Rangiora Town Hall reaches milestone

Rangiora's town hall is gearing up to mark a major milestone.

This year marks 100 years since the town hall opened in 1926 - and a special centenary showcase is being planned to mark the occasion.

Organised by Dale Hartley from Hartley School of Performing Arts, the centenary showcase is 1920s-themed and it's expected to be a night of entertainment, music and nostalgia. 

The Rangiora Town Hall was originally constructed in 1926 and allowed for public entertainment and council administration to be combined.

After its opening, the town hall hosted a musical festival, which included a choir of 100 vocalists and an orchestra of 20 performers.

The town hall then held silent films three days a week and eventually operated as a cinema.

Hartley said people also used to watch newsreels there, back when TVs were not as common.

“The space is very much a central part of community, communications and art.” 

Someone who remembers the early days of the hall very well is 83-year-old Jean Turvey.

She grew up in Rangiora, and right from an early age would go to the town hall to watch the pictures and concerts.

She remembered watching movies with her brother and later on having dates at the town hall with her boyfriends.

 “It’s been a centre of Rangiora all my life”

Given how central it is to the town, there were a large range of groups wanting to celebrate the centenary.

The showcase will involve acts from the North Canterbury Musical Society, Rangiora RSA Brass Band, North Canterbury Academy of Music, Hartley School of Performing Arts, North Canterbury School of Dance, Jenna McKenzie School of Dance and many more.

Hartley said she hoped to see the different groups of people working together.

“It's an opportunity for like-minded people who use the space to be involved together.” 

For many people, the building has been an integral part of discovering a passion for the arts.

Hartley has grown up using the space and now runs a performing arts school in it.

“That space is where I discovered that passion, I now watch my own kids and other people discover their passion for it too.” 

The town hall sustained some damage over time, especially during the 2011 earthquakes, which closed the building briefly while repairs were carried out.

Hartley said it was important to celebrate these buildings, especially after the damage.

“The council and community spent a lot of money to revive these buildings and at the time felt there was flak for that. Often the arts are last in line for things, and people feel like other things are vital for life.” 

Turvey has seen it be upgraded and changed throughout her lifetime, having worked in the town hall while the council was housed inside.

She also felt it was important to celebrate the milestone.

“100 years is a great achievement.” 

The centenary will be held on September 5 with two shows.