Our House Heritage Restoration Project 2017-2018 - happyhomes.nz - Parenting and ...
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Our House
Heritage Restoration Project
2017-2018
Society Christchurch Inc. Est. 1898
happyhomes.nz
“ Christchurch's Home & Family
Society may not have that same
level of community awareness
Now, in post-quake Christchurch, Home & Family has
an opportunity not only to strengthen and continue
their work but also to do so in a remarkable historical
building generously made available to them by the
Sisters of The Community of the Sacred Name.
as Nurse Maude and yet the
This collection of historic buildings, designed by the
beginnings of both organisations legendary architect Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort, is
in our City share common to be restored and become the new base for Home &
Family. These historic buildings will not only be saved
roots of community concern. for future generations in our City, they will also see
Home & Family reunited with their historic roots. The
The Home & Family Society has been established for buildings contain the original dispensary of Nurse
over 100 years. Over that time it has grown from a Maude, the woman who pioneered District Nursing in
grass-roots organisation founded on community Christchurch.
concerns for the poorest among us, to a professional
charitable society with a specific goal of supporting We are proud to support this venture, and encourage
families in need of a helping hand. Recognising that others to join with Home & Family, as they look to the
the foundation of a strong society is in maintaining future by connecting with our pioneering past.
the well-being of the family unit, Home & Family has a
team of professional, trained staff with a mission of – Lady Joanna and Sir Bob Parker
creating environments for positive change.
The Home & Family vision is quite straightforward:
"All children will live in homes with whānau/family
who cherish them, keep them safe and nurture their
potential." In over a century of heart-felt compassion
and supportive hard work, that is exactly what they
have achieved for thousands of vulnerable children
and at-risk families.
Chrystal Chenery
Home & Family Ambassador
“ I chose Home & Family Society as
my charity of choice when I was
asked to be a contestant on TV3’s
series of Dancing with the Stars.
enjoy the journey together. I
believe the work Home & Family
does enables people to get to a
place in their lives where this is
Home & Family is a cause close to possible.
my heart, and since having the
opportunity to visit their The Our House project will mean
programmes and meet some of so much to the children and
the families they work with, I families that use Home & Family’s
decided to stay on board and service. It will be a landmark for
support Home & Family in any lasting, meaningful change.
meaningful way I could.
It’s an amazing project that I am
My vision is that we can accept proud to get behind.
ourselves as we are, make no
judgments and remove – Chrystal
expectations. Then we can all
02 Help us build the house that makes happy homes
As long as it takes
Home & Family is unique in that it is
prepared to walk alongside its families long
after the initial funded stay of six weeks
has ended. Some families stay on for up to
a year.
Counselling also continues as long as it is needed. Home & Family acts as
a strong advocate for its clients alongside other agencies and service
providers.
Home & Family has a lasting impact which is evident in the length of
relationships it has with families who have moved on from the service.
On the first Tuesday of each month there is a shared lunch for anyone
who has ever been involved with the Home & Family parenting
programme. There are cups of tea, birthday outings, drop ins, and
invitations for staff to attend school and community events.
In assisting others to create positive home and family environments,
Home & Family has also made this commitment to everyone who comes
through its doors; that they feel at Home and part of the Family.
Home & Family’s statistics for January – December 2016:
404 counselling clients
representing a 30% increase from the previous year
57% of clients
were aged between 3 to 17 years
2,353 bednights
of support provided through our parenting programme
67% of families
on our parenting programme directly impacted by family violence
30% of babies
on programme coming directly from Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
happyhomes.nz 03
Creating Environments
for Positive Change
Home & Family is an independent,
Christchurch based incorporated society
that works with children, adults and
families facing barriers to positive
outcomes in their lives.
Home & Family traces its roots back
to Christchurch in 1898 when it was
established as the ‘Society for the
Protection of Women and Children’.
The Society was authorised to collect and disburse maintenance
money to wives and children separated from their husbands
and fathers.
The Society successfully bid to include the act of incest in the
Crimes Act in 1900, campaigned for the age of consent to be
raised from 14 to 16, and in 1940 the Society made efforts to
improve State maternity services and the inclusion of women in
the workforce.
