Hastings District Council is planning a special celebration to mark the 100th birthday of Tutira’s community hall next month.
Jessica Turnbull is one of the organisers of the centennial celebrations and says the hall was more than just a building.
“It’s a precious member of the community and over the years has been looked after, added to and upgraded, and used for a huge range of activities,” she said.
Since 1935, the district’s annual Christmas party has been held there – featuring a pantomime and Santa handing out presents.
It’s also hosted badminton games, weddings, birthdays, dog trials, drama productions, spinning club meetings, women’s institute meetings, line dancing and much more.
“Since 1994 it’s been used as a kindergarten, which today operates three days a week, and before that it was the local playcentre,” said Ms Turnbull.
“The kindergarten is a asset to our hall, they maintain and care for it so it requires very little upkeep from funders or the hall committee. In 2021, the kindergarten committee and local parents funded and installed a brand new kitchen and bathroom.
“It’s also a Civil Defence Centre but when the lake flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle it got cut off so we set up a community hub at the school.
“For any event other than flooding like that though, the hall is what we would use.”
Over the years, in addition to kindergarten and community fundraising for building additions such as the stage, kitchen and mens’ toilet and changing room, Hastings District Council has contributed funding, or assisted the community in applying for Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) funding.
In recent years, this has amounted to about $100,000 to help upgrade the hall foundations, septic system, drinking water and electrics in order to be more resilient in an emergency.
Mrs Turnbull said MPI funding was also used to install a second water tank at the hall to increase the supply of drinking water, install a generator plug, repair the roof and cladding.
“That is the biggest issue for this community if the road gets cut off we lose the connection to both towns and with power and communication – which has encouraged many to invest in generators and starlink,” she said.
The 100th birthday party celebrations will kick off at 3pm on 2 November, with an afternoon tea, continuing on into the evening with a meal at 6pm followed by dancing.
Anyone interested in attending can contact tutirahall@gmail.com.
