Save Penman House

An Open Letter

 

To:

Auckland Council

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Hon. Paul Goldsmith MP

Hon. Chris Bishop MP

 

We, the undersigned, ask that Auckland Council issue a notice of requirement for a heritage order on Penman House at 155 Carrington Road. This is a building of nationally significant cultural heritage, in excellent condition, under threat of imminent demolition.

It was built in 1908 by staff and patients of Auckland Mental Hospital at Avondale for the superintendent and his family, converted in the late 1920s as a ward for voluntary women patients. The house is the site of groundbreaking work in modern psychiatry and psychology in New Zealand, and for four years in the 1930s was the refuge of one of our most important writers, Robin Hyde (Iris Wilkinson).

In the attic of Penman House Hyde wrote fiction and nonfiction books, as well as journalism. Her articles for the New Zealand Observer on the threatened eviction of Ngāti Whātua in Ōrākei were later cited by the iwi in their Te Tiriti claim.

Dame Fiona Kidman DNZM OBE describes Hyde as one of ‘the first significant women writers of Aotearoa/New Zealand. While Katherine Mansfield is honoured with memorials in buildings, statues and fellowships in her name, Hyde has not been given the same due.’ Kidman describes works like Passport to Hell – recording the life of the soldier James Stark (Starkie) of the NZ Expeditionary Forces – and the novel The Godwits Fly as ‘New Zealand classics. Their creator deserves recognition and honour. It would be very fitting if Penman House could be preserved in that spirit.’

Hyde’s work endures, taught at schools and universities in New Zealand and around the world. Her papers belong to UNESCO’s New Zealand Memory of the World Register. Penman House was essential to her personal survival and artistic development, and as a whare hirahira in the history of our city must not be destroyed.

 

Signed:

Elizabeth Aitken Rose: Chair, Frank Sargeson Trust

Tam Alexander: Going West Trust

Harriet Allan MNZN: editor

Rosetta Allan: Auckland writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jeremy Armstrong: Professor in Classical and Ancient Studies, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Caroline Barron (Te Uri O Hau): writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Fergus Barrowman: Publisher, Te Herenga Waka University Press

Pat Baskett: journalist

Carole Beu MNZM: Director, The Women’s Bookshop Ltd

Airini Beautrais PhD: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Weng Wai Bing: Auckland writer

Tom Bishop: Professor Emeritus, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Julie Biuso: Auckland writer

Eleanor Black: Auckland writer

Diane Blomfield: Going West Trust

Jenny Bornholdt MNZM: writer; 2020 Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Brian Boyd: Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Steve Braunias: journalist and author; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Mark Broatch: Literary editor, NZ Listener

Diane Brown MNZM: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Linda Bryder FRSNZ: Professor in History; Co-ordinator of the Auckland History Initiative, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Vanessa Byrnes:  Associate Professor and Head of School: Creative Industries, Unitec Institute of Technology Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka

Alex Calder: Professor of English, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Malcolm Campbell: Professor of History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Erin G. Carlston: Professor of English & Drama, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Rose Carlyle: Auckland writer

Elynne Challis: widow of Derek Challis, Robin Hyde’s son

Janet Charman: Auckland writer

Catherine Chidgey: writer; Associate Professor of English and Writing Studies at Waikato University Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Stephen Clarke PhD: historian

Peter Clayworth PhD: historian

Jan Coates: Going West Trust

Gina Cole MNZM: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Glenn Colquhoun: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Sandra Coney QSO: writer and historian

Thom Conroy: writer; Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Hera Cook: writer and historian; Honorary Senior Lecturer at Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington

Megan Cook: researcher and Historian

Belinda Cooke: Manager, New Zealand Book Awards Trust

Jack Remiel Cottrell (Ngāti Rangi): writer

Stephen Daisley: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jodie Dalgleish: writer and art curator

Kiran Dass: Programme Director WORD Christchurch

Lynn Davidson: writer

Catherine Day: artist

Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Auckland

Adam Dudding: Auckland writer, journalist and podcaster

Kate Duignan: writer; Lecturer at the International Institute of Modern Letters, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Megan Dunn: Auckland writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Simon During FAHA: Professor of English, University of Melbourne

Mark Easterbrook: Going West Trust

Elizabeth Easther: Auckland writer

Lynley Edmeades: writer; Lecturer in English at the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka; Editor of Landfall Tauraka; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jacob Edmond: Donald Collie Professor of English and Head of English and Linguistics at University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

Murray Edmond: writer; honorary academic in English and Drama at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou): Professor of Art History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Barbara Else MNZM: writer and editor; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Chris Else: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Marian Evans: Spiral Collectives

