The success of the Abbeyfield Nelson Society in developing the first Abbeyfield house in New Zealand led in 1998 to the establishment of a sub committee which aimed to establish the demand and then the support for a second Abbeyfield house in Nelson.

Abbeyfield soon partnered with the Tahunanui Presbyterian Village Trust to purchase a site in a development the Trust was attempting on land it owned in Mata Close, a small subdivision adjacent to the beach and local amenities.

The Mata Close subcommittee of Abbeyfield Nelson developed a concept plan, completed engineering studies of the property, and obtained resource consent. Fund raising by the local Society has cleared all debt on the property and an announcement (on May 28th 2009) by the Housing Corporation of a $705,000 funding package has enabled the project to proceed. The plan received building consent  from the local City Council in October and the construction contract went to tender. 

A successful tender to construct the house was submitted by Fitzgerald Construction Ltd  in late October and the build got underway on the 23rd of November 2009. We are on track to achieve a completion date of August 2010 .
To see the latest artist's impression of the completed house clich here:
Abbeyfield Final Plan Pictures.pdf

The slide show below begins with Chairman Bruce Kaye and builder Steve Fitzgerald shaking hands on the deal to construct the house, supervised by Project Manager David Todd.

Subsequent images show progress at the site. New images will be added each week or as visual changes at the site occur.

Recently (July 2010) volunteer supporters have been joined by Nelson Rotary clubs to work on landscaping the rapidly nearing completion house.
In good weather and bad this cheerful bunch are transforming 13 Mata Close.

Enquiries to:

13 Mata Close, Tahunanui, Nelson

Secretary:
Ann Armstrong
phone (03) 547 1265
email: ann@armstrongs.org.nz

Chairman
Clive Eades (03) 544 4637

House Manager
Barry Mills
phone (03) 548 479

House phone (03) 546 5599