Kaikoura’s historic Mayfair Theatre is a step closer to its rebuild funding total thanks to a recent $300,000 grant from The Southern Trust.

The Southern Trust CEO and Trustee Karen Shea said the Trust is delighted to support the Mayfair Theatre. “The redevelopment was identified by the community as a priority post-earthquake and we were able to provide funding in tandem with the support for other groups.”

Kaikoura Community Theatre Incorporated Board President, John Wyatt welcomed The Southern Trust’s $300,000 contribution, saying it brought the total of committed funds to $1.25 million. The amount required for the complete project is $3.6 million.

John Wyatt says the Board is continuing to look for opportunities to fund the project and they are confident that they will be able to announce more funds in the early part of this year.

Kaikoura’s Mayfair Theatre opened its doors on December 21 1934 and has been supporting the community as a venue for live theatre and movies since then. It moved into community ownership in 1970. After community fundraising a new 3D projector was installed in November 2013. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Kaikoura on 14 November 2016, damaged the theatre beyond repair closing its doors for the foreseeable future. Since then the Kaikoura Community Theatre Incorporated Board has been working hard behind the scenes, planning the construction of a new theatre on the same site. Thankfully the building’s iconic facade is unscathed and has been preserved. Building on a new, modern theatre to sit behind the façade is due to start in May 2019 and the fitout is scheduled for the following year.

Mr Wyatt says the Board are confident they will have the project completed in late 2020 in time to mark 50 years of community ownership of the Art Deco theatre.

In 2018 the Kaikoura region received more than $500,000 in community funding from The Southern Trust working in partnership with Suntrap Lobster Inn. The Mayfair Theatre was one of 29 groups which shared $510,917 in grants from the Trust. Other recipients included; Kaikoura Arts Society, $2,180; Kaikoura Bowling Club Inc, $3,770; Kaikoura Bridge Club, $1,200; Kaikoura Croquet Club, $930; Kaikoura High School, $30,000; Kaikoura Historical Society, $12,000; Kaikoura Playcentre, $8,700; Kaikoura Primary School, $5,000; Kaikoura Rugby Football Club Inc, $7,800; Kaikoura Suburban School, $1,790; Kaikoura Volleyball Club, $5,200; North Canterbury Sport & Recreation Trust, $40,000; Takahanga Bowling Club Inc, $14,800; Te Whare Putea Charitable Trust, $5,000; Tasman Regional Sports Trust. $5,500 and Royal New Zealand Coastguard Inc, $6,000.

The Southern Trust was established in January 1998 and is licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs under the Gambling Act 2003 to return gaming machine proceeds to the community. In the 12 months to 31 December 2018 the Trust distributed $12,824,742 to community groups throughout New Zealand.

ENDS.

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