Hundreds Stairway to heaven at Oriental Parade for sale farewell radio host
Justin du Fresne was a professional to the end - farewelled at a funeral on Monday that the ‘‘disciplined’’ broadcaster helped organise himself.
More than 400 people filled St Patrick’s Church in Paraparaumu for the funeral of the man who hosted the morning show on Newstalk ZB Wellington for decades.
Columnist Karl du Fresne said his older brother was an organised, disciplined man who, in his final weeks, was realistic about facing death.
‘‘When he realised that he didn’t have much time left, he gave precise instructions about how his funeral was to be conducted,’’ he said.
Justin du Fresne, 74, was at home with family on the Kapiti Coast when he died, from cancer, early on Thursday.
He was gentle, patient, funny and he was brave, Karl du Fresne said.
‘‘Especially in his last weeks when his body failed him and we could see him growing weaker by the day.’’
Justin du Fresne’s broadcasting career covered more than 50 years.
He never quite retired, Karl du Fresne said, recording his last voice-over for an ad only a few weeks before his death.
The broadcaster had ‘‘immense loyalty’’ from his listeners - with an outpouring of ‘‘public affection’’ after his death.
If anyone wanted to see the number of lives Justin du Fresne touched then ‘‘just look around’’ at the full church, his brother said. A home with ‘‘a rich kind of personality’’ in the dress circle high above Oriental Bay is up for auction.
The property, at 224 Oriental Parade, is described by Harcourts agent Jane Park as ‘‘one of Wellington’s most confident and seriously playful homes’’.
While only 20 minutes walk to the centre of town, the home felt like a private beachside sanctuary, she said. It incorporated three key elements: a ‘‘ziggurat of terraced living caves’’, an ‘‘expansive glass and steel living area’’ for uninterrupted ocean views, and a formal garden with a lawn ‘‘big enough for cricket’’.
The 280-square metre residence, which has the option of a selfcontained apartment, is on a steep 479sqm section with a flat lawn, walk-up access and consent to add a car deck for dual access off Hay St.
Christopher Kelly Architecture Workshop
designed the architecturally crafted building.
‘‘The dwelling forms its spaces around a formal lawn, a large outdoor room and the existing steeply sloping coastal vegetation.
‘‘Access direct from the beach is up a lane way next to Broadwater Apartments, the old concrete steps taking you up behind the street front, removed from the traffic and bustle of Oriental Parade.
‘‘You notice differing vistas of the sea as you rise up through the building.
‘‘Right in the middle of the city, here is solitude, cabbage trees, tui and the sound of the lapping waves as you fall asleep at night.
‘‘Enjoy the retreat with the last of the day’s sun sparkling off the harbour.’’ of
Architect Sam Kebbell, who lived in the home for five years, said its design responded well to the hillside, the extraordinary view, and the urban environment.
‘‘An extraordinary example of a highly tectonic approach to construction and composition.’’
Kebbell praised Kelly’s design skills for ‘‘making an art form out of construction by beautifully separating elements where he can’’ to allow the space to breathe.
The house had an ‘‘incredibly complex; a rich kind of personality – one that continues to reveal nuances over time. I’ve lived upstairs over five years ... but every time I come here I find something new. It continues to unfold.’’
According to the Real Estate Institute, Wellington house prices were up about 13 per cent in July compared with a year ago.