Karori campus deal faces further hurdle

The stoush over the future of Karori Campus continues, with Wellington City Council attempting to suspend the process to make it a heritage site.

The former teachers’ college looked destined to become a retirement village after it was bought from Victoria University by Ryman Healthcare last year.

At Ryman’s request, Heritage New Zealand has extended the submission period to give people more time to consider the heritage listing proposal.

But the council wants to suspend the process entirely so it can be part of a collaborative ‘‘masterplan’’.

A letter from council chief executive Kevin Lavery to Heritage New Zealand central region director Jamie Jacobs says the council wants the organisation to suspend its process.

That would enable ‘‘the establishment of a collaborative partnership’’ between Heritage New Zealand, Ryman and the council.

Lavery asks for an ‘‘integrated and collaborative masterplan approach’’.

‘‘The outcomes of this will be the protection and appropriate utilisation of important buildings on the site, while at the same time identifying areas of the site where Ryman can implement and develop their property as a full-service retirement village.’’

A letter from Wellington Mayor Justin Lester to the Wellington Architectural Centre last month said the council was reserving judgment on the heritage order. He wanted a ‘‘genuine partnership’’ between Ryman, Heritage New Zealand and the community.

Jacobs said Heritage New Zealand was always open to finding collaborative solutions for heritage conservation.

Heritage listing would not mean automatic protection of the campus, nor create legal obligations on Ryman.

Karori Campus Group spokesman Richard Bentley, who advocated for the land to stay in public hands, said: ‘‘The issue about what happens to the buildings is only marginally affected by if they’re listed, or not.

‘‘Listing doesn’t

A submission from the architectural centre suggests that the listing process would not prevent a collaborative partnership..

‘‘The listing process is an evaluation of the heritage merit of the site, and must be independent of plans for site development.

‘‘We consider this complex and site to be of extreme significance in New Zealand and support all measures to recognise and protect it.’’

Submissions to Heritage New Zealand about the heritage listing proposal were to close on March 23. That deadline has now been extended until April 24. protect the buildings.’’

"[Heritage] listing doesn’t protect the buildings."

Karori Campus Group spokesman Richard Bentley, who advocated for Karori Campus to stay in public hands