These actions brought about significant social change and
undoubtedly altered today’s society for the better.
This family focused, forward thinking
still drives Home & Family today.
Street decorations for the Canterbury
jubilee celebrations in December 1900
shown here in Colombo Street north.
04 Help us build the house that makes happy homes
Home & Family provides two streams of service:
1. a counselling service
2. a residential parenting programme
Over 100 years later, Home & Family
builds safe and secure families by
providing counselling and practical life
skills to families and children.
This support continues for as long as the family needs it, with
contact often continuing for years after families have moved on
from directly accessing Home & Family’s services.
The positive effects created by working with the whole family unit
to empower healthy, resilient and safe families have benefits for
the entire community. Working with the whole family unit provides
an opportunity for inter-generational change to occur with families
being able to create positive new cultures, behaviours and
relationships. These results are seen not only in the lifetime of one
generation, but throughout the lifeline of the entire family.
Home & Family’s vision:
All children will live in homes with whānau/family
who cherish them, keep them safe and nurture
their potential.
happyhomes.nz 05
Home & Family has eight counsellors on
staff working with children, young people,
couples and families.
It is one of very few agencies that offers counselling to
children. In fact, almost sixty percent of the counselling
work that Home & Family undertakes is with children.
Children as young as three years old are working with
Home & Family counsellors, using play therapy.
In recent years Home & Family has been seeing an
increased number of children for counselling. This is
significant as following a major traumatic event there is
often a two to three year lapse before post-traumatic
stress reaches its peak.
Counsellors work to strengthen resilience, self-esteem,
and relationships, and work through issues including
anger, depression, anxiety, grief, loss and trauma. Coun-
sellors also work with those that have been a witness to, or
a victim of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse.
Home & Family sees amazing transformations
in the lives of those they counsel. They are able
to move on from the challenges of their current
situations and grow and thrive.
06 Help us build the house that makes happy homes
The residential parenting programme pro- vides 24-hour supervised accommodation for parents and their children. This service focuses on situations where out of home placements for the children are being considered. Parents take part in supervised life-skills training to learn strategies for safe and nurturing parenting of children. During this time the entire family unit also has access to the counselling service. The parenting service in Barrington provides a secure environment for mothers and their children. This programme gives Home & Family the opportunity to see what would be the best for the family as a whole with the welfare of children as the priority in all decision making. ‘The Flats’ are located on an adjacent property to ‘The House’. These provide a supportive environment for a family to test the waters of living independently, while still within access of Home & Family’s social workers and counsellors. Research confirms that children are better off in the care of their own family. Home & Family is committed to keeping children with their families, while empowering the parents with the tools and confidence to parent successfully. happyhomes.nz 07
This is
Terangi’s Story
“ I had a history with domestic violence with my
ex-husband.
Because of that my older children were permanently
placed with Child, Youth and Family. I battled with how
things were.
At the time I had a drug problem. It was my main source
of making myself feel better about my problems. And I
had started drinking; it would numb me so I didn’t feel
anything.
After the earthquakes I left my husband, I stopped
drinking, doing drugs; that was it. I’d had enough.“
08 Help us build the house that makes happy homes
Terangi had come to the attention of the
authorities in an earlier, violent relationship.
As a result her children were moved into
impermanent care. Pregnant and very keen
to make sure she didn’t have the same
outcome this time, Terangi worked very, very
hard to turn her life around. With the
support of Home & Family there is now no
state involvement with her, her partner and
their children.
