34 council-owned community halls across our district are funded through a targeted rate paid by properties within the hall's catchment area. The funds collected from these targeted rates keep our halls operating effectively.

Our district is home to 34 Council-owned community halls. Each of these halls is funded through a targeted rate applied to properties within the hall’s designated catchment area, which ensures the continued operation and maintenance of our halls, supporting the vital role they play in our communities.

As we plan for the future, we must assess these funding arrangements to ensure they remain sustainable and effective in meeting community needs. We have a vision that our community halls are cherished spaces and serve as important hubs in our communities.

Feedback from our communities

Last year, Council spoke to their communities regarding the future of community halls. These discussions focused on:

  • If there was support for a targeted rate increase for the Eureka Hall from $35 to $65 per year to cover ongoing maintenance and minor improvement costs from 1 July 2025 onwards.
  • If there was support for a targeted rate increase for the Huntly Hall from $8 to $25 per year to cover increasing maintenance costs and ensure the hall remains in its current state from 1 July 2025 onwards.
  • Whether Ruawaro Hall should be deconstructed, and if so, how the building and land should be used, now that the hall is unsafe, doesn’t meet seismic assessment standards, and is unusable.
  • How the Naike Hall should be managed. This hall was recently renovated by the community to become a self-funded wellness centre. Adjacent to it is the Naike Community Centre, now used as a community facility. The hall committee proposed to the Council that the targeted rate be increased from $40.89 to $80 per year, and the funds be transferred from the Naike Hall to the Naike Community Centre for ongoing maintenance.

    • In response to the matters noted by the Hall Committees and Council staff, and to respond to general price increases in almost all aspects of managing and maintaining halls, some new targeted rates are proposed within our communities. The table below outlines the new proposed targeted rate changes.

    We are also consulting on a proposed boundary change for the Whatawhata Hall catchment area and the deconstruction of Ruawaro Hall.

    What's the process?

    He aha te tukanga?