Yozin Winery - Yozin - Swanson, Auckland

UPDATE OF HISTORIC YOZIN WINERY BUILDING

The future ownership and use of the historic Yozin Winery Building is now uncertain. Auckland Council had designated a heritage protection over land owned by the late Milan Yozin including the iconic Yozin Winery building, historical family home (c.1914), and the adjoining land.

Following the death of the Milan’s wife, Zoe, 12 October 2014, his estate was bequeathed in equal shares to his four children, Helen, Norma, Rosalie and Maurice. Both Helen and Rosalie have a strong attachment to the land and its future existence. They wanted to protect the historical buildings from any unsympathetic developers that would not value the heritage area or the importance of its buildings in local history, or care for their long-term preservation and protection. To achieve this, Helen and Rosalie sought to acquire the heritage area as part of their inheritance entitlement and then create a trust run by Swanson community for the local community’s benefit. A long term, well respected Swanson resident had already given confirmation to act as one of the trustees. Rosalie, who all her life had lived on the property sought to acquiring the 1914 house, with plans to renovate the house to its former glory.

Maurice Yozin opposed his two sibling’s acquiring any of the family land and sought to have the entire land sold to developers. He also wanted to reduce the heritage’s area by building a road built through heritage land immediately opposite Swanson School. He instructed his Planner to produce plans to support his claim. Through the Courts, Maurice continued his opposition of any land being acquired by his siblings. In the meantime, unnecessary deterioration of the buildings has been occurring while the matter remains unresolved. Below is Maurice’s preference plan with road through the heritage area. Maurice’s reason: this would be the best way to maximize the most possible number of units that could be built by allowing an extra 71 units, bringing the total to 191 units, as opposed to his alternative plan, where without a road through the heritage area, only 120 units could be constructed. (Plan below).

Unfortunately, the huge financial toll in struggling through the court systems in the 5 year plus battle, which is continuing today, forced Helen and Rosalie to abandon their plans to acquire and pay for the renovations of the Yozin Winery building, which in turn would then have been transferred to a trust to be run and used by the Swanson Community.

An excellent opportunity to preserve and benefit of both the Swanson and Ranui communities has been lost and the future of this historical building is now in doubt.

Yozin Winery Building

Yozin Winery - Swanson, Auckland.

UPDATE OF HISTORIC YOZIN WINERY BUILDING

Visit the online gallery to view Yozin Winery inspired artworks and photography.