Momentum Waikato’s Chairman Hits the Right Note for New Theatre
08 July 2016
Momentum Waikato Community Foundation encourages generosity in our community, helping people and organisations to be a
part of creating a better Waikato for everyone forever. The Foundation is committed to serving as a convener and
connector, providing a simple vehicle for generous contributions to strategic transformational projects within the
Waikato region.
One such opportunity currently in our community’s spotlight is the future of the Founders Theatre. Momentum Waikato
maintains a neutral, apolitical position within the community, and its chairman, Leonard Gardner, has been approached by
a number of generous individuals and organisations interested in utilizing the Foundation to contribute to a new
theatre. A partnership combining public and private funds was proposed by Mr. Gardner at the city council’s submission
hearings, along with a robust process to enable a new theatre project to have the greatest opportunity to succeed.
Mr. Gardner said, “Our submission seeks agreement from Hamilton City Council to create a coalition of experts from
within the community to offer expert planning advice, manage the project and deliver a new, iconic theatre that will
serve as a legacy for generations to come. In the similar way members of this community raised capital to build
Founder’s Theatre 54 years ago, it is my intention that we take responsibility of project delivery for a world class
theatre, leveraging Council’s planned expenditure to build a truly iconic place as a home for the community’s artistic
expression.”
Momentum Waikato and its generous donors look forward to the Hamilton City Council’s response to Mr. Gardner’s
submission.
ENDS.