Timeline
Find out more about the timeline of the site at 320 The Terrace.
1944—McLean Flats completed.
1959—Gordon Wilson Flats completed.
2012—Residents evacuated from Gordon Wilson Flats and McLean Flats after serious seismic and structural concerns.
2014—University purchases Gordon Wilson Flats from Housing NZ.
2016—Wellington City Council approves application to rezone the site as ‘Institutional precinct’ and delist Gordon Wilson Flats from District Plan heritage list.
2017—Council decision to delist the building's heritage status is successfully challenged in the Environment Court.
2019—University purchases the McLean Flats.
2019—Wellington City Council deems the Gordon Wilson Flats to be earthquake prone.
2019—University commissions a feasibility study to better understand the site.
2020—The Te Huanui development is backed by then Vice-Chancellor Grant Guilford, the website is built and promoted.
2021—University undertakes health and safety improvements on the McLean flats; repairing and building new fencing, and wrapping the public facing building façade.
2022—University makes a submission to the Proposed District Plan, requesting the council rezone the land occupied by McLean Flats to 'Institutional precinct' and delist Gordon Wilson Flats from the District Plan heritage list.
2023—The University paused the process of lodging a resource consent application to Wellington City Council for the demolition of Gordon Wilson Flats, due to financial sustainability concerns.
March 2024—The University submission to the Proposed District Plan requesting the delisting of Gordon Wilson Flats from the District Plan heritage list was first rejected by the independent panel, then accepted by Wellington City Council. This will now go to the Government for ratification.
May 2024—The Minister for Resource Management reform rejected recommendations of the Wellington City Council to delist 10 heritage buildings, including the Gordon Wilson Flats.
We remain encouraged that the University’s written submission to the panel was supported by Councillors, and we support the Mayor in her request to make the process for delisting heritage buildings easier.