Anger over plans to demolish historic Native Land Court building

By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
A LOCAL historic building enthusiast is so angry over UCOL's plans to demolish an old building in the town centre, he wants to buy the building himself in order to save it.
UCOL plans to pull down the Native Land Court building on the corner of Rutland St and Market Pl to create a green-space for its new Taupo Quay campus, due to open in February 2008.
It said the building, dating from 1922, was unusable and a safety risk.
But Ross Mitchell-Anyon said UCOL's decision was "outrageous".
"This is one of the first court buildings to be built in Wanganui, and it's got a great story behind it."
The site originally had a two-storey hotel on it, which burned down in 1891. The architects and builders of the current building were unaware the site had an underground cellar, which caused considerable subsidence and cracking.
Mr Mitchell-Anyon said the building had particular significance in light of its close proximity to Pakaitore, or Moutoa Gardens.
"Here we've got a Maori land court right next to one of the most hotly-contested pieces of Maori land in New Zealand."
Mr Mitchell-Anyon said if UCOL didn't want the building, they should pass it on to someone who does.
"If UCOL want to sell me that building at a reasonable price, I'll buy it. I'm disappointed in UCOL. It's a poor show."
Shane McGhie, principal planner at the Wanganui District Council, said the building was part of the old town conservation overlay zone.
This means the building cannot be demolished without resource consent.
"So far we haven't received a resource consent application from UCOL. But if they pull it down without consent that's illegal."