Author(s): Ann McEwan

Architecture

"The Houses of Hayes Paddock" is the third book produced by the Waikato Institute of Technology's School of Media Arts and Communication. Hayes Paddock has recently been recognised by the Hamilton City Council as a heritage precinct. This follows many years of community debate about the special character of Hayes Paddock. The issues have centred on whether or not there should be planing rules for future development of the area and how the Council might balance individual property rights with a community desire to see part of the past protected. The community debate has at times been emotional and controversial. Some see the area as a collection of old State Houses, others as an example of well-designed, well-built heritage homes that reflect a decision by the first Labour Government of the garden suburb that it was originally designed to be. Since those Hayes Paddock streets were first laid out and the houses built, Hamilton has been transformed into an emerging metropolitan city that few could have imagined at the time. The fact that so much has changed, especially in relatively recent times, gives us further reason to have a living reminder of the past. The hope is that Hayes Paddock will be even more highly valued in the years to come. All of the photographs in this book, except for historic illutrations, is by Anne Challinor, who graduated from Wintec and is completing her Honour year. Wintec also appointed Dr Ann McEwan as visiting Wintec Historian. Design of the book has been the responsibility of Jaimee Ballard who graduated in 2007.