The last January 2026 update ...

 

Work in progress

I thought I would start with this rather scary picture of one of the Aoraki workforce on the scaffolding, taken from their website. Those people must have nerves of steel! It is also indicative of the fact that there are workers all over the building right now, accompanied by a lot of noisy activity, as every level has something important going on.  For the first time, it is possible to be vividly aware that there are over fifty of them.

Scaffolding

It has been promised since back in December that the scaffolding would start to come down soon, but after a start the operation was stalled by (a) the holidays and (b) the weather.  Spring has not lived up to its promise.  But, hopefully, more will happen next week.

As Beckie (of the bulletins) communicated to me, the removal will be of the top five-six floors, starting on the western side, and moving all around the building. The scaffolding about the hoist will be the last to go. As she wrote:

'It is all elevations except the part on the South elevation where our construction hoist is; but starting on the West elevation next week, then we will make our way around. The actual process will take 2-3 weeks and is weather dependant (but you should see some activity happening from next week).'

Ventilation upgrade

The fans are being adjusted all the time, as the movement down the building allows. Those on the top floors will have noticed that the noise has quietened considerably, which is a very good sign.

The Board

We had the first meeting of the new board on Monday, and a lot was discussed and decided.  Chris Garrett is now officially the chairman, and Camille Dentice is the deputy. Congratulations and good luck to them both. We have just five directors now, which is a bare quorum.  Any volunteers putting up their hands to come onto the board would be most welcome.  We also need alternative directors, people who will step in on a temporary basis when a director is sick or away from Wellington, just to make sure we have a quorum. Again, anyone interested would find a welcome.

The lifts

You would have noticed that the veneer has been taken away from around the lift thresholds.  This is in preparation for some strengthening, ready for the new doors. Aoraki Construction is now waiting for plans from Otis for the next step, which is adjustment of the jambs -- the vertical sides of the thresholds -- plus strengthening of the lift shaft. There are also ongoing talks with Spectrum.

Sky

The cables to the aerials, which ran down the ventilation risers, have been cut, and there will be no antennae on the roof.  Conversation with Sky is ongoing, and meantime the only fix is Sky pods and wifi.  Unfortunately it means that programmes can't be recorded to be played later. 

CHANGES IN THE BOARD

 

Ken Geard

As you all know by now, most unfortunately because of his deteriorating health, Ken has been forced to resign as the Chair of the Herbert Gardens Board, and also to step down as a Director. His hard work in the role at the very taxing time of planning and executing the remediation of the building has been absolutely first class, and his input will be missed very much indeed.

With Damien leaving on March 12, this feels like a double whammy.  However, the Board and the Project will still be in good hands.  Chris Garrett will be taking over the chairmanship, not as a new hand, but as someone who has been closely involved with the project from the very beginning.  He is a registered management consultant, so knows the construction business inside out.

Mike Underhill, who is now also a powerhouse within the board, has also been a valued advisor throughout the project planning and execution. Super-qualified, he has degrees in electrical engineering, economics, business management and more. He has been particularly involved in the lift replacement project.

While Mike and Chris did not officially join the current board until the December 2025 AGM, they have both been advisors to the board throughout the project, so are fully up to date with both planning and progress.

Weather tightness

Yesterday's heavy rain meant it was time for a check. Not a rain check, a moisture check!  This was carried out in the afternoon, with visits to 13A, 12A, 12B, 11A, 11B, 9A and 9B, with no moisture detected. For the techies, the readings ranged from 8%RH to 12%RH. Aoraki checked in with the builder, John Nicholson, in 10A, and he reported no water ingress.  So that is very encouraging news.

Visitor parking

Please, as people move back into their apartments, remember that parking is scarce. Brigid requests that anyone expecting a visitor should warn her, even in the weekends, so that she can ensure that a park will be available, and that the visitor will not be flagged as an illegal.  Also, please warn your visitors that illegal parking is not allowed -- and this means down in the garages.  There have been instances of cars and vans being blocked in, which is not just hugely inconvenient for shareholders who can't get their cars out, but for tradies who can't drive to the next job.  And do remember that your visitor must put a notice in the windscreen with the number of the apartment being visited, and a phone number so that they can be told to move if necessary.

TO START A NEW YEAR

 

Happy New Year to all

I had an interesting holiday season, in that my computer crashed, along with my phone and my printer.

Bad karma, yes.  Also an excuse for the lapse in newsflashes.  Quite apart from the fact that I couldn't think of anything to write, I had lost all my photos and other HGL data.  So, while I was immensely thankful for the Boxing Day sales, it did mean many hours trying to catch up to where I was in early December. 

Ground floor

As those few who are still in the building will have noticed, work has begun on preparing the ground floor for remediation.  Ken has moved out of the ground floor apartment, and plastic sheets have been laid over the carpet.

Obviously, it is all go from here.  Getting in and out of the building is going to be interesting.

Weather and fire alarms

We have had interesting weather, but can thank our lucky stars that the temps are not in the thirties, the way they are elsewhere.  To everyone's relief, there have been no reports of weather related leaks. The only leak so far this year is from a reinstalled washing machine, which should be a plumbing fix.

We have had three false alarm call outs.  One was utterly mysterious, another was due to dust in a stairwell smoke alarm, and the third was because of a heater in a small bathroom.  The sensor of the relevant heat alarm has been adjusted to avoid a recurrence. Throughout it all, remarkably friendly relations have been established with the very pleasant and helpful fire crews.

Ken Geard, our chairman, is in hospital.  Hopefully it will be for just a short time, and we all send our very best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Both Damien and Brigid are well and at work, for which we feel very thankful.