We were absolutely appalled by the news as reported in The DominionPost
today that the Historic Places Trust wants to put John and Wendy Buck’s home
‘Coleraine’ on a heritage list that could prevent any alterations including
painting it a different colour! The
Buck’s family home is indeed an icon and has come to represent one of the very
best wines made in New Zealand, the Te Mata ‘Coleraine’ actually depicting the
house on the label. It is one of our
most recognized and photographed wine-related buildings.
The house, designed by Ian Athfield was built in 1980, and was initially
deemed an eyesore by neighbours, but it is now seen as a building of merit and
“a good example of Modern Movement architecture” by the trust. If ‘Coleraine’ is put on the heritage list as
protected, any work on the house would require consent which would be “costly
and time-consuming” at the family’s expense says John Buck, who sees
“decision-making regarding their house would be in the hands of people we may
not consider appropriate”. John and
Wendy Buck intend the property to be passed down to their children and
grandchildren, and any decisions about the house “should be their right”. Interestingly, ‘Coleraine’ was included in
the trust’s heritage list as “an exceptional building” in 2005, but this
designation did not impose restrictions on the owner.
We see this as stupid and mindless bureaucracy with so-called authorities
and would-be experts meddling in people’s private lives. John Buck says “it is a prime example of the nanny
state gone mad”. Speaking to John today,
he believed that his position would be supported by
the Hastings District Council. .
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Te Mata's new release wines are being tasted on Thursday 2 September. Details here