Bell House at the Howick Historical Village received $10,500 from an Auckland Council heritage fund that has now opened for a new round of applications.
Councillor Julie Fairey, chair of the Council’s Community Committee, says Auckland’s historic heritage “should be cherished and be visible for residents and visitors to get a glimpse into the region’s colourful and diverse past”.
The grant covered replacing the spouting and downpipes, painting the sides of the building and a roof wash.
It was one of 27 projects sharing $534,241 in the last funding round.
Applications for the 2026 Regional Historic Heritage Grant Programme opened on 20 July and close on 14 September.
Decisions are due by 30 November.
Individuals, iwi or Maori groups, community groups and trusts can apply for up to $50,000, and the Council says it may allocate more in exceptional circumstances.
To be eligible, a place must be listed in the Auckland Unitary Plan or in the Auckland Council District Plan for the Hauraki Gulf Islands.
The Council’s stated priorities are the conservation of regionally significant heritage places, the conservation of at-risk places including work addressing the impacts of climate change, and support for kaitiakitanga of Maori cultural heritage places.
Lower-priority applications for heritage interpretation, such as brochures and signs, and for work already completed will also be considered.
Howick is known for its share of historical buildings in the region, including one of the oldest buildings in Auckland, the Old All Saints Church on Cook Street, built in 1847 for the Fencible settlement.
Bell House was completed in 1851 for Captain Charles Henry Montressor-Smith and is one of four houses built for officers of the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps stationed at Howick and Panmure.
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga lists it as a Category 1 historic place and as one of the few remaining examples of a fencible officer’s house.
The building was moved to its present site on Bells Road in 1895, and was damaged by fire in 2008 and repaired the following year.
“These grants make a real contribution to help preserve, enhance and celebrate heritage taonga in Tāmaki Makaurau,” Fairey says.
An online workshop on the application process runs from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Wednesday 5 August, with registrations by email to grants@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
