Ponsonby: Urban Village

Sorry, this event’s been and gone

When:

Sun 17 May ’09, 1:00pm–2:00pm

Where: Lower NZI Room, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Dr, Auckland CBD Show map

Restrictions: All Ages

Ticket Information:

Standard: $19.50
Earlybird pre 13 May: $16.50
Friend pre 13 May: $15.50
Student : $9.75
Booking fees may apply

Website:

www.writersfestival.co.nz

Ponsonby has a long history as Auckland’s most fascinating suburb - the place where bachelor Prime Minister Michael Savage lived (O’Neill Street), where once taro and povi could be bought at the local shops, and where small workers’ cottages stacked themselves in the gullies while elegant mansions lined the sunny ridges. The social history is complex, rich and deep - from Polynesian capital of the world to the macchiato mile; from decadent slum to sought-after area; from single-family homes to multi-family dwellings back to single-family home - the fortunes of Ponsonby, St Mary’s Bay and Freeman’s Bay have been cyclical. Yesterday’s slums are today’s highly desirable residential areas and, despite gentrification, the area has retained its distinctive character and lively street life, as well as its artistic and liberal-minded character. Jenny Carlyon and Diana Morrow show images and tell anecdotes from their beautifully encyclopaedic book Urban Village. Chair: Peter Wells.