The house once owned by the writer Maurice Shadbolt has taken a giant step towards becoming a writer’s  residency, under the management of Going West, the longest-running literary festival in Aotearoa.

Auckland Council voted unanimously on August 25 to transfer the Titirangi house once owned by writer Maurice Shadbolt to the Going West Trust.

Auckland Council came into the house as a result of the “supercity” in 2010, when the six separate Auckland councils were amalgamated into what is now one body.

Previously, in 2006, the now defunct Waitākere City Council purchased the property from Shadbolt’s family, on the mutual understanding that it would become a writer’s residency.

One of the prime movers behind all of this is Naomi McCleary (MNZM), who sits on Going West’s board of trustees. “It’s been a long time coming, and now our real work is just beginning”, she said.

“There’s been an enormous effort from a huge number of people to get this far, not just the Going West team. The Waitākere Ranges Local Board has been very supportive, as have the council staffers and now, the governing body of Auckland Council, too. This will truly be a resource for the whole community, reflecting and enhancing the incredible artistic legacy of west Auckland.”

As an arts manager in Waitākere City Council under the mayoralty of (now Sir) Bob Harvey, she negotiated the purchase of the property, and has been lobbying local board and council politicians to keep the project alive.

Harvey and McCleary together founded many significant arts facilities in west Auckland, including McCahon House, Te Uru Waitākere Contemporary Gallery, Corban Estate Arts Centre, and Going West, the literary festival which is now charged with funding and managing the
necessary refurbishments to make the property suitable for writers a writers’ residency.

Auckland Council Mayor Phil Goff said “I think it’s fantastic that the Going West Trust has picked up this challenge, and has a vision for what this home can be in terms of a future writers-in-residence location, and preserving a piece of history that’s important to the west, but
actually important to all of Auckland … What an inspiration for a young writer to be in that place where Maurice Shadbolt did so much of his writing and be surrounded by that aura.”

Following the unanimous Council decision, Going West Trust will enter a four-year lease with Auckland Council for the land in Titirangi on which the building is sited, during which the Trust can finance and undertake rehabilitation of the buildings, including a house and studio. If
successful, the Trust may then renew the lease for a further ten years, with further options to renew.