New kitchen for Mangawhai hall

04 Oct, 2021

JULIA WADE

Mangawhai’s ‘grand old lady’, the Library Hall, has recently undergone a transformation, with a new state-of-the-art kitchen being installed, replacing the old drawers and units which have stood in time for over 50 years.

Mangawhai Library Hall Trust (MLHT) trustees Sue Burton and Marta Draper say the new contemporary kitchen will be a great asset to the community, with the one piece stainless steel benchtop making for a cleaner work surface and easy sliding doors carrying enough crockery and implements to cater up to 100 people.

Thanks to a recent Mangawhai Endowment Land Account (MELA) grant, the bathroom facilities will also be receiving an upgrade ‘once the road works have been completed’ Burton says.

“The trustees would like to thank everyone who helped to make this possible, all the volunteers who helped demolish and remove the old units, and paint and renovate the room before the new kitchen from Guyco arrived, the builders, engineers and husbands!” she says.

“Special thanks to Alvin, George in particular, and electrition Carl Gordon and plumber Murray Smith. Also the NZ Lottery Grant Board and the Department of Internal Affairs who provided us with funds to carry out the work.”

Built in 1893, at first Mangawhai’s hall contained a library, hence the name, and was used for a variety of events including funerals and agricultural shows as well as a movie theatre.

Although hindered by the current Village road works and lockdown, the facility is still available for use and maintains regular bookings such as weekly Keepfit classes and, due to good acoustics and a spacious stage, is ideal for one-off special events and community meetings.

“A big thumbs up to Jacob Dunn and his United Civil crew who are working on the roundabout and have gone out of their way to help keep the hall functioning during the current upheaval,” Draper says.

“We will be up and running at full capacity once the works are complete.”

n Interested in hiring the hall? To enquire about bookings contact Claudia on 021 132 1641.

Mangawhai Library Hall Trust trustees Sue Burton and Marta Draper say the recently installed kitchen will be an asset to the community. PHOTO/JULIA WADE