Native land court building gains further reprieve

The Environment Court has again declined consent for UCOL and Te Puna Matauranga o Whanganui to demolish the former Native Land Court building at the corner of Wanganui's Rutland St and Market Pl.

The 1922 building has Category 1 registration with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (HPT). It's said to be the only purpose-built Native Land Court in New Zealand still standing. It's also in the city's Old Town, where consent is needed to demolish heritage buildings.

The demolition was opposed by the HPT. The court's judgement said the building could be adapted for re-use, but not pulled down.

That decision has implications for other heritage buildings in the city, should their owners apply for consent to demolish, Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust chairwoman Wendy Pettigrew said.

UCOL bought the building when the polytech relocated to the Old Town area, intending to demolish it and use the site.

Its first application to demolish was in 2008, when a Wanganui District Council hearing panel declined consent.

The polytech appealed the decision, which was then heard in the Environment Court in late 2009 and early 2010. At that time there was no plan to build on the site.

John Maihi, speaking for Te Puna Matauranga at the time, said the Native Land Court site was critical to Whanganui Maori making a truly Whanganui statement in the Old Town area.

"This precinct is steeped in Whanganui history and heritage, and the link of the site with Pakaitore/Moutoa Gardens and the Whanganui River is critical to putting this imbalance right." Consent was declined that time partly because no replacement building was planned.

The most recent application included plans for a replacement building, to be used for Maori tertiary education. It again had the support of Te Puna Matauranga.