A year of uncertainty for Kerikeri sports, youth and cultural groups has ended with a council decision to rebuild the fire-damaged Kerikeri Domain pavilion.
The original plan was to demolish the building and use part of the insurance payout to help Kerikeri Squash Club relocate to the sports complex at the Heritage Bypass, where a site has been set aside for squash since 2009.
The pavilion gained an 11th-hour reprieve in May when councillors narrowly voted to request more information on costs and options before ordering demolition, and Cr Dave Hookway organised a tour of the building to see if the damage was as bad as had been claimed.
![Far North District councillor Dave Hookway and Kerikeri Ratepayers Association chairwoman Jane Johnson explore the fire-damaged Kerikeri Domain pavilion. Photo / Peter de Graaf](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/R4FK5KJ6KFVHRFX54CLICRMKZY.jpg?auth=41599cb6113c8bd81b9118ab671f761022ca1c8b66bc6db45a0b209faa9593df&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The building includes a grandstand, two squash courts, toilets, changing rooms and a large upstairs space. Until the fire, lit by two teenage boys in June 2016, it was used by squash, rugby league, a choir, Scottish dancers and a youth drop-in centre.