Premier performing arts centre planned for Rangiora

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Rangiora High School plans to build a community performing arts centre.

Board of trustees chairperson Simon Green said the school aimed to build "the premier performing arts centre in North Canterbury".

A formal proposal is being prepared for the Waimakariri District Council to gain their support.

Principal Bruce Kearney said the school hoped to build a facility similar to the Aurora Centre at Burnside High School in Christchurch.

The proposed 800-seat theatre would replace the school hall and have state-of-the-art equipment to serve almost 1700 students and the wider community.

‘‘We need the voice of the community and so we want to consult with the council, the community and local schools.

‘‘We want to come together and produce a plan which everybody can benefit from.’’

The new facility would be managed by the school, but available to the 19 contributing schools and local performing arts schools and organisations.

‘‘We are growing our performing arts programme and we want to be known as a performing arts school as well as an academic school,’’ Mr Kearney said.

Waimakariri District Council community and recreation general manager Chris Brown said the council has just adopted a new arts strategy.

Recreation Sport and Leisure Consultancy Ltd has also been engaged to develop a network plan of facilities in the district and future needs.

Both pieces of work will feed into next year’s 2024-34 long-term plan.

‘‘If there is a need in the community, then the council will absolutely look at it, alongside drainage, roading and extending our libraries,’’ Brown said.

‘‘The arts are definitely on the council’s radar and we have had a clear direction from our mayor and from our community.’’

Mayor Dan Gordon said he was keen to hear more about the school’s proposal.

‘‘I’m a champion and strong supporter of the arts so personally I will be looking forward to seeing where this plan lands.’’

The district is well served for performing arts, with the council maintaining the Rangiora and Oxford town halls, while Mainpower Stadium can be retrofitted for concerts.

Kaiapoi High School also has a 340-seat auditorium.

Hartley School of Performing Arts director Dale Hartley-Brown said the idea ‘‘sounds exciting’’.

She regularly booked the Rangiora Town Hall’s 350-seat auditorium for productions and events, but the venue had its limitations.

‘‘We definitely need something bigger. An 800-seat auditorium would be so good, I could do less shows and still make budget.

‘‘We used the school hall after the earthquakes and the school was fantastic.’’

Timeframes, cost and how the project would be funded were still being worked out, Kearney said.

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