Trust races to save Kerikeri's historic icon

By TONY GEE

A trust has been set up to prevent one of Kerikeri's most valuable properties falling into the hands of developers.

Historic Kingston House and the 1.4ha on which the two-storey building stands will be sold by its owner, Hospice Bay of Islands, when it moves to new premises nearby about this time next year.

An 11-member Kingston House Community Trust has been formed in Kerikeri to raise enough money to allow it to buy the property and then manage it as a community asset oncethe hospice departs.

The concrete and partly timber-clad building, built in 1929 by one of Kerikeri's pioneer plantation owners, has a floor area of 739 sq m.

It is regularly used by more than 15 educational organisations, community service and hobby groups.

The house and ground area owned by the hospice has a Government valuation of $610,000, although it has been independently valued at $670,000.

Another 1.5ha of the house's original grounds on the Stone Store Hill were retained in Far North District Council ownership after the council bought the entire property some years ago - but then the council sold Kingston House and half its grounds to Hospice Bay of Islands.

The council-owned land is now a designated scenic reserve area. Community trust secretary Derek Ellis said that trustees intended to seek community input on uses for the property when the hospice moved out and prepare a business plan.

"We're concerned that if the property falls into the hands of developers, new premises would have to be found for all the current users and Kerikeri would lose an outstanding potential recreational asset forever."