"It’s the best challenge"
As the last phase of the Hokitika Government Building weathertightness project begins we shine a light onto the new reconstructed sash windows going into the building.
Rosemary Baird | Hokitika
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Reconstruction or restoration?
After over a hundred years keeping out the rain and seaside air, the windows in the Hokitika Government building were in poor repair when Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga purchased the building in 2020. Rot, water damage and broken sashes were all widespread.
In 2024, during the first phase of the project, specialist joiners Paparoa Timberworks, owned by Sam Weston, repaired a few windows, including the curved Courtroom window. Restoring the courtroom window gave Sam a new respect for the original joiners. “It was a very impressive window. It’s the first one that I’ve seen that’s a square window on the inside and an arched window on the outside in one frame. It was quite complicated as it’s made in two halves. They were very clever carpenters back then.”
But the work was time consuming, and scraping back layers of lead paint posed a health risk. Being at the end of their life expectancy, window repair wasn’t the way forward for such a huge project.
Robin Miller of Origin Heritage, heritage consultant for the project, says “The decision about what to do with the existing windows was complex and became a careful balance between repair and retention of a few and reconstruction of others. The client team had to take into account various factors such as the heritage value of the windows, their condition and past modifications, the need for improved weathertightness to the principal brick facades, the architectural/aesthetic value of the building, its streetscape value to the town, the cost of the work, the availability of skilled joiners and the overall project programme.”
Ultimately, the client team decided that most of the building’s sash windows would be reconstructed by Paparoa Timberworks to enhance weathering performance and ensure the long‑term durability of the new matching windows.
Courtroom window | Sam Weston
Courtroom window | Sam Weston
Courtroom window in Paparoa Timberworks workshop | Sam Weston
Courtroom window in Paparoa Timberworks workshop | Sam Weston
Challenge and opportunity
One of the key objectives of the Hokitika Government Building Project is to support the local economy and build skills in the region. Octa project manager Phil Varley says, “When we engage with young businesses like Paparoa Timberworks and enable their growth and expansion, it’s a long-lasting positive outcome from the project.”
Paparoa Timberworks owner, Sam Weston, has worked on other heritage joinery including the police station at Waiuta and old railway stations at Granity, Moana and Greymouth. But the Hokitika Government Building is the biggest project to date:
“At the start of this year I had the opportunity to buy an old historic joinery shop here in Runanga. It was a big enough building, with three-phase power, to pull off this work.”
The restored Police Station at Waiuta | Sam Weston
The restored Police Station at Waiuta | Sam Weston
The work also enabled Sam to take on a full-time apprentice. He explains, “I didn’t want to hire an older joiner because these heritage joinery skills are really dying out. We need young guys to keep the trade alive.”
Built to last
The replacement sash windows integrate modern hidden elements which will improve the windows’ longevity in this coastal environment. New techniques such as trenching the windowsills at an angle (to allow water to drain), will help keep water out of the windows.
To manage the short time frame on the 50 windows, Paparoa Timberworks have subcontracted the sashes to a Christchurch company, Ruben’s Joinery. “It’s been a very smooth job considering the coordination between two joiners,” says Sam.
Windows under construction at Paparoa Timberworks | Duval O'Neill (Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects)
Windows under construction at Paparoa Timberworks | Duval O'Neill (Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects)
Paparoa Timberwork have taken great care putting together the windows. All surfaces had three coats of paint before being reassembled. “Usually only external surfaces are painted, but I wanted to paint the inside to make them last longer and be more weathertight,” says Sam.
New window elements being painted | Duval O'Neill (Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects)
New window elements being painted | Duval O'Neill (Herriot Melhuish O'Neill Architects)
Project architects, Duval O’Neill and Nic Sewell are impressed with the end results. “Throughout the process, we were consistently impressed by the meticulous attention to detail that Sam and his team, along with Ruben’s Joinery, brought to both the refurbishment and the replication work,” says Duval. “The resulting windows demonstrate an exceptional level of finish and operate with a simplicity and smoothness that beautifully complement the retained heritage features of the building.”
A weighty matter
The replacement sash windows are not entirely new. Hidden within the frames of each window are two of the original weights, that help the sash windows glide into place. These weights are heavy – almost 10kg each. “There’s heritage value in reusing them, and they would be expensive to replace,” says Sam.
Each sash window weight is almost 10kg | HNZPT
Each sash window weight is almost 10kg | HNZPT
However, because the new windows are smoother with less friction than the originals, some of the weights have had to be altered in length. The old steel was brittle, but some googling provided the solution: partial cutting around the circumference and then a sharp tap with the hammer to reduce their weight by a precise amount. Sam is planning to keep these offcuts so they can be reused in other heritage sash windows.
Sash window weights | HNZPT
Sash window weights | HNZPT
Many of the original Hokitika Government Building sash windows had stopped opening due to the cotton cords holding the weights breaking, together with problems of decay and distortion. Repair is impossible without cutting weight pockets into the window frame. So the weights in the new windows are held on with new nylon cord – much stronger and less prone to failure.
Sam is enjoying the project and hopes to do more heritage work in the future. “This is the most interesting type of joinery. I would like to stay working in the field of new heritage joinery because it’s the best challenge.”
Sam pleased to be making progress | HNZPT
Sam pleased to be making progress | HNZPT
The new sash windows are now being installed at pace and should all be in place by late April 2026. After the weathertightness works are complete, the restoration will enter a pause as Heritage New Zealand considers future options.
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