1 June 2010
Hundreds of guests joined the Governor-General, Maori King and funders today at the official opening of the new multi-million dollar events and community centre at Lake Karapiro.
The facility was opened by the Governor-General, the Hon Sir Anand Satyanand accompanied by Kiingi Tuheitia and Waipa District Mayor Alan Livingston.
Others attending included rowing stalwart Don Rowlands (C.B.E, M.B.E) after whom the new centre has been named, as well as local Councillors, iwi, lake users and representatives from key funders including the Perry Foundation and Mighty River Power.
The day began with a tapu-lifting dawn ceremony before the official opening of the Mighty River Domain (formerly the Lake Karapiro Domain) entrance. The entrance, made of carved Hinuera stone, reflects the shape of the kotiate - a Maori hand held club - and features six poupou carved from totara logs.
Guests who gathered in centre, built by Hawkins construction, heard Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston describe the facility as a “jewel in Waipa’s crown”.
Council had earmarked $15 million in its 2006-2016 10-year plan to upgrade both the centre and the surrounding domain, Mr Livingston said. But it fast-tracked the work after securing hosting rights for the rowing world championships later this year; an event being billed as the largest sporting event to be staged in New Zealand since the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
Despite his enthusiasm for the world championships being held in the Waipa district, Mayor Livingston stressed the new Karapiro facility, just five minutes out of Cambridge, would host a range of sporting and cultural events. He said he had no doubt the centre would further cement Lake Karapiro’s reputation as a world-class water-sports venue known internationally and had “huge potential” for the district.
“The Waipa district will be extremely proud to have the centre showcased during the rowing world championships. But we are prouder still of building a facility that will be used extensively by people from our district, our region and the country for years to come.”
Mr Livingston said the $4.9 million centre was a huge commitment for locals and commended his council and Waipa ratepayers for being “visionary” in committing to the development.
He noted the project, including the development of the wider domain, would have been “extremely difficult” without funding support. Key funders included Mighty River Power, the Perry Foundation, the New Zealand Lotteries Grants Board, Trust Waikato, the Lion Foundation, the Waikato Foundation Trust, WEL Energy Trust, Transpower and the New Zealand Community Trust.
Perry Foundation suggested that its contribution to the Karapiro facility be recognised by having it named after Don Rowlands, a former New Zealand rower, selector and world-class administrator. In September 2009, Mighty River Power announced a 10-year sponsorship arrangement which gives it naming rights to the 20-hectare domain.
The 1400m2 events centre can hold 1000 people. It has a number of multi-purpose rooms, full kitchen facilities and storage areas. A large cultural room has been set aside within the centre, to be funded by local iwi.
The Karapiro development also included a new entrance road, new toilet and shower blocks, new entrances, the installation of permanent seating and new site infrastructure.
For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Tyrrell
Ph: 07 872 0097 or 027 293 8679
Email: jeanette.tyrrell@waipadc.govt.nz
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