Dargavillians have been able to see a movie show in their home town for the first time in nearly 30 years.
The Anzac cinema opened for its first public showing on Friday with the "M" rated blockbuster Man of Steel at 5.30pm and a second showing of it at8.30pm. Four sessions and three movies were offered on weekends, with five sessions during the week.
Theatre manager Vernon Wood said the ability for local people to be able to "enjoy a movie locally is a huge positive for the community".
The idea of a local cinema was first mooted by a group of Dargaville women in 1989. Led by Jacoba Puharich and the mayoress of the time, the late Judy Brown, the idea attracted interest. A feasibility study was done, but the project failed to gain traction mainly through lack of funding and the availability of a suitable building.
After being on the backburner for a few years, a new effort in 2009 headed by Mrs Puharich and former Kaipara mayor Graeme Ramsey saw the Dargaville Community Cinema Charitable Trust formed in March 2009. When the Dargaville library relocated in 2010, a lease of its former space on the ground floor of the old Municipal Chambers building was obtained from the Kaipara District Council.
Now with many dedicated volunteers behind the project and after ernest fundraising, the 62-seat boutique-style cinema is completed. The comfortable, stylish, temperature-controlled environment caters for the hearing-impaired (wireless headsets) and wheelchairs (removable seats) and offers "state of the industry" sound and projection equipment, plus refreshments bar.
Mrs Puharich said: "... I think it is just wonderful. Going to the movies is a great community experience ... people can interact, chat to neighbours or strangers or just enjoy entertainment with family or friends."
The theatre was blessed by kaumatua Rex Nathan on Thursday night.
