Exclusive homes open their doors
Wild weather and last-minute renovations couldn’t derail the rural fundraising tour of exclusive homes.
Ten properties in Rangitīkei, ranging in size from historic cottages to sprawling estates, opened their doors and gardens to the public on Friday and Saturday.
The biannual Hearts and Homes event, which started 25 years ago, raises money for the Arohanui hospice.
Seven properties on the tour were ‘‘self-drive’’, with the addition of three ‘‘exclusive’’ homes available only by a prebooked bus.
With last year’s event cancelled by Covid, it was a relief for organisers to get the show back on the road. ‘‘It’s been fantastic to run this year,’’ said hospice spokesperson Michelle Connor, who said this year featured ‘‘quite a different collection of houses’’.
Initially unsure if there was still community demand, tickets for the event sold out after two weeks of marketing, the ‘‘best ever’’ response.
The owner of Westoe (who requested to remain anonymous), one of the exclusive properties, had a heartfelt connection to the hospice. Her father-in-law received its end of life care in 2020.
The current owners of the estate, which had been in the Howard family for 135 years until 2018, wanted to support the fundraiser after feeling ‘‘super blessed’’ with their experience with the hospice. Even last-minute renovations couldn’t prevent participation with a frantic flurry seeing the kitchen completed at 7am on the first day of the tour.
Visitors to Westoe on Saturday included friends Sarah McVerry, Jenn Little and Anne Abraham. ‘‘It’s the first time the property has been open to the public in years,’’ Abraham said.
McVerry had a special connection to the property, having spent part of her childhood living next door, and recalled playing with children who had lived there. ‘‘I can’t believe the renovation. Gorgeous. And the generosity of [the new owners] sharing.’’
Nga Tawa Diocesan School provided the headquarters for the event, with students volunteering their time to serve tea and coffee to visitors.
The event aimed to raise $65,000, and Connor was confident they would exceed that.
The hospice’s fundraising had been impacted by Covid, largely because the secondhand shops which generated revenue could not open, Connor said.