Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
Christchurch icon gets new lease of life
Growing up in Christchurch, Noahs Hotel on Oxford Terrace was a familiar landmark. In a city where so many landmarks were destroyed in the 2011 earthquake it is good news that the hotel is to be redeveloped. In its last iteration, the hotel was known as Rydges but to most inhabitants of the Garden City, it was always known as Noahs.
Last week it was announced the hotel will become a five star Sheraton, with a $150 million rebuild.
“Mainland Capital and Russell Property Group have struck a deal with global hotel giant Marriott International. Mainland Capital director Ben Bridge told RNZ the Sheraton hotel plans were a major milestone for the city’s post-quake recovery.
“‘This has been a building that’s been a bit of a blight on the landscape for the 15 years since the earthquake. It’s been identified by the council and the public as something they would like to see resolved. To be able to bring that to fruition with our partners, I think it’s a pretty significant step for solving one of the problematic sites in the city.’
“The 14-storey building would include 240 rooms or suites, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, event spaces and a gym when it opens in mid-2027.” (Source: “Quake-damaged abandoned Christchurch hotel set to become five-star Sheraton,” by Adam Burns, August 12, www.rnz.co.nz).
5 stars – once a building of note that registered with the people of Christchurch, the hotel has been an eyesore for nearly 15 years. It’s great that it gets to have another lease of life!
Owner leaves house to stanger
Most stories about housing in our media are generally depressing but this one is a real heartwarmer. A deceased homeowner of a property in Point Chevalier, Auckland, lived as a recluse but he left his property to a stranger who he had seen on TV.
“The property, which is 90 years old and appears to have had no work carried out for at least 70 years, is a deceased estate. It has been left to an Auckland woman that the reclusive owner, John saw on TV in the late 1990s, but never met. Robyn, the beneficiary, says she was contacted nearly 30 years ago after she lost her house in a landslide and appeared on a TV news bulletin.
“’I was in the news and my cat was too, and he loved cats and he saw me on the news and thought “she looks like a nice person”; I’m going to leave my estate to her. He wrote to me a few months later and said he would like to leave me a property and a cat. But he didn’t sign his name and he didn’t tell me where he lived.’”
The two never met although they did exchange Christmas cards. When John’s stopped, Robyn was contacted by John’s lawyers and was told he had passed away in a rest home.
“‘His lawyer had left a message to call and it was a couple of days before I rang back, not sure what it was about. And when he told me I thought “my God, this is actually happening”. Back when the offer was first made my lawyer had said it’s legitimate, but don’t hold your breath because he might change his mind every five minutes. So I didn’t expect anything.'” (Source: “Reclusive owner left derelict home to woman he saw on TV,” by Colleen Hawkes, August 12, www.stuff.co.nz).
5 stars – just a lovely selfless act – one stranger to another. Total upside!
Thoughtful Postie
If you worry when you leave the house that the washing on the line may get drenched if it rains, then this story is for you.
An Aussie postie delivering a parcel noticed there was washing on the line as it was starting to rain. He took it off the line and put it somewhere where it would be dry. When the homeowner returned she took to instagram to praise the attentive postal worker.
“’This is 1 in a million. I was on my way home when the heavens opened, and I thought, “There go the sheets.” When I got home, the line was empty. I had to check the cameras to see what happened. The postie had brought my wash in out of the rain.'” (Source: “Aussie postie bringing in washing from the rain is praised for ‘incredible act of kindness,'” by Sam Smith, August 19, www.stuff.co.nz).
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