Restoration work well in hand

The owner of 60 Ridgway St has spoken out to answer critics over the work being done on the Wanganui building.
Graham Fisher, chief executive of Fisher Group Properties, says all the renovations his firm have commissioned will be a benefit to the building and the city.
"Our work hasn't been one of replacement, but of restoration. The original structure remains unchanged. We have literally given it a facelift. And we have employed Wanganui trades people to do all the work," Fisher told the Chronicle during a tour.
"When we bought it three years ago, birds had moved in, the roof was leaking and the building was wasting $4000 worth of water each year through broken plumbing. It was uninhabitable, on its last legs. We've given it a new lease of life," Fisher said.
"We wanted retain the characteristic features but bring the building up to contemporary standards of quality.
"We have gone to great lengths to restore features such as the rimu skirting and framing, brass window fittings, matai timber floors and original ceiling moulds to their former glory.
"For the most part we have been re-plastering and re-painting, sanding and cleaning, fitting new carpet and lino.
"The bathrooms have been redecorated and updated, with the installation of new toilets, wash basins and flushes, while the original tiling and characteristic style has been retained. Most importantly we have updated the electrical system, fitted new lighting and installed heat pumps and air conditioning throughout the building," he said.
The firm has completed work on the top and ground floors, while they await direction from a potential tenant for the specifications of the first floor renovations.
The only significant alteration, says Fisher, is the installation of a canopied second street entrance to the empty 50sq m ground floor space.
Though this changes the building's characteristic frontage, they are retaining the marble paneling - the most noteworthy design feature.
Sourced in Hanmer Springs in the South Island, the marble panels was the very last shipment from the site before it closed down in 1939.
"We have been extremely careful not to interfere with the original marble panels.
"Even on the new entranceway we have made sure our alterations to the concrete work has not damaged or changed the marble design," said Hughes.
Fisher plans to lease the whole building, the upper floors preferably to professional organisations with reasonably sized staff teams, while the ground floor space would be ideal for a retailer he says.
MAF is housed on the top floor, alongside New Zealand Food Safety Authority. NZ Post also continues to lease the ground floor unit.