The Methven Community Board is to take over governance of the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall, while the community considers other ways to manage the facility.

The previous hall board that was in place for the 2022-2025 term has been discharged, and alternative models are now being investigated.

Mayor Liz McMillan said Council supported in principle the establishment of alternative models to operate and manage the memorial hall.

“But until a new model is properly set up and running, Council has delegated the functions of the former hall board to the Methven Community Board.”

The Mt Hutt Memorial Hall was built in 1957 to commemorate Methven men who lost their lives in World Wars One and Two. It underwent a $6 million upgrade in 2011 to become a multi-faceted facility with five different hireable spaces, including an auditorium, function room and board room; it also houses the New Zealand Alpine and Agricultural Encounter.

Mayor McMillan said the hall board’s role over the years had been to maintain, make improvements to and operate the hall for the benefit of the Methven community, with help from Council and funded by a targeted rate on the Methven community.

“The hall is also a Council asset, but some in the community have bigger aspirations for the future use of the facility, bigger than Council can fund given the pressure local government is under to keep rates as low as possible.

“An alternative model would have more fundraising opportunities and freedom to make the most of the wider hall facility.”

Mayor McMillan said the hall had been ably supported by many volunteers who served on the board over the past years. “I want to thank everyone who has given their time and energy and I look forward to seeing what the proposed new model can accomplish in the future.”

Methven Community Board chair Megan Fitzgerald said feedback from a workshop with the community recently identified that opportunities existed to enhance and promote the facility.

“We heard from the community that they want to further it as a place for the community to gather, provide education and to attract larger national and international events.

“The community board is looking forward to working with Methven to create a real asset at the heart of our town. In the meantime, we will support the process by providing governance to the hall.”

The group proposing an alternative model to run the hall will be asked to provide four-monthly updates to Council on progress.