Mayor Marie appointed Council’s nominee to Queen Mary trust

Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black has been appointed by Council as its nominee on the Queen Mary Historic Reserve Charitable Trust Hanmer Springs.

Black’s appointment will be for a three-year term and will not be tied to her election in next year’s upcoming Local Government body elections.

“As a long-term resident of the Hurunui District, I'm incredibly passionate about this project and want to see it fostered and grow to be a really important part of our shared history,” Mayor Black said at last week’s Council meeting.

A recent Remembrance Day visit to Belgium with other mayors had given Black “great insight into what this project could potentially do for this district”.

Council’s Chief Strategy and Community Officer Judith Batchelor said a charitable trust had been established to fundraise and provide input into the design and build of an interactive and immersive visitor experience which is in its concept development planning stage by Wētā Workshop. “This is considered to be stage three of the project, with stages 1 and 2 being the earthquake strengthening and restoration of the Soldiers’ Block, which is scheduled to be opened on Anzac Day 2025.”

Current trustees are Graeme Abbot, Mark Inglis and Jason Fletcher. Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and Hurunui District Council are always entitled to appoint a trustee under the Trust deed. The Trust deed provides for the appointment of a further three trustees.

Council also agreed in principle to lease the Soldiers’ Block building to the Trust to support the development of the Wētā Workshop immersive experience.

For more information on the Soldiers’ Block restoration and earthquake strengthening project, please go to https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/recreation/parks-reser...