Dewrap party this Saturday

I have known for some time now that interesting things have been happening here. Until this week, I didn't know quite what it was. The posters have just gone up, and the NZ Herald has done a feature article. The plastic wrapping is to come off in just three days from now. So this was a blip I had to get now.

I have edited the Herald piece to provide some information:

Underneath the graffitied white plastic is a colonial villa built in 1885, which had been left to sink into dereliction, perhaps because at one time it was used as a drug rehab house. After that period it was bought by Housing New Zealand, with the intention of demolition. Members of the local community fought the government agency, and obtained a heritage category 2 listing. The house was sold to a medical practitioner, who won resource consent for a restaurant, and then did nothing further.
A charitable trust called Falling Apple became involved, with the project led by Ms Rosy Armitage. She negotiated with the doctor for the trust to do it up rent free and take a long-term lease until 2033 with first right to purchase. She hopes they can buy it sooner. The house is now the hub of a new "social enterprise" underpinned by an ethical philosophy.
Ms Armitage has rejected the macro economics she learned about at university, as guiding development. Rather than "... the whole for-profit [approach], that human beings need a carrot to find happiness, that the carrot ... must be money and that they need to be competitive to be happy", she believes "... that people [are] innately self-sacrificing, not self-serving, and that for true happiness ... you have to be self-sacrificing and ... [give] instead of trying to take."
One of the big drivers in this project is to reconnect with the land, with food production, and with neighbours. The house will act as a physical centre drawing people together.
It has already done so during the process of restoring the house to safe and effective use. Thanks to people willing to work for nothing and thousands of dollars of sponsorship money, the house is on its way to wellness. Locals, builders, painters and all manner of businesses have been swept up by what's happening at 123 Grafton Rd and have contributed. It is estimated that half a million dollars worth of work has gone into the outside of the house.
A cafe called Hum is already open and in a year or so there will also be the Hum restaurant, a media centre, workshop space, arts, music and more. Staff will be paid, and any profit goes back into the trust for redistribution. Already some sculptures have been located in front of the house
On 02 February 2013 the plastic is to come off in an unveiling party and fundraiser for the next phase of development in this unusual venture, which aims to contribute to the community. Everyone who attends will give koha (a donation), and items will be available for purchase, all at $5.

Looks interesting large.

(The man with the camera is a traffic warden who will photograph any cars or vehicles other than buses and motorcycles which are not permitted to cross Grafton Bridge between 0700 and 1900)