Masterton District Council has officially contracted Wellington-based company, Quality Demolition and Contracting Ltd to take down the earthquake-prone Town Hall, marking the start of a project to deliver a modern, multi-functional events and performance venue for the community. Work on site is set to begin in early October, signalling a major step forward for a long-debated project.

Chief Executive Kym Fell said the contract represents a milestone in turning plans into reality.

“The demolition of the old Town Hall signals real progress for Masterton. While we respect and will honour its history, our focus is firmly on delivering a modern, affordable facility that meets today’s needs and will serve our community and region for generations to come.”

The project has met all resource consent requirements, which included:

• a professionally designed Public Space Activation Plan approved by Council’s Planning and Consents Manager
• a full inventory of materials for salvage and reuse
• an archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
• a Site Management Plan approved by Council.

“We know this project has prompted strong views over many years, and that’s natural given the Town Hall’s place in our community. What’s important now is that the Council has followed due process, listened carefully, and can move ahead with confidence, carrying forward elements of the old hall while creating a facility that reflects Masterton’s future.”

“Recent announcements about proposed changes to the Earthquake-Prone Building system will not affect the Town Hall’s current status. We have carefully studied the new legislation and its implications, and it is clear that the proposed reforms do not alter the classification of buildings that contain unreinforced masonry in public spaces. The Town Hall falls squarely within this category, meaning its designation and the need for remediation remain unchanged under the new rules.”

Design work for the replacement building will begin once demolition is complete. In the meantime, the site will be activated with temporary planting and furniture in line with the Public Space Activation Plan.

Regular project updates, including timelines, concept plans, and opportunities for community input, will be available on the What’s Up, Whakaoriori? platform: www.whatsup.mstn.govt.nz.

Project background

The Masterton Town Hall was closed in 2016 due to its earthquake-prone status. Since then, the community has been consulted several times on options for the site and what a new civic facility could look like.

Development of a new facility was initially supported in the Long-Term Plan 2021–31, but by 2022 the forecast cost had escalated to $70 million. Council deemed this unaffordable, and the project was paused.

Through the 2023/24 Annual Plan consultation, the community signalled support for a scaled-back Town Hall project alongside an expansion of the Library on its current site.

In June 2024, elected members adopted a new approach, splitting the Civic Facility project into three parts:

• Demolish the existing Town Hall.
• Develop a new Town Hall on the current site for up to $25 Million.
• Refurbish and extend the library.

Resource consent

Under the District Plan, demolition required consent as a discretionary activity. The application was publicly notified over summer 2024/25 and granted in May 2025, subject to conditions.

What happens next

Site activity will begin in early October, with demolition to follow. Car parks alongside the Town Hall site will close from this time, with alternative parking available nearby.

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