“Later that year I fell pregnant. The father didn’t four of us lived there and we made it our home.
believe that I was pregnant so I took two pregnancy
tests to show him. I put them both on the table and Home & Family has given us so much. After the six
left the room. When I went back he was crying, and weeks had been and gone, and the six months had
angry, he went bananas, he left and I never saw him been and gone, they’ve given us not just their time,
for three days and he came back absolutely drunk but their knowledge and their care. My culture was
and attacked me. I thought that’s it, I’m out of here. honoured from the time I walked into this house. I
It’s about me and my child, I’ll bring up my baby on have learned heaps of tools that I can use with my
my own. parenting. Now I have the older children in my care
every school holidays. If I had known about this
So I left that relationship, I would have been about 10 agency when I had my older children I would have
weeks pregnant and I quit my job. Pregnancy was definitely come here to keep them in my care.
great up until the point CYFs decided to come and
uplift my daughter. She was uplifted from my care I think about the girls, how far we’ve come along. At
just after her heel prick, 24 hours after I had given the end of the day, I’m here for my daughters, my
birth to her. daughters come first. It’s gone from them thinking
about uplifting Terangimarie, to then thinking no,
I had been told about Home & Family by a very close she’s at Home & Family with Huia, to then reducing
family member who told me “You have to go into the custody to a support order, and now being able to
Home & Family to get our baby back”. After two wipe the support order and give me back my full
months I was able to come to live at the Home & custody. I can say I did it, even though all the hurdles
Family house with my baby Huia. were stuck in my family’s way. We did it, we did it
together as a family unit, with the assistance of Home
I was in a new relationship with my partner, and even & Family. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have what
though there was no domestic violence in our we’ve got now.”
relationship we had to have supervised access, when
he was coming, if he was allowed to stay for tea, to
put Huia down to bed. We worked through all of it,
even though it was really hard, especially for him.
Now Terangi, Tama and the
With the help of Home & Family we were able to girls are living in their own
prove that we were a good family and eventually we
moved across the road (into one of the Home & home, Tama is in full time
Family flats). It was a week before Christmas and I
was finally allowed to have my partner and my
employment and they have a
daughter home. I was pregnant with Terangimarie support network around them.
and there was no way anyone else but my partner
was going to take me to the hospital. And he did. The
happyhomes.nz 09Our House Following the devastating Canterbury Earthquakes, Home & Family lost the building that had housed its head office and counselling services. These are currently being run from temporary premises in Waltham. Home & Family urgently needs a new home, a place of its own to operate these vital aspects of the service from. In 2014 Home & Family secured the purchase of the convent of The Community of the Sacred Name on the corner of Barbadoes and St. Asaph Streets. This building was home to Nurse Maude’s dispensary and the base from which the first District Nursing Office operated. 10 Help us build the house that makes happy homes
The convent is a grade-one heritage building that was designed by
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort and his son Cyril Julian Mountfort
and built in parts from 1895–1926. It is the oldest ‘temporary
structure’ still standing in Christchurch.
This building, which has suffered some earthquake damage, will
become the new home for the head office and counselling
services. The convent has beautiful and unique heritage features
including a chapel with historically significant stained glass
windows.
Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort
[Circa 1875]
Home & Family is working closely with
Heritage New Zealand to ensure that
the significant aspects of this building
are identified so that they can be
preserved and maintained as the
building takes on this new purpose.
It is the intention of Home & Family that Our House will have areas
that can be used and enjoyed by the public so that this taonga
becomes an asset to the community and a landmark for hope,
The Convent, 1900. From left, Nurse compassion and respect.
Maude, Sr Dora, Sr Edith, Jane(t) Davies,
Sr Mary, Miss May Hurse, Miss Savoy The refurbishment of this amazing building will provide Home &
(Nurse Maude’s niece). Family with a visible, accessible community centre from which to
base its services. It will give Home & Family the potential to grow
its services and reach more people who need them.
happyhomes.nz 11Comparative Timelines
The history of Our House and The Community of the Sacred Name is the only Anglican
female order in New Zealand and was founded in 1893
that of the Home & Family by Sister Edith Mellish.
Society have some remarkable The Community was founded as a teaching and nursing
parallels. order, initially caring for “the poor, the sick and the fallen”
(with a focus on unmarried mothers and orphans).
