Trust Waikato chief executive Dennis Turton and trust chair Niwa Nuri outside the new building. Photo / Terry Su
Trust Waikato chief executive Dennis Turton and trust chair Niwa Nuri outside the new building. Photo / Terry Su
Trust Waikato officially opened its new two-storey building in Hamilton's CBD last week and applications to use the facility's community group spaces are being accepted.
Waikato community leaders including local MPs and Hamilton city councillors were invited to tour the facility at 4 Little London Lane.
Construction began in 2017 to better meet the needs of Trust Waikato and the community organisations it supports.
On the upper floor are open-plan office and meeting spaces and the ground floor includes three meeting rooms which community groups can book for free.
The board room is on the ground floor and a Joan Fear painting of orators on the paepae watches over board proceedings.
Trust Waikato chief executive Dennis Turton said the painting, "holds prominance for us.
As trustees are making decisions there's a sense that the community are looking over their shoulders ... This is a symbol for us. We are here for the community ... and that's what we do all day and every day."
The building faces south east acknowledging areas of cultural and historical importance from the Waikato river to the Kirikiriroa Paa pou (carved post) of Ngaati Wairere chief Hoera Taonui (1805-1863) to the neighbouring Trust house formerly owned by the Rogers family.
The triangular pillars at the front of the new building symbolise bends in the Waikato river and the taniwha at each bend and the glass façade represents accountability and transperancy.
(From left) Nigel Te Hiko, kaumatua for Hamilton City Council Tame Pokaia and Jamie Toko in the foyer of the new Trust Waikato building. Photo / Terry Su
"I have a vision that this space will be used all day, every day and into the night by community groups," Turton said.
His sentiments were echoed by trust chair Niwa Nuri.
"All we want is to actually make our community feel at home ... if we have this beautiful building and it's empty there is no heart and so the more groups that we actually have, that's what we want, is that voice and the heart of the community and that'll be cool.
There's the opportunity for that to happen," Nuri said.
Jamie Toko chairperson of the Western Community Centre and regional president of Tainui Māori Women's Welfare League came to view the building.
She said that such venues are scarce and that the league will definitely use the facility.
Labour list MP Jamie Strange also expressed interest in the venue saying, "I'm gonna book in to use it just to host events in my capacity as MP."
He has confidence the space will be well used as a place for people to connect.
"Part of it will be around spreading the word that we've got this little treasure here," he said.
