Trust defends relationship with tenants

Peter Garvan.
Peter Garvan.
The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, which owns and leases out heritage buildings, has defended its relationship with its tenants, saying it does more marketing for them than 95% of landlords in New Zealand.

However, trust chairman Peter Garvan doubts that can continue along with its core responsibility of preservation of its buildings, which must take precedence.

While the trust has been criticised previously over its relationship with its tenants, that increased over the past 12 months when it offered the Oamaru railway station for sale and tenants had to leave.

Other tenants believed the trust did not do enough for them, especially during the quiet winter months.

Mr Garvan tackles the issue in his annual report - entitled ''No Holds Barred'', a personal view - which will be given to the trust's annual meeting tonight.

He outlined the trust's objectives when it was established in 1988, but said its role had become much wider, covering not only buildings it owned but also historic buildings generally in North Otago.

In 2014, it also took over the role of the North Otago branch of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, which ceased to exist under reorganisation of Heritage NZ.

The trust received no annual operational or marketing grant from the council for any marketing, despite seeing its role as bringing the Victorian Precinct to life.

There were now record numbers in the Victorian Precinct and wider harbour area.

New attractions had contributed to the vibrancy of the harbour and precinct areas, attracting more visitors, he said.

david.bruce@odt.co.nz

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