21 May 2001

Hirers of Auckland City Council’s halls will now have the option of hiring their own caterer and providing their own food, as well as using the Council’s preferred contractor.

For many years full catering had been done from the Fickling Centre in Mt Roskill, with hirers limited to bringing in light refreshments only.

A review of catering decided to widen the availability of catering services provided by the Council, not only for the Fickling Centre, but also for Ferndale House and the Jubilee building. The Western Springs complex, which has an existing catering contract, and halls on Waiheke and Rakino islands were not included in the process.

Eight contractors were invited to tender and Eurest NZ Ltd was chosen as the Council’s preferred catering contractor for the community halls. They will provide for Council hirers, if requested, but will be free to develop a wider commercial business from their own commercial kitchen.

The chairperson of the Community Development Committee, Councillor Penny Sefuiva, says the review of catering at Council halls has been beneficial.

She says the system is now more “democratic” and better suited to community groups with limited discretionary funds. Additional kitchen facilities will make the external catering option a practical one.

“Hirers will now have the option of using the preferred caterer, bringing their own catering or using their own choice of caterer,” she says.

ENDS

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