EDITORIAL

Heritage requires constant care

Recently I wrote a letter to a couple who I know to be positive heritage developers. I offered that each day I receive media updates referencing heritage, history and our organisation and that more often than not these highlight heritage dilemmas like disregard, demolition or destruction. It was pleasing to acknowledge the couple's passion for adaptive re-use of heritage buildings along with their dedication and perseverance to heritage. It reminded me that heritage does indeed require constant care and that, as the couple found, this results in significant and positive heritage outcomes. This edition of Heritage Quarterly provides many other examples of constant care for heritage and the benefits that follow from that.

One aspect – but by no means the only one – of caring for heritage is the repair and maintenance of historic properties. The dedicated and detailed restoration work done by Mike Deavin at Old Government Buildings over the last two years is an excellent example of this, and the property is the better because of it. It is also pleasing that this care is acknowledged by Victoria University of Wellington, in particular the Law Faculty who are the occupants of this heritage property. Having recently marked its 150th anniversary, Larnach Castle also deserves recognition in this edition. The initial building and careful construction by William Larnach is rightly acknowledged, and the careful work done to restore the castle.

Mike Deavin and William Larnach remind us that over the years it is people who care for heritage and that their care manifests through these places and properties. Lindsay Charman is the epitome of a caring and committed heritage person. His years of dedication to Clendon House are well evidenced. We congratulate and acknowledge the many years that Lindsay has cared for Clendon House.

The passion for heritage of Bridget Graham, Sophia Newton and Vanessa Cocal-Smith is also impressive. Bridget has cared for the heritage interests of the Onehunga community for many years. Sophia has commenced a career for caring in heritage, in an outstanding way, with her appointment as a UNESCO Young Ambassador for Aotearoa for 2022. Vanessa is utilising technology to ensure that heritage can be ‘seen’ and is accessible to people around the world. Heritage is indebted to the passion of people. People work well in groups and the collective contribution to heritage caring is well told in the story of Kura Tāwhiti (Castle Hill), led for several years by Nigel Harris and acknowledged by Ngāi Tahu kaumātua.

Stories themselves are also a positive way of caring for heritage. Heritage Quarterly again allows a platform for stories of heritage care and the people who make it happen to be shared. n