We're planning a new civic marae and cultural centre at Te Motu o Poutoa Anzac Park, and we need your input on how it should be managed.
This key project is part of our approved long-term plan for Palmy. It will be developed in partnership with Rangitāne o Manawatū at one of our city's most significant sites.
The facility will have a public café, a civic marae, and spaces for private events. It will also have an educational focus, making it an ideal destination for school trips and a great place for locals to bring friends and whānau. You can see concept drawings at the bottom of this page.
Read more about the project
We want to choose the best way to manage the facility for success. After working with the project’s steering group and researching similar facilities across New Zealand, we’ve identified four options – one of which we prefer.
Our preferred option is a stand-alone council-controlled organisation that is a charitable entity, jointly governed by us and Rangitāne o Manawatū
We believe the best way to manage this facility is by creating a new and focused organisation that would be jointly set up with governance equally appointed by Council and Rangitāne o Manawatū. This approach aligns with the principles of partnership and collaboration in our agreement with Rangitāne.
Why we prefer this option:
- Ensures equal partnership and decision-making between Council and Rangitāne.
- Can be run by a board with the right expertise.
- Focused entirely on making the facility a success.
- Easier access to external non-rates funding from government and grants.
Downsides:
- Setting up a new organisation takes time and money.
Other options
Fully owned and managed by Council (part of our parks and reserves)
Council would run everything, with Rangitāne providing advice but no direct governance input.
Pros:
Cons:
- Less involvement from Rangitāne.
- Slower decision-making.
- Harder to get external funding.
Managed by Te Manawa on behalf of Council
Te Motu o Poutoa civic marae and cultural centre would be a part of Te Manawa's organisation, reporting to its board. Te Manawa is already a council-controlled organisation.
Pros:
- Experienced management.
- Access to funding and marketing.
Cons:
- Could get less focus from management and the board.
- Less decision-making power for Rangitāne.
Fully owned and managed by Rangitāne o Manawatū
Rangitāne would have full control over the facility.
Pros:
- Full independence.
- More access to external funding.
Cons:
- No guaranteed Council funding.
- Likely limited management resources.
Read all about the options and their pros and cons in our statement of proposal:
Te Motu o Poutoa civic marae and cultural centre: Governance and management structure options(PDF, 882KB)
Share your feedback with us by 4pm on Thursday 17 April
Click here to view form.