Media Release
August 13, 2009

Waitakere supports heritage projects

Researching the history of taonga in a marae and repainting an old church are among projects to receive a boost from the Waitakere City Council Heritage Fund.

Seven applicants have been successful in the 2008/09 funding round with the value of works totalling $32,382.70.

The fund has a pool of $50,000 to assist local museums, owners of heritage buildings, archaeological sites and heritage trees and marae to carry out heritage-related projects with grants of up to $4,000.

The money can be used education programmes, physical works, refunding building consent fees and specialist care of artefacts.

The recipients of the 2008/09 Waitakere City Council Heritage Fund are:
• Huia Settlers Museum Inc ($2,750) – to assist with concept plans and drawings to extend the museum building;
• Lisa Smith ($4,610) – to research and write an information brochure on the history and taonga in Te Mahanahana Marae in Massey;
• The Falls Preservation Trust ($3,526.80) – to assist with extending The Falls Hotel to enable it to host larger functions;
• St Mark’s Anglican Church ($4,693.50) – to repaint exterior of the church and replace windows;
• C E Hebben ($5,050) to paint a historically-significant Glen Eden house. The Category II listed home was built by William Levy, an early settler in Glen Eden who planted many of the established avenue trees at Waikumete Cemetery.
• West Auckland Historical Society ($4,000) – to erect a series of murals on parking retaining wall depicting historic sites of the West to attract interest in the 160 year old Mill Cottage. Other scenes could acknowledge the historical industries of Waitakere including timber milling, brick making, gum digging and wineries.
• Henderson Heritage Trust ($7752.40) – to cover consent costs related to restoration of St Michael’s Old Church.

Chair of the council’s Heritage Fund Allocation Sub-Committee, Councillor Judy Lawley says been surprised by the low number of applications to the fund last year.

“The previous $4,000 cap may have stopped some groups even applying because the cost of their particular project exceeded that amount.”

In July the council’s Culture and Community Committee agreed to amend the policy and guidelines to immediately remove the cap for applications to the 2008/09 round apply it to all future applications to the fund.

“This fund is just one way the council is fulfilling its heritage strategy and action plan which is to enable residents to value heritage features and to preserve them for future generations to enjoy,” says Cr Lawley.

ENDS

© Scoop Media