NEWS

Te Maru undertook community consultation in 2012 regarding five potential conservation strategies to inform the future of Hinemihi. These 5Rs included: R1: repair, R2: restoration, R3: reuse, R4: redevelopment or R5: relocation.  This result of the consultation in a clear mandate to pursue R4: redevelopment as the conservation vision for Hinemihi at Clandon Park.

On Wednesday 29 April 2015 a fire broke out in the main house at Clandon Park. This was one of the largest fires in a Trust property in recent history. The fire gutted the interior of house and completely destroyed the upper rooms and the roof. Despite significant damage more than 400 items have been rescued and more are being recovered from the ashes. The fate of the Maori taonga that were inside the house is still unknown. Since then, all of the Trust's attention has been focused on stabilizing the site and putting together a plan for the restoration of the house.  Luckily Hinemihi survived the fire unscathed but all of the National Trust plans to focus attention on her conservation and development have currently halted.

In the wake of this tragedy, a delegation from Tuhourangi visited Clandon Park to tautoko, offer their support, including a substantial koha (gift). Te Maru is now working with Tuhourangi to revise their initial agenda and develop a new set of proposals for Hinemihi's future.