Haus

Foxton, Horowhenua, NZ, June2012: An abandoned house I noticed while passing through Foxton. It’s seen better days and looks more suited to a horror film set- ie. Hitchcocks infamous 1960 film Psycho.

Carnarvon

Manawatu, New Zealand, June 2012: An abandoned hall that I think was a small country school fifty years or so ago.. The sign says “enter at your own risk”, I don’t know what the risk is- but might have to find out next time I pass by…

PTA Pt.2

Patea, South Taranaki, NZ, March 2012: More images from the doomed and now derelict Patea Hospital. It’s seems insane to me that a former health facility -that served the local community for a century- should be left to ruin and vandalism in such a humiliating and undignified manner. See the first part here.

The Lost City

Olympos, Turkey, April 2003: While the US and allies were invading Iraq in April 2003, I was making my own sort of invasion route to neighbouring Turkey for the first time. It was a rather circuitous route, island hopping from Athens down to Crete- a long and very rough boat ride east to Rhodes- and […]

Burnt Place

Hawera, Taranaki, NZ, June 2012: Another fire gutted building, this time in the town I grew up in, Hawera. The town has seen many major fires over the years, in pre-colonial times and during the early days of “Pakeha” settlement in particular. This led to the building of Hawera’s iconic concrete water tower. The Maori […]

Dorset

Seatoun, Wellington, October 2011: Fort Dorset battery was a former coastal artillery station, built to defend the entrance to Wellington Harbour from a possible naval attack. Construction began prior to the First World War- it was occupied and operational through both wars and up untill the mid 1950’s.

PTA Pt.1

Patea, Taranaki, NZ, December 2011: The Historic former Patea Hospital (c.1880) still stands in it’s dilapidated state, 22 years after its closure. When the hospital finally closed its doors on December the 5th 1990, it had served the Patea District for over century. Locals have been complaining for years about the eyesore, demanding the […]

Summit

Midhurst, Taranaki NZ, March 2012: The neglected “Summit-Quinphos” building was a former Taranaki Dairy Company milk powder factory that operated for a brief time in the mid 1970’s. Current occupiers are unknown- the factory seems to be now only used to store fertiliser. The site was virtually abandoned when I dropped by in March…

For Sale

Greytown, Wairarapa, NZ, April 2012: The long-derelict former Greytown Hospital is up for sale. Buildings on the historic 1.5 hectare site date back to 1890 and followed the old Florence Nightingale open-ward plan. Most of the asbestos has now been removed and the main building earthquake strengthened. The hospital (which closed in 1995) had originally […]