How a home seizure lead to family happiness

Get the 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 from Stuff's Homed team ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [Support our Journalism]( [Support our Journalism »](   HOMED 13 July 2024   Kia ora {NAME}, Imagine building the home you’ve spent your life dreaming about, only to have to surrender it to the relentless march of progress. That’s what happened to Julie Stringer, the [former owner of Stringer House]( in Raumati South, on the Kāpiti Coast. With her husband Gordon, Julie commissioned the home in 1988 from the late architect Nigel Cook. The couple had 21 happy years living in the unique home. In 2011, however, the home was one of many [seized to make way for Transmission Gully](. The transport agency seizes homes infrequently, usually for road widening, or boosting infrastructure. They will negotiate a reasonable price for the land, but fighting the acquisition is often futile. The Stringers fought hard for their home. In the end, they had to leave. But there’s a silver lining to what was a very black cloud over the family. The house was given [heritage protection]( and the agency's plans for the expressway changed. Stringer House was saved. I was fortunate to meet Julie when she returned for a nostalgic tour of the home that will forever carry her family name. She told me that, while it was devastating to lose the home, it forced them to reconsider where they wanted to live, and who they wanted to spend their retirement years close to. They wanted a fresh start, so they ended up moving to Nelson, where their son and his family lived. The move meant she and Gordon got to be a part of their grandchildren’s lives, to see them grow up in person. She cherishes that opportunity. Sad as she was, Julie couldn’t be happier today. “We had our time here,” she said. “But my life is in Nelson now.” Here’s to all our housing clouds having such optimistic silver linings. Enjoy your weekend. Kylie Klein Nixon Senior Reporter Homed Reporter name Reporter byline Enjoying this email? [Check out Stuff's other daily and weekly newsletters.](   [The house that beat Transmission Gully: Architect Nigel Cook’s 'Wind Rain' house]( Radical glasshouse home, once threatened by Transmission Gully, shows what real indoor-outdoor flow is like. [Why this ad]( [Over society? Couple turn army unimog into off-grid, off-road home]( When this Christchurch couple wanted to get away from other people’s opinions, they had to think bigger than a campervan. home a colourful reminder of life on the road]( Otago woman Toni Hasler had to give up traveller life, but she was never going to give up colour. offers to 'gift' $6.81m cottage to end dispute over blocked coastal walkway]( Held by the Firth family for 100 years, this $6.81m heritage cottage on the Takapuna waterfront is where the coastal walkway is blocked. blocks from the beach for under $400k]( It has a growing reputation for affordable, quality housing: Could you live in this “five-minute town”? Support the Stuff you love. If you enjoy this content, please consider making a contribution. It can be as little as the cost of the coffees you drink while enjoying our news, podcasts and videos. [I'd like to contribute →]( [Discover more at Homed]( [Manage Stuff Account]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Terms & Conditions]( | [Privacy Policy]( You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the Stuff Homed newsletter. Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up to get the Stuff Homed newsletter in your inbox.]( Stuff, 4 Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, Auckland 1021, New Zealand [Instagram]( [TikTok]( [YouTube]( * You can email us at [feedback@stuff.co.nz](mailto:*%20You%20can%20email%20us%20at%20feedback@stuff.co.nz,%20or%20call%20us%20on%C2%A00800%20339%20000.), or call us on [0800 339 000](tel:0800%20339%20000).