Grand Designs New Zealand, 18 April 2024, ABC TV, “Waitaki Valley”

The season finale of Grand Designs New Zealand, airing on ABC TV on Thursday 18 April, takes viewers to the Waitaki Valley, where Michael and Olivia Pavelitch embark on a unique and challenging renovation project. The couple aims to breathe new life into a 160-year-old rabbiters’ cottage while meticulously preserving its rich historical heritage.

Currently residing with Michael’s grandparents on a family-owned sheep station, the Pavelitches are eager to restore the cottage’s historical charm while creating a modern and functional living space for their young family. With one-metre-thick walls, the cottage reveals intriguing insights into its past, including rabbiter’s names, tallies, and unexpected artefacts like a 1972 Playboy magazine and an expertly carved blue horse.

Michael and Olivia are committed to preserving this history through innovative design choices, such as glass viewing windows into the walls and LED lighting in the original roofing. However, they are also realistic about the potential challenges, both logistical and emotional, that may arise when attempting to blend old and new structures seamlessly.

As the episode unfolds, we witness the couple’s journey as they navigate the complexities of their renovation project. They encounter the need for archaeological expertise and the emotional labour of maintaining their relationships while facing the inevitable stresses that such an ambitious undertaking entails.

The finale promises to deliver an engaging blend of architectural dreams, unforeseen challenges, and intimate glimpses into the dynamics of a couple pursuing their vision of a unique family home.

Grand Designs New Zealand airs Thursday 18 April 2024 at 8.30 pm on ABC.