A History of The Community 1911
The Community of the Sacred
Community begins the
making of wafers,
of the Sacred Name Name is adopted as the name of which in time supplies
the order. Brick building erected all parishes in New
on site. Opened October 1912. Zealand and later the
Pacific Islands. The
Community also
1893 1895 1896 1900
created embroidery for
Sister Edith arrives in Construction of Deaconess Nurse Maude comes Chapel and extension
priestly garments, altar
Christchurch, founds House (now ‘Our House’) to live in the opened [Cyril Julian
linen and banners.
Christchurch begins [Benjamin Community. Mountfort]. Additions made
Deaconesses’ Institute. Woolfield Mountfort]. Establishes a to building until mid-late
Sisters move in. House dispensary and district 1920s.
dedicated in February. nursing scheme.
1893 1898 1900 1926
The Society of the S.P.W.C merges with the The Society successfully S.P.W.C and S.P.C.A part ways.
Protection of Women and Society for the Prevention of campaigns for the inclusion
Children founded S.P.W.C. Cruelty to Animals (S.P.C.A). of incest in the Crimes Act
Children’s Aid Society and later age of consent is
established in Christchurch. raised from 14 to 16 years of
age through influence and
S.P.W.C becomes persuasion of the Society.
incorporated.
A History of Home 1908
Christchurch branch of S.P.W.C formed,
& Family Society stemming from Children’s Aid Society.
1909
Christchurch branch of S.P.W.C holds first AGM.
Ongoing work for social reform from 1900 continues, including
• Prison reform
• Curfew for unaccompanied minors in public bars
• Home for mothers of illegitimate children
• Rights of foster children
• Women inspectors in female prisons
• Separate toilets in factories for women, longer lunch breaks and better conditions
• Appointment of female police officers
• Censorship of material available to children
• Legal marriage age raised
• Women’s rights in the workforce
12 Help us build the house that makes happy homesSome of The lancet windows in the chapel were relocated in 1900 from the
original east window of St Michael and All Angels Church. These windows
the features were crafted by Powells of London in 1871.
of the chapel The altar and carvings in the chapel are by noted Christchurch carver
are of artistic Frederick Gurnsey, who also carved altarpieces for the Christchurch
Cathedral and its chapel, as well as carvings for the Bridge of
and historical Remembrance.
significance. Three windows in the west end were commissioned for the chapel by
the sisters and designed by the renowned English Arts and Crafts artist
Veronica Whall (for Whall & Whall stained glass studio).
1992 2011
2014
Retreat house opened on Brick building demolished
The Community of the Sacred
site [Don Donnithorne]. after severe damage in
Name sell the Deaconess Building
Canterbury earthquakes.
(commonly referred to as The
Convent) to Home & Family and
work begins to fundraise the $3.6
million needed to restore it and
1955 1981 make it fit for purpose. The
Changes name to Society for Changes name to 1990’s – 2000’s building is renamed Our House.
Protection of Home & Family. Home & Family Society. Two streams of service emerge.
The first window depicts St Bridget The north-west window c.1938 The south-west window c.1948
of Ireland and is in memory of commemorates Nurse Maude depicting St Francis Xavier
Mother Edith, as Mother Edith was and depicts St Barnabas. The commemorates Canon Mutter an
Irish and St Bridget founded the window features her favourite early Community chaplain.
first Convent in Ireland. The flowers, delphiniums and
forget-me-nots, daffodils and birds love-in-a-mist, and is located near
loved by Mother Edith are in the to where she would sit in the
foreground of the window while Chapel.
the face of St Bridget features a
likeness to Mother Edith. This is
the oldest window and the only
window signed by Whall. It dates
from c.1928.
happyhomes.nz 13This is Cheryl’s Story
“ At the point where I was told Alexsis was dead the
world ended. I was in this numb state where I was
barely breathing, my body was moving but I wasn’t
there, my mind was screaming this is not true, it can’t
You’ve got to also remember we’re having constant
earthquakes during this time as well. It was not long
after the September 4th quakes. We had gone through
Christmas trying to pretend for the little boy. I was
be true. But it was. And I now had this precious little trying to help him cope and asking people ‘Where can
boy to look after who had lost his mum, who had I get help for this little boy?’ Everyone was shut, no
been told she’d gone on holiday, who was actually at one was accessible, they all seemed to be on holiday.
