The Whakatane District Council is moving to squash rumours about the future of the War Memorial Hall complex, with suggestions circulating about the facility being sold to Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi.

Mayor Tony Bonne says there is no truth to the claim.

The Whakatane War Memorial Hall in Whakatane. Photo: Google Maps.

'Quite apart from its symbolic importance as a memorial to those from our District who died fighting for their country, the hall, Little Theatre and reception lounge are important infrastructural assets for the whole community and there's no question that they will remain so.

'Having said that, we do want to see better use made of the facility and Council agrees with the comments we receive from regular users that parts of the complex need upgrading.”

Tony says they have had discussions with the Wananga which could potentially lead to both ambitions being realised.

'But whatever the outcome, community ownership of, and access to the War Memorial Hall will not be compromised.”

He says the hall complex is currently unused for most of the week and any initiative which sees greater use made of the facility has to be good for ratepayers.

'The cost of running and maintaining the hall is substantial and under the spending restraints heralded in our draft Long Term Plan, there's no chance Council will be investing in any substantial improvements in the foreseeable future.

'We're happy to talk to any organisation that can help us cover the operating and upgrading costs of this important, but underutilised community asset.”