Pasifika hub in Hamilton gets boost from government funding
Friday, 6 November 2020
The 20-year journey for a Pan Pasifika community hub in Hamilton has been rewarded with confirmation of government funding for the project.
The K’aute Pasifika Trust will receive $8 million from the Provisional Growth Fund to help build a purpose-built facility.
The project has been planned for over two decades to support the growing Pacific population in the Waikato.
The funding is a $6 million grant and $2 million loan and will help to redevelop the vacant Hamilton Stadium Bowling Club at Hinemoa Park.
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The centre will include an integrated health centre, an early childhood learning facility and an open fale-style space for community and cultural events.
Trust Waikato has approved funding of $2.1 million towards the fale and hub design and construction.
Overall, the project is expected to cost about $10m.
K’aute Pasifika Trust chief executive, Leaupepe Rachel Karalus, was excited to see the government investment.
“We are extremely honoured and excited about the investment in the wellbeing of our communities in the Waikato,” she said.
She acknowledged the journey to get to Friday’s announcement didn’t happen overnight.
“This has been a 20-year journey that began in 1998, when the Pacific community held a fono to understand why Pacific peoples were not accessing mainstream health services, and suffering unnecessarily poor health outcomes.”
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate also welcomed the announcement, having backed the project since it began.
In September Hamilton City Councillors voted unanimously to transfer ownership of the vacant bowling clubhouse on the site to the trust, in readiness for development.
The Council also agreed to grant the trust a 30-year lease, conditional on getting resource consents and obtaining full funding for each facility before construction begins on the central city site.
“In September councillors were told an initial application for government funding had been rejected which felt like a real blow,” she said.
“We could all clearly see the need for this facility in our city and knew it would be a huge asset to Hamilton.”
Since then, Council has continued to advocate strongly for the project in Wellington because “it ticked every single box”.
“Rachel and the team at K’aute Pasifika Trust have fought tooth and nail for a long time to get this hub off the ground and Council wanted to support that, and has.
“The government has responded incredibly well and I’m thrilled and relieved to see funding now locked in. The benefits for our city, and particularly Pacific peoples, will positively impact generations of families.”