Rewarewa Schoolhouse sits unused on Rewarewa Reserve.
The move of the century old Rewarewa Schoolhouse could be delayed by as much as a year while the council replaces stormwater pipes on the Ōtorohanga Museum site.
Rewarewa Schoolhouse sits unused on Rewarewa Reserve. Photo: Chris Gardner
Museum manager Liz Cowan told council regulatory and growth group manager Tony Quickfall that Ōtorohanga Historical Society which operates the museum intended to apply for resource consent to shift the building before Christmas.
Tony Quickfall
The century-old schoolhouse in Barber Rd, Ōtewā, about 20 minutes drive from Ōtorohanga, hasn’t been a school since the early 1970s but is destined to be a creative hub at the museum.
Quickfall bought the request from Ōtorohanga Historical Society for council assistance with relocation costs before council on Tuesday.
Engineering and assets group manager Mark Lewis told the meeting replacing the pipes at the Kakamutu Road site could delay the project for 12 months.
Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow advocated for replacing the pipe now, rather than in just over a decade, to minimise future disruption on the site.
Shane Carr
He was backed by councillors Shane Carr and
Kete.
“If you are going to do it, do it now, because 10 years down the track it might be more expensive,” Carr said.
“I would prefer it is done once, and do it properly,” Kete said.
Carr said not everyone was in favour of moving the schoolhouse onto the site.
Tennille Kete
But deputy mayor Katrina Christison said the community had already raised $45,000 towards relocation and refurbishment.
“This building, I hope, will be a big part of our community.”
Councillor Kit Jeffries was concerned with the damage tree roots were doing to existing pipework on the site.
Ōtorohanga District Council has promised to help the society with costs of moving the schoolhouse – cutting as much as $7750 out in one fell swoop.
Councillors resolved to partially fund the regulatory costs by not charging for staff time, council fees, or independent hearing commissioner costs relating to the building consent assessed at $2,750 and resource consent estimated at $5,000 if resource consent is required.
Katrina Christison
The council approved the replacement of the existing stormwater pipe as soon as practically possible,
Cowan was pleased with the outcome.
“It makes perfect sense to replace the compromised stormwater pipe now,” she said.
“It’s council-owned infrastructure and will provide long term security for the whole area. Hopefully, any relocation delay will be minimal. If contractors could complete this work over the next three to four months, we could still relocate the Rewarewa School before winter 2026.”
Rewarewa Schoolhouse sits unused on Rewarewa Reserve. Photo: Chris Gardner
Rewarewa Schoolhouse sits unused on Rewarewa Reserve. Photo: Chris Gardner