Paul Ewen: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jan Farr: writer

Tracy Farr: writer; Wellington Writers Walk committee; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Fiona Farrell ONZM: writer; 2007 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction: Fellow of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Laurence Fearnley: writer; 2019 Arts Laureate

Gigi Fenster: writer; Lecturer in Creative Writing, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Catriona Ferguson: Managing Director, Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tamaki

Lyndsey Fineran: Artistic Director, Auckland Writers Festival Waituhi o Tamaki

Esther Fitzpatrick: Senior Lecturer in Education, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Janis Freegard: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Annelyse Gelman MFA: writer

Annie Goldson, ONZM, FRSNZ: Professor of Communication, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland; 2023 Arts Laureate

Patricia Grace, DCNZM (Ngāti Toa, Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Raukawa): writer; 2006 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction; Fellow of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Paula Green MNZM: writer, 2017 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Stacy Gregg: Auckland writer

Erin Griffey: Associate Professor of Art History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Mandy Hager: writer

Miranda Harcourt DNZM ONZM: actor

Penny Hartill: literary and arts PR specialist

Siobhan Harvey: writer; Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing, AUT University of Technology Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Jennifer Hellum: Senior Lecturer in Classical and Ancient Studies, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Harley Hern: writer; manager of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Nikki Hessell: Professor of English, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Claire Hill: Programmes and Operations Manager, The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc)

David Hill MNZM: writer; 2021 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction.

Dominic Hoey: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Karen Holdom: Auckland writer

Roger Horrocks: Emeritus Professor, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

David Howard; writer; co-founder of journal takahē; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Christine Hurley: Chair, Randell Cottage Writers Trust.

Witi Ihimaera DCNZSM QSM: writer; Chairman Te Kāhui o Ngā Kaituhi Māori: 2017 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction; Fellow of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Anna Jackson: writer; Associate Professor of English at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Miranda James: Auckland writer

Stephanie Johnson MNZM: writer: 2022 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction: co-founder of the Auckland Writers Festival: Fellow of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Alison Jones: Professor Emeritus, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Daren Kamali: Auckland writer

Angelique Kasmara: Auckland writer and editor

Anne Kennedy: writer and teacher; 2021 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Rina Kim: Senior Lecturer, Drama, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Rachael King: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Elizabeth Knox CNZM: writer; 2019 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Charlotte Lainchbury: Robin Hyde scholar, University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

Melanie Laville-Moore: Managing Director of Allen & Unwin Aotearoa NZ; Chair of the Coalition for Books

Maire Leadbetter; writer and human rights activist

Mike Lee: councillor

Nicola Legat ONZM: Publisher, Massey University Press; Chair, New Zealand Book Awards Trust

Alys Longley: Professor of Dance Studies, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Claire Mabey: writer; founder Verb Wellington festival; Books editor, the Spinoff

Finlay Macdonald: journalist; Editor (NZ) of The Conversation AUNZ

Tsitsi Mapepa: Auckland writer

Selina Tusitala Marsh ONZM: writer: Professor of English at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland; Commonwealth Poet Laureate; former Poet Laureate of New Zealand; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Martinborough Bookshop

Michael Mawson: Maclaurin Goodfellow Chair, Theological and Religious Studies at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Sharon Mazer: Professor of Theatre & Performance Studies, AUT University of Technology Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Mary McCallum: writer; Publisher at Mākaro Press and The Cuba Press; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Amy McDaid: Auckland writer

Tiopira McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi): Senior Lecturer, Co-Head of School Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland

Jan McEwan: Michael King Writers Centre

Stuart McKenzie: playwright, screenwriter and director

Naomi McLeary MNZM: Going West Trust

Frankie McMillan: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Eileen Merriman FRACP FRCPA AFRACMA: writer; Honorary Associate Professor, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Gregory Minissale: Professor of Art History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Paula Morris MNZM (Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Wai): writer and editor; Associate Professor of English, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland; 2022 Arts Laureate; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jacqueline Mortimer-Hughes: Lecturer in School of Social Sciences and Humanities, AUT University of Technology Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Jenny Nagle: Chief Executive, The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc)

Nadine Rubin Nathan: co-founder and literary agent, High Spot Literary.

