World leading heritage advocate visiting NZ

8 November 2010

MEDIA RELEASE

World leading heritage advocate visiting New Zealand

Internationally acclaimed and respected heritage consultant Donovan Rypkema will be visiting New Zealand from 11-20 November to discuss the revitalisation and reuse of heritage buildings.

Mr Rypkema is president of Heritage Strategies International which was established in 2004. This is a companion firm to PlaceEconomics, a real estate and economic development company based in Washington DC. PlaceEconomics assists the public and non-profit sector on commercial revitalisation and the reuse of heritage buildings. Heritage Strategies International was formed to provide similar services worldwide.

Mr Rypkema will be speaking in:

• Wellington on 17 November, ‘New Futures: Rethinking heritage buildings in New Zealand’s urban places’ seminar, Hunter Building, Victoria University, 9am-3.30pm
• Christchurch on 18 November, a workshop at the Town Hall, 1-5pm
• Dunedin on 19 November, a public talk in the main chamber of the former BNZ building, 205 Princes Street, 5.30-7pm.

For more details, and to register, please go to the NZHPT’s website www.historic.org.nz

NZHPT Chief Executive Bruce Chapman said Mr Rypkema’s visit coincided with an increased awareness and appreciation for heritage places in New Zealand.

“There is also a much greater appreciation of the fact that for our significant heritage places to survive and be appreciated by future generations, they need planning policies that encourage their ongoing use and maintenance,” Mr Chapman said.

“Mr Rypkema’s visit will provide a welcome opportunity to discuss the types of planning policies that were most likely to be successful and his perspectives would be of interest to any professionals with interests in this area.”

Mr Rypkema has a Masters Degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. His specific fields of consultation include feasibility analyses for real estate development, training in community based development, economic revitalisation of city centres and the adaptive reuse of historic structures.

Mr Rypkema’s publications include the Feasibility Assessment Manual for Reusing Historic Buildings (2007) and The Economics of Historic Preservation: A Community Leader’s Guide (second edition, 2005). On an international level he has worked in 40 countries including with business leaders in Japan, Thailand, Russia, and China and spoken at conferences in Australia, Canada and Spain.

This is his first visit to New Zealand.

ends

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