$350K Refurbishment to Rāwene Hall Underway

A $350,000 upgrade to Rāwene Hall is now underway to improve accessibility and ensure the building continues to safely serve its community.

The existing kitchen will be enlarged and provided with a full fit-out of new cabinetry, non-slip flooring for safety, and new appliances such as a gas stove, dishwasher, and air extractor. A kai moana prep station on the rear deck will also be installed.

The existing toilet area will be refurbished and an accessible toilet installed. Fire alarms will be replaced, and the floors will be sanded, sealed, and polished.

The renovations fit within the current space and will use existing plumbing and drainage. The work was started on February 19 and is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete. In the meantime, the hall will still be available for hire but there will be no toilet or kitchen facilities available.

The refurbishment work will be temporarily paused to accommodate the Hui Waiata Toi O Hokianga Arts and Music Festival Rāwene 2024 which is taking place outside the hall this Friday and Saturday (1-2 March).

The upgrade aligns with the council’s Community Halls Policy, which aims to provide a “network of fit for purpose affordable community facilities that connect and support resilient, healthy and vibrant communities”.