Board wants say in single-entity status proposal

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Wanganui Collegiate School's board chairman Brodie Stevens supports Heritage New Zealand's proposal to give the school complex category 1 heritage status.

But he wants to ensure any such move does not restrict future building alterations which do not affect the character of the school.

"From the college board's point of view, we've had some brief discussions on it. We've got to be practical about these things," he said.

The board was keen to have some input to the decision.

"My personal view is it's a good thing - there's a lot of history in these buildings. I think the reason they're interested is the type of architecture."

Heritage New Zealand is reviewing Collegiate's status and public submissions on the proposal close on Friday.

There are seven separate Collegiate buildings recognised by Heritage New Zealand, including the Old School, Grey, Hadfield and Marris houses, the chapel, the cricket pavilion and the toilet quarters.

The proposal is to group the seven separate entries on the heritage list into one encompassing the Wanganui Collegiate School complex which is bordered by London, Grey, Liverpool and Glasgow streets.

Heritage New Zealand adviser Alison Dangerfield said the Collegiate complex had outstanding historical, cultural, social and architectural value which warranted consideration for category 1 recognition.