Christchurch council buys Red House for $ 2.5 million

The Christchurch City Council has purchased a site on the Banks Peninsula near Akaroa described as being of national importance and of immense importance to the local Maori.

The council paid $ 2.5 million for the Red House in Takapūneke, which will be incorporated into a reserve.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel Reserve said the council was working to get the site recognized as as important as the Waitangi Treaty grounds.

The property’s real estate agent, John Moyle, said the council had the opportunity to purchase the property about 18 months ago, but did not approve the deal.

A report prepared for the council said that the land on which the Red House was built was once part of an important Ngāi Tahu flax trading village of chief Te Maiharanui, who traded with whaling ships from around the world in the mid-1800s. 1820s.

It was through this good relationship that Te Maiharanui had with the Europeans that he boarded a British ship Brig Elizabeth, was captured and later killed by Te Rauparaha who had been hiding on the ship.

Te Rauparaha and his war group landed in Takapūneke and massacred the unsuspecting inhabitants of Ngāi Tahu, according to a report prepared for the council.

The site was considered sacred by the iwi after the 1830 massacre, so out of respect for their tūpuna they avoided the area for more than 100 years.

William Green and his family landed their cattle at Takapūneke in 1839 and built the first Red House the same year.

The original house burned down in 1888, the house that is currently on the market was built in 1924 and has a taxable value of $ 1.2 million.

Ōnuku Rūnanga representative Rik Tainui told the council that the property purchase is an opportunity to chart a new positive and constructive path.

“It’s amazing for my family, what happened in Takapūneke is part of New Zealand history and we have waited a long time to get this piece of whenua back.

“We are hopeful that the council will seriously consider buying the Red House and putting together what we believe should always have been part of the Takapūneke Reserve.”

Akaroa Civc Trust Chairman Mike Norris told the council that if they don’t buy The Red House, it could fall into the hands of someone who doesn’t respect the history of the area.

He pointed out how times have changed and the land is finally being respected for its cultural and historical significance.

“Takapūneke offers a unique opportunity to educate this and future generations about the circumstances in which the modern state of New Zealand was founded.”