the scene when she was killed. Murdered in the home The Police were visiting frequently, there was no
they shared, somewhere that was supposed to be ‘holiday’ for us. That’s when I got told about Home &
safe. Family and how they do child therapy. That they were
able to help a little 3 year old and how it was
I had to explain to him why his mummy wasn’t extremely important he got the help he needed. So
coming back. I had to try to explain to him what a we were put on the waiting list and told it might be six
funeral was, what was happening to his mummy, and to ten weeks. But there was no other alternative. The
why I couldn’t bring her back, why I couldn’t fix it. He only one little piece of lifeline we had that could
didn’t want his mummy to go in a box and for dirt to potentially help this precious little boy is Home &
go on her. ‘I can go in there with her Nan, I’ll get her Family. And then February 22nd hit, Christchurch fell
out Nan.’ How do you explain to a three year old around us and life was turned upside-down all over
anything that’s going to make sense when it’s not again.
making sense to an adult?
By this stage we’re in a really desperate situation. The
At this point we were working with the Police, working waiting was agony. And then we had our first meeting
to get the person responsible held accountable. and I thought, Thank God! I’ve actually got someone.
There were many questions to answer regarding my And she explained what child therapy is, and I hoped
grandson. ‘What did the little boy see?’ That’s the it was going to work because I didn’t have any more
question they asked. At the time he didn’t understand energy to find anything else, and besides that,
the trauma that had happened, but he knew nothing else even seemed to exist. And this therapist
something was wrong, he could remember that she had dealt with children in trauma and she said those
was asleep, ‘I can’t wake mummy up. She’s asleep. simple but profound words, ‘I can help’. I can help, I
She’s being a lazybones Nan.’ He knew he couldn’t can’t explain the relief I felt at those words, how much
have his mummy but didn’t understand why. Surely it meant.
Nan can fix this?
14 Help us build the house that makes happy homesCheryl has lived every parent
and grandparent’s worst
nightmare. Her 21-year-old
daughter was murdered
while her 3-year-old
grandson was present.
It’s like you’ve had this series of tidal waves hit and and gave me the tools and the language in the role as
you’re drifting out at sea. You feel like you’re caregiver to make sense of what was going on for
drowning, and you’re trying to hold yourself above him.
water, but not only that, you’re trying to hold this
little boy higher above the water than you are. And So he was able to go through his journey. And it was
you can just cope with the water being over your a very, very long journey. It was almost three years.
mouth, but you’re holding him up so he doesn’t have We gave him the time he needed, not to be
to experience that, so he can go through this and it constrained by a fixed set of sessions. And he was
impacts him as little as possible. Because, you can’t given tools too, to be able to express himself, to try
cope with losing him as well. And the relief, that all of to make sense of what he had experienced. And to
a sudden, he’s got a lifejacket on. make him feel safe. And that’s the goal, to make him
feel safe, to help him to function fully, to develop
He was in there on his own with the therapist and he fully. To honour the promise I made to his mother, to
thinks it’s play time, and he gets to play with fun toys. help her enable him to be the best he could be. The
What he was able to do, was he was able to express staff at Home & Family wanted to make this little boy
himself through play, and act out his needs in the happy and help him thrive as much as I did. They are
role play. He has a strong need to protect and be simply amazing.
protected, and he would use his favourite animals to
act this out. To try and change the outcome. But what
I was actually seeing, is that he was able to almost
They have created this environment
release, and he had another avenue that he could at Home & Family, a culture that feels
express what was going on in his little mind and try
like when you walk in the door you’re
to work things out.
wrapped in a lovely warm blanket.
It was about building this network of loving
individuals around this little boy. We worked as a You’re in safe hands, in a safe place full of people
team. We would sit and discuss what I was seeing at that truly, truly, and deeply care. And that’s the
home and be able to put it into context. She was able difference, that’s the difference.”
to give reassurance to me that this is a point in his
journey to coming to better wellness, to be better
placed to be Ok in himself. She walked alongside us,
happyhomes.nz 15As part of this campaign Home & Family has developed
bespoke acknowledgements for those who support the
restoration of Our House. These highly visible
acknowledgements would be for life.
