CHANNEL FEATURE: PETER WOLFKAMP
Peter Wolfkamp.
The Wolf of Shore streets As filming was wrapping up on season nine of The Block NZ, the television show’s site foreman spoke to Heather Barker Vermeer about his love of his work, his family and his Shore life… Peter Wolfkamp’s love of heritage houses means he is perfectly at home in the North Shore suburb of Devonport and has been for almost 25 years. His wife Debbie’s family history stretches back over 130 years in the village. The couple live with their early teenaged son Joseph in a renovated villa. Born in New Zealand to Dutch parents, Peter grew up in Papatoetoe. He attended De La Salle College before being taken on as an apprentice with a local builder in 1987. His first project was working on a subdivision of new-build homes in St John’s. He has been self-employed since the late 80s and has now trained to specialise in heritage house restoration. He says, “It’s always been something of an interest of mine - the craftsmanship involved in heritage buildings. I have an interest in preserving and protecting that.” His foray into television came about after he saw an advert about TV3 having secured the rights to produce The Block here in New Zealand. “I had already been a big fan of this show, so I wrote off and asked to be the host,” says Wolfkamp. “They didn’t give me the host’s job but said I could help out on the show, using my building expertise. And ten years later, I’m still there.
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Issue 122 - August 2021 www.channelmag.co.nz
By Heather Barker Vermeer
“I really do genuinely enjoy working on the show. I’m often the translator between the TV production side and the construction side. From a practical background, I know what’s involved in the building and I know what it takes to make a TV show, so I often find myself being a meditator between the two sides.” His favourite season was the fourth, where contestants renovated homes in the suburb in which his building career began. “We achieved a seven-star energy efficiency rating for those houses in St John’s,” he says. “Being part of that, with my interest in building science, was fantastic from both a personal and a professional level.” As well as TV, Wolfkamp’s velvety voice has also lent itself well to radio for over seven years, as host of Newstalk ZB’s Sunday morning talk show, The Resident Builder. He’s been involved in broadcasting from a young age, getting his first airtime as a stand-in announcer on Newstalk ZB after training in radio broadcasting with the Christian Broadcasting Association. He speaks passionately on topical issues around housing. “There’s currently a real thirst for knowledge from people on how you get their homes warm, dry and comfortable. And housing affordability is a huge issue. We have a young son and wonder what it will be like for him when he comes to want to buy a home. It’s something we discuss with friends, it’s a concern for many people.
