The government has confirmed that seismic strengthening projects throughout New Zealand will benefit from the latest Heritage EQUIP funding totalling $1.87 million.
Minister of Finance Grant Robertson said the projects are expected to work on heritage buildings in Cambridge, Christchurch, Feilding, Hokitika, and Timaru.
“I am delighted the owners of six buildings in Feilding were successful in a joint application of $85,760 for advice funding,” Robertson said.
“These Edwardian buildings are a focus of Feilding’s town centre and Heritage New Zealand Category 2 listed. I am pleased Heritage EQUIP is supporting the strengthening as earlier this year the Manawatū community identified them as significant buildings in a district-wide Feilding town centre visioning exercise.”
Robertson revealed that 35 of the 54 grants have already been awarded to projects outside Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington.
The Dorset Street Flats in Christchurch, which were designed in 1956 but were damaged in the February 2011 earthquakes, already received a grant of $200,000 to supplement the owner’s insurance funds meant for strengthening.
Meanwhile, Cambridge Masonic Hotel has received $300,000 to work on necessary reinforcement on top of the advice grant it received early this year. It will reopen in 2020 to provide boutique hotel accommodation.
“Heritage buildings are integral to the character of New Zealand and two more funding rounds will be held prior to June 2020 to allocate the $2.4 million remaining in the Heritage EQUIP fund,” Robertson concluded.
