News for Sep. 11, 2007

Jackson saves historic Wellington chapel

9/11/07, 8:44 pm EST - Xoanon

Director Peter Jackson has performed his own mission of mercy by buying a historic Wellington chapel, valued at $10 million, to save it from the clutches of property developers. In May, the Sisters of Mercy applied to have the 83-year-old Our Lady of the Star of the Sea chapel removed from Wellington City Council's list of heritage buildings -- and announced plans to put the 1.35-hectare site up for sale. The plans sparked an outcry from Seatoun residents, including Jackson, who were concerned the property would be bulldozed to make way for townhouses. Sisters of Mercy congregation leader Sister Denise Fox told The Dominion Post the order received an unsolicited approach from Jackson and his partner, Fran Walsh, in late July. [More]