MEDIA RELEASE - for Immediate Release

6 August 2010

Flagstaff Hill access saved for Wellingtonians

Local Wellington businessman and Wellington City Council candidate Adam Cunningham has helped to secure future public access to Flagstaff Hill following its sale to property investors.

The site, behind Wellington’s old St George Hotel, between Willis Street and The Terrace, has been sold to property investors who intend to develop a cluster of corporate apartments on the site.

Mr Cunningham, who owns Village Accommodation Group - Boulcott Suites borders the site, has worked with the new owners to ensure Flagstaff Hill will remain accessible to all Wellingtonians.

"I'd been aware from the early stages that the sale by Victoria University was imminent and chose to work behind the scenes to ensure the developers considered the historic site in their plans," said Mr Cunningham. "The result is an exciting balance between urban development and the retention of Wellington's stories and unique pockets of history."

The property owners have agreed to keep a part of the site park-like, open and accessible to the public. They will also keep the flagpole in a relocated position while adding a monument on the site. The monument will be commissioned by Mr Cunningham who plans to work with local residents on its final design.

Mr Cunningham, who is standing in the upcoming local elections in the CBD's Lambton Ward, admits there was originally some scepticism from the investors.

"But now they realise there's a balance that adds a unique feature to their site.”

“Some sort of development on the site was inevitable when Wellington City Council, quite rightly, decided it could not justify the cost of purchasing the land. But I was very focused on getting some recognition for the space, without cost to ratepayers."

Flagstaff Hill is historically significant as the site of a gun installed after the 1843 Wairau Incident, in which Colonel Arthur Gibbon-Wakefield met his death.

ENDS

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