Star Supporters
The fence along the St. Asaph Street frontage of Our House will become
Christchurch’s answer to the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. A
custom made fence will have embedded in it bespoke metal worked stars
depicting the names of our Star Supporters.
The suggested donation to secure a Star would be $50,000.
Paving the Way
At the public café situated within the restored Our House, there will be a
paved area in the garden on which a total of 25 customised plaques will
feature the names or logos of those who have helped Home & Family to
achieve their goal of restoring Our House.
The suggested donation to secure a Paver would be $10,000.
In addition, supporters may choose to Sponsor a Room,
and create an ongoing commitment to the maintenance of
this room with Home & Family. This support would be
acknowledged on site at Our House.
Why I chose to give: Mark Quinn, Fahey Fence Hire
“ When I was four years old my Dad died.
He was 30. A week later Mum’s mum died.
Mum was seven months pregnant at the
time and she already had four kids. She
couldn’t raise us and run the farm without
The same sort of thing happens today.
It’s just not as in your face. I believe that
no children should go without, that we
should be trying to create a nice pathway
for those who are struggling.
Dad. She was forced to give up the farm,
and my youngest sister became a tamaiti Supporting the work of Home & Family
whāngai and was raised by whānau in makes me feel good. The work they do
New Zealand. Two months after she was is not just painting over the issues; it’s
born, mum and the four of us moved really helping to fix the problems.
back to England where she was from. Everyone deserves an opportu-
nity in life; they deserve to
Money was scarce and Mum did her best feel like a valued member
for us. She may have gone hungry, but of society. By supporting
she tried to make sure we never did. We Home & Family I’m just
lived in a poor neighbourhood and I saw it doing my small part to
all. Some of my mates didn’t have carpet fulfil the big hopes I
in their houses, their Dads beat up their have for the children
Mums, they didn’t have lunch. of our community.
16 Help us build the house that makes happy homes“ When a heritage building ceases to be
used for the purpose for which it was
built 120 years ago, finding a compatible
new use is really difficult. It’s often the
hardest challenge we face. Then Home
& Family came along and this just
seemed the perfect fit.
Jenny May ONZM, is an architectural This former convent building and chapel was the first purpose built
historian and Director of Heritage home of The Community of the Sacred Name, a Deaconess order
Management Services. She is a founded by Sister Edith Mary Mellish in 1893. Essentially a teaching
national executive Board member of and nursing order, they worked within the community exhibiting
the International Council on similar values to those of Home & Family. These shared values and
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) (NZ), their longevity in our community for more than a century, make
a trustee of the Christchurch Home & Family an ideal match.
Symphony Orchestra Foundation
and a Lay Canon on the Dean and Initially designed by noted architect B W Mountfort in 1895 and
Chapter of Christchurch Cathedral. reputedly built as temporary, the building’s survival in near original
condition is quite remarkable. Thus finding a new owner willing to
make all efforts to fit their use into an existing heritage building and
entirely respect its original form was a rare thing. Home & Family’s
approach is to touch the building only lightly, to undertake overdue
remedial works and a structural upgrade. This is all work that will
respect the built and intangible heritage values, ensure its survival
for another 120 years and at the same time ideally fit Home &
Family’s needs.
– Jenny May
happyhomes.nz 17Val Carter
Executive Director of Home & Family,
Val Carter, has extensive experience in
education and social services both here
and in the UK. She has worked for CYF, the
Ministry of Education, University of
Canterbury and has taught at primary,
secondary and tertiary levels.
Val’s experience of working with young people and their families has
enabled her to understand how precious Home & Family’s work is to our
community.
Val believes that the
synergy between
Home & Family, the
“ Home & Family’s strength is that we are
able to be very responsive.
Sisters’ work at the We help families effect changes that have a long lasting impact in the
lives of their children. Understanding how vital early years experiences
Convent, and the are to subsequent behaviour and development, it is easy to see why we
building itself makes feel so passionate about the work that we do.
for an exciting
convergence within Personally, I find being part of the Home & Family
Christchurch’s social team hugely satisfying.
history.
