Residents irate at proposed hall sale | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

SELL the Kaponga Town Hall and you’ll rip the soul from the town, says Kaponga Primary School principal Shane Downs. Many locals echoed his view last week.
Mr Downs was one of a large turnout of people attending a meeting in the Kaponga Town Hall on Wednesday last week to protest at a possible sale of the hall by the South Taranaki District Council.
In its draft annual plan the council proposes selling town halls in Kaponga, Manaia and Opunake.
The Kaponga community meeting had the biggest turnout of a series of ratepayers gatherings that the council has called, and locals made it clear they do not want their hall to go.
Over 120 people attended and many people got up to have their say. They were told to put in submissions to the plan, stating their views.
Local resident Bill Bailey says selling the community-built hall would be a ‘no brainer.’
“It would be very remiss of the council to sell the hall. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.”
There are nine halls owned and managed by the council and they also support 30 rural halls around the district run by trusts.
The council found that while use of the Kaponga Town Hall had increased over the past three years, other venues, such at the hotel, Swiss Club and rugby club could be used.
Mr Downs said none of them are big enough for the regular school productions, awards night, talent quests, etc, and they do not have the space for the pupils and their parents.
The hall is also used by the community for weddings, funerals, various social functions and ANZAC Day; and the building is also a war memorial hall.
Bill Bailey said the hall was built with funds raised by the community. In 1953 locals raised the huge sum of 17,000 pounds, and because it is a war memorial the government matched the amount pound for pound.
“It would be very shortsighted to sell the building.”
Mr Downs agreed. “Kaponga is only a small town, but the main meeting place should not be taken away,” said
“The council are not taking into consideration who a sale would affect in this community. They’re just looking at dollars.
“I only hope the council will listen to the submissions. How can they go against a whole community?” he said.
Public consultation ends on May 17.