Akaroa community’s The Gaiety venue set to reopen

Earthquake repairs to The Gaiety - a popular heritage building, function centre and gathering place for the Akaroa community to the east of Christchurch - have just been completed, in time for an official opening on Friday 1st April.

Welcoming the completion of works, Banks Peninsula Councillor Andrew Turner, who will open the building alongside Mayor Lianne Dalziel stated “the date has a certain symmetry.

"The original opening of the hall, which started out as the Oddfellows Lodge, was 3 April in 1879.

"The Hall has a proud history in Akaroa, and its closure over the last five years has definitely been felt. The opening celebration, organised by the Friends of the Gaiety group, will also serve as a thank-you to the community for their patience.

"The journey has been challenging and rewarding, and the end result is a better, stronger Gaiety that will last for generations to come.”

Richie Moyle, Christchurch City Council's Heritage Rebuild Programme Manager, took a small group through on Thursday 10th March, and says it was a pleasure to see members of the local community have the chance to explore the freshly-completed building.

Moyle added “the general response was delight – particularly when everyone got to see the extent and quality of the repairs and strengthening.

"It's as beautiful as ever, but now it has the added bonus of real structural strength. If Akaroa ever felt a strong shake, The Gaiety is where I'd want to be."

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