Karori Event Centre gifted to council

The new Karori Event Centre may possibly be completed this year and opened for community use.

This follows the centre being gifted to Wellington City Council (WCC) by the Karori Community Hall Trust on 15 December at a signing ceremony in front of the building.

The deed was signed by Wally Simmers and Heather Baldwin, both members of the Karori Community Hall Trust that has developed the facility.

“This is an important step in the further development of the building, enabling the Council to now complete the fit out,” Heather says.

The Event Centre was built to replace what were previously three separate community hall spaces near this location, including the former St John’s Church.

The new centre “will be a mod- ern multi-purpose community facility for users, performers and audiences,” the foundation Chair of the Trust, Wally Simmers, says.

“It will a fantastic community asset for Karori and Wellington”.

The Trust raised nearly $3,000,000 from a range of sources to construct the building. The building was funded through the generosity of many Karori residents along with a number of community and national organisations, including the WCC.

In 2020 the council agreed to provide further funding to complete the building. The Trust agreed then that the building would be gifted to the council to be used as a community facility.

WCC has committed funding to undertake the fitout andwill work with the Trust with the intention of finishing the building so that it can open and be used by the community

“The Trust is grateful for the funding commitment by the council,” Heather says.

“The gifting not only allows the building to be finished, but also ensures the centre will be managed and maintained by the council and available for commu-

A special Valentine’s Day workshop will be held as part of the raranga (weaving) classes at Ōtari Wilton’s Bush from 10am to 1:30pm on 11 February.

The workshop will allow people to make putiputi bouquets to gift to their nearest and dearest, and to use whakakano (dye) harakeke to add colour.

nity use for generations to come.”

Planning for the fitout project will be finalised early this year.

It is hoped to be completed in 2023, but the actual timing will be heavily dependent on the availability of contractors and materials needed for the job.

The Trust will continue to raise funds for future improvements to the facility and its equipment. Their initial focus is on funding a retractable seating block in the auditorium and to have this installed before it is opened. To sponsor a seat with your name on it or make a donation go to www. karorieventcentre.co.nz