Today’s St Heliers demolition not in vain

With bulldozers moving in to demolish the St Helier’s Spanish mission-style houses today, the area’s local councillor says the Save Turua Street advocates can be proud of their efforts which will have a lasting impact across Auckland.

“They might not have saved these houses but they’ve given the new council a huge wake-up call. Rest assured this has really rattled some cages. This issue so early on in the council’s existence has demonstrated to everyone that a much greater priority must now be put on heritage. The public has had an absolute gutsful,” says Orakei councillor, Cameron Brewer.

“Through all the spatial, district and long-term planning we’re about to embark on, rest assured heritage will now be at the top of the mayor and councillors’ minds. The protestors efforts were not in vain. Turua Street has really been a metaphor of a wider public mood.

“History will show that these locals with their fold-up chairs and make-shift signs represented a turning point, when even Auckland’s best behaved said enough is enough,” says Cameron Brewer.

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