Hon Maggie Barry
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
10 July 2017
Funding for Foxton’s new multi-purpose community facility
A new multi-purpose community facility in Foxton will receive more than a million dollars in government funding from the
Regional Culture and Heritage Fund (RCHF).
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Maggie Barry made the announcement today alongside MP for Otaki, Nathan Guy.
“The new community gallery, exhibition spaces, public library and Council community hub - which together make-up Te
Awahou Nieuwe Stroom - are a great example of a cross-cultural partnership achieving big things on a tight budget for a
small, but energetic community,” Ms Barry says.
“It’s the result of collaboration between the Horowhenua District Council, Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust and the
Dutch Connection Museum Trust.”
The Government’s $1,026,450 contribution to the $9.5m project is for the capital construction costs for the whare
taonga, museum and gallery parts of the new facility, due to open in October.
Otaki MP Nathan Guy says he’s delighted the project has secured funding.
“I’ve lobbied hard for this project and I know it will be a fantastic local asset that will encourage more tourists to
visit Foxton, a town that is rich in culture and history,” says Mr Guy.
“The RCHF is a fund of last resort designed to help smart, cost-effective projects in smaller communities. I think the
Horowhenua District Council has got the scale and flexibility of this project right for its community,” Ms Barry says.
“The exhibition spaces will preserve and promote the art, stories and cultural heritage of Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga and
the region’s Dutch settlers, as well as those of the wider Foxton community.”
The RCHF was established in 2016 with $29.5m for allocation over three years to qualifying capital projects benefitting
regional arts, culture and heritage institutions.
“This announcement follows recent allocations of $4m for seismic strengthening of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in
Hastings and $3m for the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangarei,” Ms Barry says.
Further information about the RCHF: www.mch.govt.nz/RegionalCultureHeritageFund
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