building was already on the Art Deco heritage walk and would become a must-see for visitors to Napier.