I am honoured to have the opportunity to be involved with an
organisation that I know benefits and strengthens outcomes for children.
These outcomes are at the heart of what we do at Home & Family.
This opportunity to acquire and restore a building so that we have a new,
permanent home is too good to be missed. This hidden gem of a place
has had a proud tradition of helping Cantabrians, as has Home & Family.
We are delighted to be able to continue our work in
this historic context.
– Val Carter
18 Help us build the house that makes happy homesWilliam Fulton
“ Home & Family has the unique
opportunity of moving into the
highly significant Heritage
building that was The Community
of the Sacred Name Convent.
This remarkable collection of forms on the corner of St.
Asaph and Barbadoes Streets sat in the shadow of the now
demolished brick Convent building that ran along
Barbadoes St. The Canterbury earthquakes had the effect
of wiping out over 100 years of the Cultural Heritage of
Christchurch, however, this building is one of the uncovered
gems in a sea of destruction. Externally the complex
appears like a collection of outbuildings, however, inwardly
the spaces are like a time capsule from another era. The
Chapel in particular is a highly significant space.
Home & Family intends to inhabit the existing building,
fitting as much as possible within existing heritage fabric.
They also intend to share the building with the community
by way of a Café opening on to St. Asaph St. This creates
two design challenges; firstly the need to adapt the building
to meet the current Building Code, while conserving what is special about the building; and secondly balancing the
privacy necessary within Home & Family services against the intention of opening parts of the building to the Public.
The new functions will require the building to adapt to the requirements of the Building Code. Fire protection in a largely
timber structure will be imperative, ensuring both the safety of the occupants as well as the protection of the Heritage
fabric. Structural strength and resilience will also need to be improved to meet the more onerous post-earthquake Code
requirements. The building will need to be made Accessible to all members of the public, requiring level entry, ramps
and Accessible facilities. The current electrical and water services will need to be improved to meet the needs of the
Home & Family organisation. The existing materials will need to be maintained and repaired to extend the life of the
structure balanced against the need to retain the special qualities and patina of the current surfaces.
Fulton Ross Team Architects feels privileged to be involved with this project. We have a broad experience working on
projects that involve Heritage buildings. This building is highly significant and while it has been hidden away for much of
its life, we look forward to being part of the team that protects the building for the future by giving it a new life. Home &
Family is a society that has a proud tradition of helping the community in a positive and practical way. Their services
have been supporting families for over 100 years. Those who lived through the Canterbury earthquakes will understand
the need for the services Home & Family provides. While the earthquakes destroyed much of the physical fabric of the
inner city, this project takes a society that helps hold together the essential social fabric of our community and houses
them in a Heritage building that survived the destruction of the earthquakes. It seems a perfect fit.
– William Fulton
NZIA B.Bsc, Dip LA, BArch
Principal on behalf of
happyhomes.nz 19W hat will Our House look like?
7
11
1 5
10
9
3
4
Key Features
1. The Chapel 7. Community Meeting Area
2. The Water Tank 8. Historic Fruit Trees
3. The Gardens 9. The TB Hut
4. The Cafe 10. Counselling Rooms for Home & Family
5. The Museum Room 11. Play Therapy Area
6. Open Frontage to St. Asaph St 12. Home & Family Staff areas
20 Help us build the house that makes happy homes2
8
12
Artist’s impression only
6
The proposed restoration of the Convent will include seven
Counselling Rooms for Home & Family clients, areas for Child Play
Therapy, a reception area, staff offices and combined staff spaces.
In addition, there will be many opportunities for the sit in the south-western corner of the building. The
public to engage with and use this wonderful building. water tank on St. Asaph St will form a landmark for
Planned usage of the stunning chapel will include the public and a reference point for meeting people.
weddings, recitals and tours. The chapel will also
remain in use by the Sisters of The Community of the The St. Asaph street frontage will also be opened so
Sacred Name. The room next to the chapel has been this special heritage treasure can be viewed and
designated as a community meeting area. The Sister’s enjoyed by all who pass by. The weatherboard and tin
reading room will be set up as a museum to house exterior has a uniquely Kiwi identity, the likes of which
artefacts and treasures for public view. One of the has inspired some of our most prominent artists. The
bedrooms will remain set up, as it would have been restoration of Our House is a chance for this building
throughout the building’s life. to be enjoyed by the whole community.
