Stoke Hall still ‘languishing’

It’s been almost five years since the Stoke Memorial Hall closed, and with another two until council funding is allocated for the building, the local RSA is urging action.

Nelson Returned Services Association (RSA) member and former six-term city councillor, Ian Barker, labelled the shuttered hall an “eyesore”.

“It’s just languishing, and people are wishing they could use it.”

The hall has been closed since March 2020 after the building was found to be earthquake prone, rating at only 17 per cent against the New Building Standard (NBS).

A business case put to Nelson City Council in mid-2023 put the estimated cost for a total rebuild or strengthening at between $3m and $6m, depending on scope.
The council’s Long Term Plan process then saw indicative funding of $2.2 million secured for either remediation or deconstruction in the 2027/28 financial year.
Ian says it’s not acceptable for the building to potentially sit unused for up to seven years before action is finally taken.

“It is very disappointing and very frustrating. It’s an asset that should be being used, and it’s not.”

Local RSA president Barry Pont says the Pūtangitangi Greenmeadows Centre isn’t large enough to cater to the organisation and so it had to host events elsewhere or turn them down entirely.

“It’s not just us. A lot of community organizations have to go to Richmond and use Club Waimea because there’s nothing in Tāhuna and Stoke big enough.”

With the centre “booked out every day of the week”, Barry adds that Stoke needed another, larger community space, especially with a growing population.
Last Thursday, Ian and Barry presented to NCC asking that it “emerge from the inertia” and take “proactive action” to revitalise the hall. Elected members appeared sympathetic to the plea.

Councillor Matty Anderson said his service in the navy was part of his identity.
“When I hear that these memorials or spaces for ex-servicemen are being disrespected, it really bothers me.”

Stoke-Tāhunanui Ward councillor Campbell Rollo apologised for the council’s “lack of efforts” in re-opening the hall and hoped it could “do better” this year.
Deputy mayor Rohan O’Neill-Stevens described the situation as a “moving feast”, while councillor Matthew Benge said the issue “needed to be pushed”.

However, with a price tag of “many many millions”, mayor Nick Smith asked the RSA if it would be prepared to financially contribute to any future work on the hall.
Barry said the RSA had set $600,000 aside in a trust for the welfare of the organisation’s members, and it would be up to the trust if they wanted to contribute any of those funds.

Ian added that Stoke residents would likely contribute to offset some of the cost.
“I have no doubt the community would again support anything that was being proposed.”

The Stoke Memorial Hall was built in the 1950s to serve as a “living memorial” to local servicemen who gave their lives during the World Wars with every dollar contributed by the community matched by the Government of the day.

“Just a decision would be wonderful,” Ian says. “Because nothing’s happening.”
Nick said no decision would be made without community consultation.