20 | Te Pou Ō Mata-Au: Calder Stewart - Clutha Community Hub T T Kim Newth Centre proves an award-winning asset Te Pou Ō Mata-Au grew out of a community consultation process in 2016,. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Since opening in Balclutha in August 2023, Te Pou Ō Mata-Au | Clutha District War Memorial & Community Centre has taken centre stage in the heart of the district as a flourishing, multipurpose facility. The community-led centre was awarded Excellence at the 2024 Property Council Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards. It is owned and operated by the Clutha Community Hub Charitable Trust, with the vision being to inspire the future, serve the present and honour the past. Te Pou Ō Mata-Au grew out of a community consultation process in 2016, when it was realised that the dated Balclutha War Memorial Hall was no longer meeting local needs. A passionate group of volunteers got behind the project, putting in a huge effort to ensure the new, fit-for-purpose facility would become a reality. “We love our new centre and all involved are very proud that it did so well at the Property Industry Awards,” says facility director Mary Woodrow. “A huge amount of volunteer hours has gone into this community project. Our core volunteers worked tirelessly from start to finish, from consulting with community groups and local bodies, sourcing the funding and overseeing the construction, right through to opening the facility and supporting the operational side. It has been a massive commitment.” The project has been supported by the Otago Community Trust, the Clutha District Council, the Government’s Kānoa shovel-ready project fund, along with numerous other community sponsors and contributors. Catering to large events – from theatre productions to music concerts, conferences and corporate functions – the centre’s auditorium provides a flexible, modern venue that can seat 450 or more people. Te Pou Ō Mata-Au also includes a dedicated war memorial wing to showcase local history and heritage. As well, the centre has a well-equipped business networking hub with co-working spaces and shared facilities, with potential to grow into an exciting business incubator for the district. Design-and-build partner Calder Stewart ensured all technical requirements were met to deliver a well-integrated, harmonious end result. “Calder Stewart stood out right from the start – their brief really nailed what we were looking for,” says Mary. “We’re stoked with how they came through for us. They’re really community-minded and believed in the project and its aspirations from the outset.” The centre’s versatile auditorium is already getting plenty of use. Six60 played there last August and, in the lead-up to Christmas 2024, it hosted local dance shows and other cultural and corporate events. “We have retractable seating that can be pulled out for theatre shows or pushed back for live gigs – it’s brilliant. Our staff are on hand to help guide people on lighting and AV systems, which are very well set up and quite easy to use.” Planning will soon be in full swing for the 2025 events calendar. Mary says another key focus for the year will be to fully develop the Balclutha District War Memorial wing. In the pipeline are plans for interactive displays that can help tell local stories, including those of mana whenua. “We’d like to develop our overall visitor experience too, for example by showing interactive maps and displaying heritage memorabilia. Once we have completed that wing, we also plan to put in a memorial garden. That will likely be another volunteer-led project.” Six local businesses are already renting space in the centre’s business hub and making use of the shared co-work amenities, including kitchen and barista coffee maIndustrial • Commercial • Residential “Quality Solutions delivered on Time” INVERCARGILL QUEENSTOWN DUNEDIN CHRISTCHURCH Bryan Davies National SalesManager It’s what we do. Like the Clutha District War Memorial and Community Centre project. We’re experts at sourcing products for commercial projects. Contact us for Furniture, bedding, whiteware, appliances, electronics, heating, and much more. Making things easy for our customers is part of our DNA. M: 021 534 383 E: bryan.davies@smithscity.co.nz W: smithscity.co.nz/sc-commercial
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