YOUR LOCAL NEWS

That bright house on the front page is a rebellion of sorts.

But it stands against more than muted colours; the trendy greys and browns that wash easily past our eyes beyond our car windows.

It stands against what many New Zealanders believe to be a principle of responsible homeownership: their home’s saleability.

The less offensive the colour scheme, the more it will appeal to a wider audience and help its value. That’s the family bread and butter. The inheritance for the kids.

And for a lot of people, this has worked for generations.

Morten Gjerde, who heads the school of architecture at Victoria University, thinks there might even be a strong correlation between financial affluence and a lack of personal expression when it comes to picking out house colours.

Body corporate control often comes into play. What’s appropriate or not is up to the individuals and the community to determine.

Here, it’s nice to see people enjoying a bit of freedom.

- Senior Reporter Jared Nicoll NEWS TIPS: Jared Nicoll 04 474 0519 e: jared.nicoll@stuff.co.nz NEWS DIRECTOR: Sharron Pardoe 04 474 0165 e: editor@kmananews.co.nz LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: editor@kmananews.co.nz SALESMANAGER: Jason Radovanovich 027 278 7291 e: jason.radovanovich@stuff.co.nz CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: 04 473 9999 e: WellingtonClassifieds@stuff.co.nz DISPLAY & DIGITAL ADVERTISING: Karla Magill 027 404 7270 e: karla.magill@stuff.co.nz DELIVERY INQUIRIES: 04 237 8118 e: fixmydelivery.co.nz PICK UP YOUR KAPI-MANA NEWS AT: Pa¯takaMuseum, Porirua Library, Tawa Library, Whitby Mall, the information desk at North City Mall