The owner of Takapau's Oruawharo Homestead (above) will be attending the gathering today. Photo / Supplied
The owner of Takapau's Oruawharo Homestead (above) will be attending the gathering today. Photo / Supplied
Owners of historic homes, including three from Hawke's Bay, are meeting with Heritage New Zealand officials in Marton today to talk about preservation and tourism.
About 20 owners of historic homes from around the country will be at the Maungaraupi Country Homestead for an event that is the first ofits kind in New Zealand.
From the Hawke's Bay region, owners of the Gwavas, Ashcott and Oruawharo homesteads are attending, as well as homeowners from Murchison and Wairarapa.
Graeme Tolhopf, who owns Maungaraupi Homestead and is the event organiser, said the day was about promoting the heritage side of historic homesteads in New Zealand as much as the possibility of more tourism.
"We're getting these owners together as a group and we're going to have a chat about how we can best preserve these homes.
"There are one or two homesteads that are falling into a state of disrepair and this is just a gathering of everybody to see what we can do to keep them functioning."
Heritage NZ says it will be looking at how it can partner with owners and promote greater appreciation of properties for the future. Photo / Supplied
Mr Tolhopf likened historic homesteads to an old car, saying they needed constant attention to keep them going.
"Individually everyone has a website, but as a group we're far more effective and that's where Heritage NZ fits into the picture."
"In Hawke's Bay, where I lived for a while, you've got the wine trail which is great – but we want to do a heritage trail.
"I don't drink wine so the wine trail doesn't interest me but the heritage homes are stunning and we've got some great ones right here on our doorstep," Tolhopf said.
"A year ago me and about 12 other people came down here for a three-day holiday that I organised. Well, we went through eight of these gorgeous homes and all came away saying this is the best three days we've ever spent."
The central region outreach adviser for Heritage NZ, David Watt, said he would be attending the event today.
Mr Watt said Heritage NZ already has a lot of contact with the homeowners, but this is "a bit of a get together for the first time of significant heritage property owners".
"We're just going to find ways that they can reach out, get more exposure of their properties, what they can get from that in terms of appreciation of heritage and perhaps look at formally what steps can be taken to establish a heritage trail."
Mr Watt said the topic of insurance would be on the agenda today.
"Since the Christchurch and Kaikoura quakes, renewing insurance on listed heritage properties is a very significant issue, so we're going to have discussions with a heritage property broker [today]too."
