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Director Peter Jackson has performed his own mission of mercy by buying a historic Wellington chapel, valued at $10 million, to save it from the clutches of property developers.
In May, the Sisters of Mercy applied to have the 83-year-old Our Lady of the Star of the Sea chapel removed from Wellington City Council's list of heritage buildings - and announced plans to put the 1.35 hectare site up for sale.
The plans sparked an outcry from Seatoun residents, including Jackson, who were concerned the property would be bulldozed to make way for townhouses.
Sisters of Mercy congregation leader Sister Denise Fox told the Dominion Post the order received an unsolicited approach from Jackson and his partner, Fran Walsh, in late July.
The Oscar-winning director's decision to buy the Fettes Crescent property was a "positive outcome for everyone".
Jackson said yesterday there had been "a lot of community concern" that the chapel, which has not been open since 2002, risked being lost to developers. "It seemed a shame for something like this to happen... it's a historic part of Seatoun," he said.
Jackson would not divulge how much he paid for the property, but the site has previously been valued at $10 million and requires an estimated $900,000 in earthquake-strengthening work.
The director was still figuring out what to do with his latest acquisition, but said it was likely the buildings would be used by his visual effects company, Weta Workshop.
Sister Fox said the sale proceeds would go toward funding the order's rest homes and public health work in the Pacific.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the council was delighted Jackson and Walsh had bought the chapel.
"Wellington faced losing a very valuable piece of the city's heritage. On behalf of the city I thank them."
The property will be transferred to Jackson and Walsh's ownership on December 21.
- NZPA
