T Jordan

I read with interest the leading article in the Beacon (January 14) re Whakatāne District Council’s proposal to demolish the area at the western end of Quay Street, including the former Plunket Rooms now occupied by Halo.

My concern is the demolition of the Halo building.  

It is an iconic building used by all mothers from the region with their babies for many years.

In a Whakatāne Built Heritage Study prepared for Whakataāne District Council, New Zealand Historic Places Trust and Environment Bay of Plenty by Matthews & Matthews Architects Ltd in 2007, it is stated: “The first Whakatāne Plunket Rooms, also designed by H.L.D. West, were opened on the corner of Quay Street, perhaps as early as 1926.”  

The new Plunket Rooms were built in Kopeopeo in 1967.

The report goes on to say: “The building is significant as one of the few remaining health care buildings dating from the 1920s in Whakatāne ... A rare example of a purpose-built Plunket rooms....

“A very good example of an architecturally designed late 1900s masonry building.”  

It also says that generally the exterior is as originally designed.

In a report prepared for Whakatāne District Council by Insitu Heritage Ltd in 2011, there is a list of six buildings identified as candidates for adding to the heritage schedule of the district plan.  

The list included the former Plunket Rooms.  

For some unknown reason the building was not included in the final selection.

The building is architecturally unusual in that it is triangular designed to fit into that section.  

A significant community group – Halo – uses the building.  

Halo works with many schools in the course of its work.

I am also interested to see whether there are any old Plunket books still being kept by families, and whether there are any mothers from the early period who have stories to tell of their association with the Plunket Rooms.