Whakatane War Memorial Hall
Description
The Whakatāne District War Memorial Hall is a popular community facility located at Rex Morpeth Park on 7 Short Street. The War Memorial Complex has ample parking and provides cultural and sporting facilities for many organisations in the District. The Centre was opened by the Governor-General in 1978. It was built around and over the earlier War Memorial Hall. The building has retained the original main entrance, plaques and honors scrolls. Please note that the Whakatane War Memorial Hall is a fully self-service facility and is not staffed. Set up, pack up and cleaning is the responsility of the hirer.
The Centre includes the Little Theatre, which seats over 270 people and is used for recitals, conferences, seminars and theatrical productions. The theatre is backed by a large rehearsal room. The large, carpeted entrance foyer provides bar and ticketing facilities and can also be used as a separate function room if the entire complex is hired. Next to the foyer, separated by sliding soundproof doors, is the carpeted reception lounge with a bar and kitchen facilities, and a parquet dance floor. It is available for receptions, meetings and conferences. The Whakatāne War Memorial Hall also incorporates a sports stadium that has two full-sized basketball courts. The stadium is also used for badminton, volleyball and other indoor sports. Large concerts, functions, commercial and cultural exhibitions are often held in the stadium. Please note in case of an emergency that the Defib Unit pin in the War Memorial Hall is 3120Y. Bookings are made on a first-come-first-served basis and to be fair to all users, the Council reserves the right to limit the number of requests submitted by an organization within a given period of time. If you are unable to find availability for your event, please contact us as we may be able to assist you. All bookings are subject to Council's current fees and charges at the time of hire.
Accessibility
- Accessible Parking
- Accessible Toilets
- Wheelchair Friendly
- Wheelchair Lift
Parking
- Off-street Parking
- Side-street Parking
Venue Facilities
- Bar Areas
- Commercial Kitchen
- Freestanding Room Dividers
- Grand Piano
- Lectern
- Parquet Dance Floor
- Portable Stage
- Tables & Chairs
Available for Bookings:
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In addition to sporting events, the sports stadium is an ideal venue for exhibitions, conferences, concerts and artistic displays. Floor area of 1075sqm. Configuration: 8 badminton courts, 2 basketball courts, 3 volleyball courts or 1 large indoor bowling arena. A portable stage is available made up of 8 x portable units measuring 2.4m(L) x 1.2m(W) x 0.4m(H) each, equating to 23.04sqm. Easy to move as on castor wheels. Please note: A standard cleaning fee of $200 is required for the stadium floor if alcohol, food and/or beverages have been consumed in the War Memorial Hall Stadium.
Booking Rules - Events
- Minimum hire: 1 hour
- Half day booking: 4 hours
- Full day booking: 4+ hours
- Set up & clear-out: charged by the hour
- Latest closing time: 2am (however no music after 1am
Booking Rules - Sports
- No food or drink to be consumed on sports surface (other than water)
- Minimum Hire: 1 hour
Capacity
- Max Capacity: 600 people
- Max Capacity (if Reception Lounge is also hired): 750 people
Room Features
- Air Conditioning / Heating
- Changerooms, Showers & Toilets
- Grandstand Seating
- Guest WiFi
- Kitchen
- Sound System
- Tables & Chairs
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The Reception Lounge has a floor area of 280 square metres and features a 30 square metre parquet dance floor. It has seating capacity for 200 (chairs only) or 150 with tables and chairs. Standing capacity is 288. With adjoining kitchen and bar facilities, the lounge is ideally suited for conferences, dinners and club meetings. The Reception Lounge is a fully self service facility and is unstaffed. Set up, pack up and cleaning is the responsibility of the hirer. Tables and chairs are available in the storage area.
Booking Rules
- Minimum hire: 1 hour
- Half Day Booking: 4 hours
- Full Day Booking: 4+ hours
- Set Up & Clear-Out: charged by the hour
- Earliest opening time: 7am (6am by arrangement and with prior approval only)
- Latest Closing: 2am (however no music after 1am)
Capacity
- Max capacity (tables & chairs): 150 people
- Max capacity (chairs only): 200 people
- Max capacity (standing only): 288 people
Room Features
- Air Conditioning / Heating
- Bar / Servery
- Commercial Kitchen
- Guest WiFi
- Tables & Chairs
-
The Little Theatre is used for recitals, conferences, seminars and live theatrical productions. Facilities include; wheelchair accessibility, large rehearsal room (Green Room), separate male and female dressing rooms, and an Orchestra Pit. Technical facilities include: stage lighting, fly bridge, lectern and a grand piano. Further technical equipment can be hired locally. Please contact us for further information. Important: Little Theatre is unstaffed and self-service and does not have projector facilities. Little Theatre Stage Dimensions • Proscenium: width 9.2m, height 4.2m • Setting line (front curtain) to back wall: 9m • Forestage: 3.5m x 11m (forestage drops to form orchestra pit) • Depth of forestage from edge to curtain line: 3.5m • Stage width from wall to wall: 13m • Stage depth from curtain line to back wall: 12m • Stage depth from curtain line to last flying line: 11m • Height of grid/ceiling above the stage: 10.95m • Stage height from auditorium floor: 0.5m • Height from stage to under fly floor: 12m • Wing space from prompt and OP sides: 6m each side • Length of battens: 10m
Booking Rules
- Half Day Booking: 4 hours
- Full Day Booking: 4+ hours
- Earliest opening time: 7am (6am by arrangement and with prior approval only)
- Latest Closing: 2am (however no music after 1am)
Room Features
- Air Conditioning / Heating
- Bar
- Dressing Rooms: 2
- Grand Piano
- Workshop / Storage Area
Stage
- Loading Dock
- Orchestra Pit
- Stage Curtain
- Stage Lighting
- Stage Steps
- Theatre Flying System
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The combined Little Theatre and Reception Lounge rooms create a spacious area with dual entry to the facility. The large foyer entrance adjoins the two areas and provides access to the Little Theatre, Reception Lounge and Stadium, and also has bar and ticketing facilities. The area can be divided from the reception Lounge by sound-proof sliding doors, so can be used as a separate function room. If the hiring party wishes to use the foyer exclusively, they MUST book such use with the Bookings Administrator; exclusive use of the foyer cannot be guaranteed unless the entire complex is hired.
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The combined areas of the Stadium and Reception Lounge provide ample space for large events such as exhibitions, receptions and conferences. The large foyer entrance adjoins the two areas and provides access to the Little Theatre, Reception Lounge and Stadium, and also has bar and ticketing facilities. The foyer can be divided from the reception Lounge by sound-proof sliding doors, so can be used as a separate function room. If the hiring party wishes to use the foyer exclusively, they MUST book such use with the Bookings Administrator; exclusive use of the foyer cannot be guaranteed unless the entire complex is hired.
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The combined areas of the Stadium and Little Theatre provide ample space for large events such as exhibitions, receptions and conferences. The large foyer entrance adjoins the two areas and provides access to the Little Theatre, Reception Lounge and Stadium, and also has bar and ticketing facilities. If the hiring party wishes to use the foyer exclusively, they MUST book such use with the Bookings Administrator; exclusive use of the foyer cannot be guaranteed unless the entire complex is hired.
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