Community matters in Birdlings Flat

The small settlement of Birdlings Flat, on Banks Peninsula, now boasts its own community centre.

The new community centre – which has been gifted the name Te Whare Tapere o Te Mata Hapuku by the Wairewa Rūnanga - was officially opened on Friday, to the delight of Birdlings Flat residents who have been lobbying since 2008 to have a meeting place of their own.

Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner toasts the opening of the new Birdlings Flat community centre.

“This building is important to both the first people and to the more recent arrivals in Birdlings Flat. They did not have any place for community meetings and the population was growing rapidly,’’ said Little River Wairewa Community Trust Chairman Robert Burch.

“Now they can meet in a communal space and plan community activities or meet with other agencies. The community has a focal point and a heart.’’

The need for a community centre for the relatively isolated community of Birdlings Flat was first identified in 2008. After the earthquakes the Christchurch City Council decided it would put $180,000 towards the cost of building a community centre. 

The other $200,000 required to build the centre came from a Lotteries Grant.

The Little River Wairewa Community Trust agreed to take responsibility for overseeing the centre’s construction and work began on site last year.

Mr Burch said the Trust took on the project because they could see the long-term benefits the new centre would bring to the community and, at the time, they were the only local organisation with the knowledge and administrative capacity to carry the build through to completion.

Christchurch Deputy Mayor and Banks Peninsula Councillor Andrew Turner said it was great the residents of Birdlings Flat finally had a place whether they could gather together and hold community events.

“The Birdlings Flat community has worked hard to get this building constructed and opened, and I have no doubt this new centre will be well used and will become the heart of this close knit community,’’ Cr Turner said.

“This place not only represents the hard work, time and energy of the community. It is also an excellent example of Council and community working successfully together in a close and collaborative relationship.’’

Te Whare Tapere o Te Mata Hapuku will be managed initially by the Little River Wairewa Community Trust. Long-term it is intended the centre will be managed by a committee made up of Birdlings Flat residents and two representatives from the Trust.

The community turned out in force on Friday to celebrate the opening of the new community centre.