Emma Neale: writer and editor; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Brendan O’Brien: Fine Arts printer

Gregory O’Brien MNZM: writer; 2012 Arts Laureate; 2012 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Nonfiction; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Michael O’Leary (Te Arawa): writer and publisher

Vincent O’Malley FRSNZ FRHistS: historian; 2022 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Nonfiction

Nicola Olsen: film producer

Jessica Palalagi: General Manager, the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi

Richard Pamatatau: Programme Leader: Creative Writing, AUT University of Technology Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau

Rachel Paris: Auckland writer

Mary Paul: Honorary Research Fellow, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa,

Robin Peace CRSNZ: retired Associate Professor, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Jock Phillips ONZM: historian; 2014 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Nonfiction

Kim M. Phillips: Head of School of Humanities and Professor of History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Kiri Piahana-Wong (Ngāti Ranginui): Publisher, Anahera Press; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Ruby Porter: Auckland writer and lecturer

Chris Price: writer; Senior Lecturer, International Institute of Modern Letters, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

John Prins: Auckland writer

Publishers Association of New Zealand

Maggie Rainey-Smith: writer; committee member, Wellington Writers Walk; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Sudha Rao: writer

Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

Richard Reeve: writer and barrister; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Harry Ricketts: writer; Emeritus Professor, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Claudia Rozas: Lecturer in Education, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Al Rowland ONZM: retired research scientist, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Alison Rowland: retired Manager of Student Liaison and Advice, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Louise Russell: Publisher, Bateman Books

Haruhiko Sameshima: photographer; Publisher, Rim Books; Research Associate at the Auckland War Memorial Museum

Patrick Sandbrook PhD: Robin Hyde scholar; Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa

Elspeth Sandys: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Genevieve Scanlan: Librarian, University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka

Marianne Schultz PhD: historian

Tracey Sharp: Going West Trust

Sarah Shieff: Associate Professor of English and Writing Studies, Waikato University Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Erena Shingade: Publisher, Spoor Books

Allan Smith: retired Senior Lecturer, Elam School of Fine Arts, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

C.K. Stead, ONZM, CBE: Professor Emeritus, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland; 2009 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction; Fellow of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Paul Stewart: Publisher, Mākaro Press and The Cuba Press

Vivienne Stone: creative producer

Nicola Strawbridge: Going West Trust

Gavin Strawhan: Auckland writer

Erica Stretton: Editor, Kete Books

Jillian Sullivan: writer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Vanda Symon: writer; President, The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ); member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Apirana Taylor (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Ruanui): writer; 2014 Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Philip Temple ONZM: writer, 2005 Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Nonfiction; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Margie Thomson: Auckland writer

Time Out Bookstore, Auckland

Sophie Tomlinson: Associate Professor of English and Drama, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Chris Tse: writer; former Poet Laureate of New Zealand; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Unity Books, Auckland

Bridget van der Zjipp: writer; co-curator Hamilton Literary Festival; co-curator Writers Write: Actors Read

Bryan Walpert: writer; Professor of Creative Writing, Massey University Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Jennifer Te Atamira Ward-Lealand CNZM: actor and director

Philippa Werry: writer; Chair, Wellington Writers Walk

Pat White: writer and artist; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Gillian Whitehead DNZM (Ngāi te Rangi, Tūhoe): composer

Jeanette Wikaira (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Tamaterā): Chair, Hone Tuwhare Charitable Trust

Damien Wilkins: writer; Professor, International Institute of Modern Letters, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington; 2013 Arts Laureate

Haare Williams KNZM MNZM QCM (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki Rongowhakaata Tuhoe): Amorangi, Companion of Auckland War Memorial Museum

Aaron Wilson: Associate Professor and Head of School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland

Janet M. Wilson, FRS: Emeritus Professor of English and Postcolonial Studies, University of Northampton, UK; editor-in-chief of Journal of Postcolonial Writing

Alison Wong: writer and editor; 2024 Arts Laureate; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Becca Wood: Senior Lecturer, Creative Industries, Unitec Institute of Technology Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka

Briar Wood (Ngā Puhi nui Tonu): writer and lecturer; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Paul Woodruffe: artist; Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries, Unitec Institute of Technology Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka

Sue Wootton: Publisher, Otago University Press; member of the Academy of New Zealand Literature

Deborah Yates: former member, Waitematā Local Board

Grace Yee PhD: writer

 

   

Above left: Iris Wilkinson [Robin Hyde], 1936, Wellington, by Spencer Digby Studios. Spencer Digby / Ronald D Woolf Collection. Gift of Ronald Woolf, 1975. Te Papa (B.048932)
Above right: interior shot by Haru Sameshima, of the stained glass window Robin Hyde would have known.

 

                                   

Above: Historic photo of Grey Lodge.
.

 

Above left: Sameshima attic, where Robin Hyde wrote, in the most productive and supported years of her life.
Above right: The door to Robin Hyde’s attic.