Dear all,
Some thoughts and clarifications re tomorrow's decision.
I have worked with Helen for nearly 20 years, initially as co-trustees for the Northern Downs housing group and, more recently, in unit titling a group of 8 neighbouring flats.
The Northern Downs group was a highly complex non-developer-led housing project where about 20 households combined to buy 4 hectares of land on the outskirts of Dunedin. There were 16 housing units (most had been deserted or trashed by gangs or squatters) several bare building sites and several more industrial sites. Everything was on the one title, so, in order for each household to end up with their own house, we had to have them all repaired, zones altered, roads and drainage in common upgraded, and unit titles issued. Many of the people involved had never owned a house before, never thought of it as an option, had no idea of what a mortgage was or how to get one... the group included some of the original squatters and gang associates, as well as the local publican and a pig farmer. Some were on benefits, most had virtually no money. At first the DCC was obstructive, banks totally unimpressed, police were regular visitors, a house was burnt down... the risks were high, the odds not good. Helen, however, managed to negotiate a unique lease-to-buy arrangement with Housing Corp... men in suits came down from Wellington to meet us in the local pub. She negotiated a new zoning plan as soon as the old town planner left. As well as all the inevitable liasing with valuers, surveyors, tradies, inspectors, insurers, accountants, tax consultants, other lawyers and realtors, we have needed extensive juggling of finances to support each household into owning a house. The whole process has taken time, but certainly not because of Helen. Some houses have now been on sold, new houses built on previously bare sections, several people have ended up not only with a house but also mortgage free or with a bonus lump sum after common property was sold. The resulting community may be rough but it is supportive.
In 2012 I sold the house that I had been allocated and made a good profit - thus enabling me to extend a loan to help kick-start this co-housing project in 2013.
Eight more houses are now unit titled –with tenants in the process of buying
Helen also did the conveyancing for my own extended family members to buy a small farm together, with different arrangements and shares for each person.
Over the years of our association Helen has worked with different law firms – from Cook Allan Gibson to Gallaway Cook Allan, Polson McMillan to McMillan & Co. and now on to work alongside Anja Klinkert. She worked for the Northern Downs group, not with a team of other lawyers, but with a single legal secretary who had also been involved from the beginning.
At no stage did I - or the others in the group -even consider staying with the firm rather than with the lawyer doing the actual work. Helen was – as she is here – the person with the considerable knowledge of the history, the intricacies and possible pitfalls of the project.
My recent experiences at the McMillan office means that I would much prefer to deal with one or two people who actually understand what I am doing rather than six people sending contradictory messages.
To suggest that any association with Anja Klinkert would somehow put our funds at risk because of a relatively minor offence more than 12 years ago seems like scare-mongering. Whilst not condoning her action, it was not for her own pecuniary advantage, and I don’t think that the aim of supporting grandparents to look after their grandchildren is such a huge evil that it should shadow the rest of your career. Likewise with Helen, there was no gain for her, and she was dealing with the notoriously tricky area of developing senility and contradictory family demands.
Has any of this actually affected her ability to work with us over the years? Has it affected our ‘reputation’? Have people been put off joining/working with u-col because of it? We just don’t know if any other lawyer we might employ – or actually any of us - might have ever indulged in ‘creative’ accounting, driven over the speed limit, used work vehicles for private use, exaggerated an insurance claim, driven whilst perhaps over the limit, taken an illegal substance, lied to protect a loved one, felt lucky to have avoided being found out.... ?
Any group project works best when people act as a team, and I have always thought of Helen as a vital member of that team. To have a lawyer who has an in-depth understanding of, and sympathy for the common goals is surely the sort of treasure you want to hold on to. She did an amazing job for Northern Downs – and is clearly knowledgeable, capable and compassionate.
Being part of a community is never about being pure and blameless but rather about being inclusive and supportive - working together in spite of differences or perceived imperfections.
Best wishes, Rachel