Brian McGuinness, the Wellington Company, Erskine Chapel Restoration, Doug Hauraki and Adrian Orr were acknowledged.

The event acknowledged the exceptional contributions of four of the city's most influential business leaders who have helped Wellington's business community prosper.

Lifelong dedication to integrity and quality construction

Among the honourees was Brian McGuinness who has dedicated more than 50 years to LT McGuinness, a family-founded construction company.

McGuinness' leadership and commitment are instrumental in transforming Wellington's urban landscape.

"Brian has shown exceptional leadership and made enduring contributions to the Wellington urban landscape.

"His dedication to building excellence, his ability to develop long-standing local relationships and his commitment to his word have contributed to the success of many of Wellington's iconic buildings" says Business Central in a press release.

McGuinness' work includes seismic strengthening of St Mary of the Angels Church and Sacred Heart Cathedral, both critical projects for the city's heritage preservation.

Archbishop Paul Martin commended McGuinness' dedication at the June opening of Sacred Heart Cathedral, saying "Putting plans into practice, pictures into reality, is a skill and craft that we have seen carried out here through our main contractor, LT McGuinness".

"It seems that. all over this city, we see signs of this fine company whose work ethic, skill and integrity have them being asked to lead so many significant projects in our capital.

"We're deeply grateful to you, Brian, and the wider family and the firm."

Reviving Erskine Chapel

Another major recognition was awarded to The Wellington Company for its 23-year-long effort to restore the Erskine Chapel in Island Bay.

Many others would have shied away from the challenge of restoring the Category-1 listed Erskine Chapel.

The 1929 landmark had been neglected, vandalised and red-stickered for many years.

However, rather than walking away from the project, The Wellington Company took the step many would not, undertaking a $7 million restoration and strengthening project to preserve it for generations to come.

Adrian Orr

The Wellington Pasifika Business Network (WPBN) recognised Dr Adrian Orr as the Pasifika honouree for this year's Wellington Address.

The WPBN identified Orr as a trailblazer in his chosen profession.

They say he has a strong intergenerational view of economic and social issues and solutions.

Doug Hauraki

Te Awe Wellington Maori Business Network nominated recognised Doug Hauraki as its honouree.

The network acknowledges Hauraki's more than 55 years of service to Maori in both the private and public sectors and his lifelong devotion to better education and employment opportunities for Maori and Pasifika people.

Stronger together than we are apart

Simon Arcus, CEO of Wellington Chamber of Commerce, praised their resilience, stating "These awards are a celebration of the very best of our business community - hard work, dedication, innovation and a commitment to improving our city".

Arcus highlighted this partnership as a cornerstone of the event, remarking "The Address is a symbol of a powerful insight: we are stronger together than we are apart.

"At times like these, it's a powerful reminder of Wellington's character and its potential in years to come."

The event celebrated individual achievement and the city's collective spirit, showcasing Wellington's resilience and determination.

Sources

• Scoop
• Wellington Address
• Archdiocese of Wellington

Island Residents association president Vicki Greco said people were generally happy with the design and the chapel restoration while concerns around stress on schools and infrastructure were seen as surmountable. Continue reading

A plan for the Erskine chapel's restoration involves a

• $30 million 94-townhouse complex of terraced houses and apartments,
• $7m restoration of the chapel and Reverend Mother's garden, and
• new home for the Aubert Childcare Centre (formerly based at the Home of Compassion).

The Erskine College chapel, New Zealand's finest French Gothic chapel, has been derelict for years

Formerly known as Sacré Coeur, Erskine College opened in 1905, and catered for the daughters of farmers, diplomats, politicians and local businessmen and by the time it closed in 1985, nearly 3000 girls had been educated there.

The school's elegant chapel, with its soaring vaulted ceiling, was built in 1929-30; designed by John Sydney Swan who was influenced by a chapel in Alsace Lorraine.

Its Gothic altar of ornate white Carrara marble was carved in Italy, the gilded tabernacle door inset with rubies, diamonds and moonstones, and the 12 stained glass windows were made by Mayer & Co. of Munich (still in business, after 150 years).

The chapel's exceptional acoustics (‘extraordinary clarity and long reverberant time') lured international musicians - including performances by the Vienna Boys' Choir and Kiri Te Kanawa.

After the school closed, the property was bought by the Hiberians.

The Hibernian's plans to develop a retirement village were thwarted, although it subdivided land around the school for residential housing.

By 1992, the complex was being used as studio and performance space (it featured in Peter Jackson's film The Frighteners), and as a wedding venue.

The convent, a ‘peaked grey fortress' in the eyes of many old girls, and chapel are both rated Category 1 by Heritage New Zealand. But the Christchurch earthquake changed everything.

The convent and chapel were red-stickered; then heritage arguments raged while the buildings slowly decayed, assisted by vandals and drug dealers; despite regular security patrols.

The buildings were in danger of being ‘saved to death' by well-intentioned people (the Save Erskine College Trust, New Zealand's first non-government heritage protection authority) who blocked every proposal to save the buildings, because they wanted them restored in toto.

This latest proposal, now lodged for resource consent, means it is likely the convent building will be demolished.

When first elected to Wellington City Council three years ago, I was determined to save the chapel of my old school.

With the blessing of its owners, The Wellington Company, I organised meetings with local residents and alumnae to discuss the company's proposals, then briefed the architects on the school's history and culture.

I championed its inclusion as one of the Council's Special Housing Areas that provides a streamlined consenting timeframe, including a reduction in notification provisions and appeal rights.

Wellington has a number of heritage Catholic buildings with seismic problems.

The strengthening of St Mary of the Angels, my family's parish church for generations, will be complete by next Easter; but the future of St Gerard's is less certain.

Let's hope the plans to save Erskine's glorious chapel succeed, before the buildings crumble in the next big earthquake.

• Nicola Young is a quintessential Wellingtonian. Socially liberal and progressive, she is a City councillor; first elected in 2013 to represent the Lambton Ward. In 2016 she is standing again for the Lambton Ward and as an independent candidate for Mayor of Wellington. Nicola is a former head prefect of Erskine College.