Ralph Hotere’s studio at Observation Point (Oputae) has been listed as a category 1 historic place.
The cottage in Aurora Tce was built in 1876 by William Putnam, an engineer for the New Zealand Shipping Company.
Hotere bought the cottage in 1970 and it was the first studio he owned.
Hotere worked on paintings into the late hours at the studio and many of his significant artworks were conceived or created there.
It was bought by his friend Naomi Wilson in 1984, who retained and preserved many renovations made by Hotere.
In the early 1990s it faced destruction as work by Port Otago to stabilise the former Flagstaff Hill, now Observation Point, led to all other houses in the street being demolished, including Hotere’s second studio in a former stables further along Aurora Tce.
Ms Wilson said she was very pleased that Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga recognised the significance of the property for all of Aotearoa me Te Waipounamu.
"The location is crucial to the taonga. It’s sitting in a bowl of surrounding maunga. The wonderful light fall and ambience of the dwelling are integral components of works Ralph created here."
Ralph’s daughter, Andrea Hotere, said the Hotere whanau supported the listing process and were happy the studio would be recognised and preserved.
"We have great aroha for Naomi and are grateful to her for making this possible. For us, the studio is a special place imbued with dad’s wairua."
Heritage New Zealand listing adviser Sarah Gallagher said the cottage studio was an intimate insight into Hotere’s life, his generosity of spirit towards his friends, respect for the materials he worked with and as a space he manipulated and embellished and where he could conceive and create his work.
Hotere knocked down walls to make an open space, utilised window painting, glass art and recycled materials to form beautiful and useful features, including a kitchen built of recycled windows and doors.
Hotere designed and built an imposing entrance gate out of carefully composed recycled items.
"The studio resonates with its outstanding aesthetic, historic and cultural values and has special social significance," Mrs Gallagher said.
The studio remained a powerful symbol of the historically and artistically significant work he created while living in Port Chalmers — work that brought back important Kai Tahu place names, challenged and protested against political and environmental issues, questioned war and appealed to our deepest human values, Mrs Gallagher said.
"This place is important for so many reasons and Ralph Hotere was many things to many many people. This listing honours those relationships and connections forged here in Dunedin and Port Chalmers in the local and wider arts community.
"As a city we’re lucky Hotere chose to live here and that he has contributed so much to our culture."
