\u201cWe are on borrowed time, to be honest.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlack mould has obviously got its teeth in, and it\u2019s a huge insurance job which we are lucky insurance is covering this round, but they said if we don\u2019t lift it or do something, they won\u2019t be covering us again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be the end of the hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
It had become harder to raise funds to cover hall costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cChucking in these storm events has basically crippled us, so that as a community we can just afford to keep the lights on there, let alone keep up with storm damage. <\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally, that would be wonderful if we could pick it up and move it, but the costs associated with moving it would be horrendous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sam Bell, wife of Omakere Hall chairman Gus Bell, said the hall needed to be raised between 500mm and 600mm to preserve and protect it. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe really need to lift her.<\/p>\n
The hall needs to be lifted between 500mm and 600mm, and a Givealittle page has been started to raise donations. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur Omakere Hall is the centre of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was used by community groups such as dog trialers, the rugby club, the fire brigade, and the playcentre. <\/p>\n
It was also used for church services, weddings and funerals, vestry meetings, Pilates, and Omakere School events such as prize-giving or school productions. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s been around for 100 years; we want her to stay around for another 100.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bell said the dirty floodwater had been sucked up by the native timber floorboards and through the walls, resulting in the black mould. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really exciting that we have been given this opportunity for her to come back to life, but we are very concerned because it\u2019s going to happen again and we don\u2019t want all our hard work to go to waste.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also know that, if we have another flood, the insurance won\u2019t cover us.\u201d <\/p>\n
The hall committee was in the process of obtaining quotes to know how much the project would cost. <\/p>\n
Central Hawke\u2019s Bay District Council group manager of infrastructure and asset management Mark Kinvig said while the council was not the owner of the hall, it paid an annual grant to the hall committee for operational costs, made up of insurance, rates, electricity line charges and a contribution of $1000 a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil has not been approached by the Omakere Hall committee for assistance, but an officer did contact them after the April 2026 flooding and let them know we would be happy to assist them to find funding streams.\u201d <\/p>\n