Stacy Vallis¹, Francisco Galvez², Moustafa Swidan², and Jason M. Ingham³
1)  PhD Student, University of Auckland
School of Architecture and Planning, Symonds Street, University of Auckland, 1010 Auckland,
New Zealand
e-mail: sval034@aucklanduni.ac.nz
2)  PhD Student, University of Auckland
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Khyber Pass Road, University of Auckland,
1023 Auckland, New Zealand
{Francisco Galvez, Moustafa Swidan} email: {fglv390, mswi136@aucklanduni.ac.nz}
3)  Professor, University of Auckland
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Khyber Pass Road, University of Auckland,
1023 Auckland, New Zealand
email: j.ingham@auckland.ac.nz

Keywords: Architectural Heritage Conservation, Precincts, Unreinforced Masonry, New Zealand.

Abstract. The West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island received international literary fame through the publication of Eleanor Catton’s novel The Luminaries (winner, Man Booker Prize 2013). Stories of nineteenth century colonial success and hardship define both Catton’s novel, and the architectural building stock that has endured to the present day. Today, geographic isolation from the central and eastern areas of New Zealand’s South Island, along with ongoing threats of seismic activity distinguish the Westland and Tasman region townships of Greymouth, Hokitika, Westport, and Nelson. The 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence caused a high proportion of deaths in public places, due to the collapse of the prevalent historic unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings (Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission, 2012). A shift in research focus, to precincts of URM buildings rather than individual structures has arisen in anticipation of an impending Alpine Fault rupture, to readdress public urban safety whilst privileging historic building fabric. A study was undertaken to compare the historic architectural and urban characteristics across the identified town centres. Early findings indicated some similarities across the building stock, whereas differences emerged through heritage management and urban composition of these precincts. The findings informed a current interdisciplinary project, focused on documenting comparable precincts across the South Island.