The gardens, featuring historic fruit trees, a
tuberculosis hut (relocated onto the site from New
Brighton) and an old apple store, will form a
welcoming entrance point to the public café which will
happyhomes.nz 21Support Our House
We have already identified Charitable Trusts and local businesses as
partners for this project.
Anyone interested in personally supporting
Our House, we encourage to do so.
The figures below indicate the value and number of contributions we are
aiming to secure to ensure the success of this project. Bespoke recognition
of these gifts would be developed in partnership with the contributor.
Individual Contributions
$100,000
$50,000 $50,000
$20,000 $20,000 $20,000
$10,000 $10,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000 $5,000
Below are examples of how tax effective giving makes full use of the
33.3% rebate that is available.
Pledge Tax Rebate Net cost to Donor
$100,000 $33,300 $66,700
$50,000 $16,650 $33,350
$20,000 $6,660 $13,340
$10,000 $3,330 $6,670
$5,000 $1,665 $3,335
Some donors prefer to manage their giving by making annual pledges
over a specified period, for example three years. We welcome this
approach.
Charitable Taxation Donations made to Home &
Family by individuals may qualify
for the 33.3% tax rebate up to
Home & Family is registered with their accessible income.
the Charities Services and is
authorised to receive donations Home & Family’s IRD number is
by way of IRD Donee 109 198 51 and Charities Services
Organisational Status. number is 23597.
22 Help us build the house that makes happy homesPlease help us build the house
that makes happy homes
The refurbishment of Our House serves the Canterbury community
through the establishment of a permanent and secure base from
which Home & Family can continue its vital work building happy and
safe homes for children and their families.
Our House also protects and maintains this significant heritage
building, allowing the good work that has always been undertaken
from within its walls to continue. This gives the convent a new lease
on life, preserving its place within the community it has continued to
serve throughout its history.
This significant undertaking will cost $3.6 million to complete.
For over 100 years Home & Family
has been actively contributing to our
community and making a real and
measurable difference in the lives of
families.
With your help Home & Family can achieve its goal of refurbishing
the convent and turning it into Our House – a place where families
are strengthened and supported.
Help us build the house that makes
happy homes – donate now.
happyhomes.nz 23Home and Family Society Christchurch Inc.
76 Thackeray Street, Waltham, Christchurch 8023
PO Box 287, Christchurch 8140
03 944 0635
val@homeandfamily.net.nz
/HomeAndFamilySocietyChristchurch
Society Christchurch Inc. Est. 1898
/homeandfamilych
www.happyhomes.nz
Capital Fundraising Credits
Charlotte Jackson
Committee Photography
charlotterosejackson@gmail.com
027 313 7909
Henoch Kloosterboer
Phillip Duval Graphic Design
Home & Family – President contact@creed.nz
president@homeandfamily.net.nz 021 725 845
021 300 345
Additional Image Credits
Pg. 1, 23, Jo Currie
Val Carter Pg. 2, Fiona Tomlinson, Chrystal Chenery portrait
Pg. 4, Christchurch City Libraries Archives, insert
Home & Family – Executive Director Pg. 5, Lynne McCara Clark, insert
021 0284 4270 Pg. 8, Blend Images
Pg. 11, Canterbury Museum, insert (a)
Pg. 11, The Community of the Sacred Name, insert (b)
Pg. 12, 13, background image, 17, Tegan Hollis-Ristrow
Eve Wingerath Pg. 14, Andriy Petrenko
Pg. 16, 20, 21, William Fulton, sketches
Home & Family – Fundraising Manager Pg. 16, Pick Digital, insert
021 0262 0661 Pg. 18, Lynne McCara Clark, insertYou can also read
