Petone Neighbourhood Hub

The building has deteriorated significantly and can no longer be safely operated in the medium term.

Around 40% of the facility is already closed due to mould and weathertightness issues. Other areas are affected by structural problems, including decaying timber columns and corrosion in the atrium.

Temporary safety measures have enabled the building to remain open to date, but these do not address the underlying issues.

Council had planned significant repairs with a capped budget of $5 million, and the project was already underway. In February 2026, Council decided to pause the project and reconsider the future of the Hub as part of the next Long Term Plan, recognising the building would still require significant renewals over the next 10 years.

The building was already scheduled to close in May for repair works. Given the ongoing health and safety risks, the decision has been made to proceed with closure at that time.

The decision to close the existing building and relocate services was made to meet Council’s health and safety obligations to staff and the public.

Because this is an operational health and safety decision, public consultation was not required.

Public consultation will take place on the long-term future of the existing Hub facility through the Long Term Plan process.

The building is currently being managed with safety measures in place, and it remains open.

However, those measures are temporary and do not address the underlying issues. Without planned remediation works proceeding, the risk increases over time.

The future of the Hub will be considered as part of the Long Term Plan process.

Final decisions are expected by 30 June 2027, although Council may indicate a preferred direction earlier as part of the draft Long Term Plan.

The immediate decision to close is based on safety and building condition.

The longer-term future of the Hub, including investment decisions, will be considered alongside Council’s broader priorities through the Long Term Plan.

The condition of the building has been known for some time and Council’s approach has been to monitor and actively manage the risks.

As part of its 2024–34 Long Term Plan, Council agreed on a capped $20 million budget for three projects in Petone and allocated the funding in response to community consultation feedback. Petone Wharf was allocated $12 million for remediation of part of the wharf, Petone Neighbourhood Hub was allocated $5 million for repairs and some refurbishment, and Petone Recreation Ground Grandstand was allocated $3 million, acknowledging this would be insufficient to fully renew the asset.

The repair project was underway when the decision was made to pause the work. Without those planned remediation works proceeding, the risks associated with the building can no longer be managed in the medium term.

No.

Around $600,000 has been spent to date on investigations, design, engineering, and progressing the project to the point where construction could begin. This work has been essential to understand the condition of the building and the scale of work required. Some of this work could be re-used if there is a decision to refurbish all or part of the building as part of the Long Term Plan.

The remaining budget has not been spent.

What has changed is the understanding that the $5 million would not be sufficient to deliver a long-term, safe solution for the building. Council will now consider the best use of the remaining funding as part of wider Long Term Plan decisions.

The new Jackson Street site is a smaller space and will not be able to support events or programming.

Council is now working through alternative options for delivering events and activities at other locations. Further updates will be shared as plans are confirmed.

Council will work with regular users and community groups to help find alternative spaces.

There are a range of Council venues available nearby, including War Memorial Library, Moerā Neighbourhood Hub and Moerā Community Hall.

You can also search and book available spaces through Council’s Bookable website, which lists venues across the city.

Sunday was previously the quietest day for visitor numbers and operating six days helps manage the additional costs associated with leasing and operating a temporary facility while maintaining core services in Petone.

The Jackson Street location is a temporary facility established to maintain services in Petone following the closure of the Britannia Street building. The long-term future of the Hub will be considered through the Long Term Plan process, with final decisions expected by June 2027.