Youth group finds a home

AFTER reported plans to use the Hiona Clubrooms as a facility for young people fell through, the Masterton Trust Lands Trust has let Rangitane the old Lighthouse Church and its hall for its use.
Rangitane approached the trust in April for assistance with their objectives, and when it was discovered the current tenants of Hiona Clubrooms and the proposed facility for young people would not mix well, the old Lighthouse Church and its hall was let to the iwi instead.
"They had a need for a site for a drop-in centre and we were happy to assist by making these buildings available at this time," trust chairman Alan Sadler said.
Rangitane took over the free lease at the beginning of June and just have to pay the cost of power.
"The generosity is huge we don't have to find money for rent, that's huge," Rangitane programme co-ordinator Brad Martin said.
Plans are under way to develop the two buildings as a centre for young people.
Both buildings have kitchens and the interior of the two buildings is in good repair, with the church carpeted and the hall sporting wooden floors and a stage at the back.
Mr Martin said he hopes something will be launched in September, but in the meantime a hip-hop crew are using the building to practise and the rear building now houses a waka.
The waka is awaiting fibreglass repairs, after it was towed behind a car and damaged about two months ago during storage at Queen Elizabeth Park, Joe Nuku, coach of the more than 50-strong Wairarapa Waka Ama club, said.
The waka will be stored at the centre until the fibreglass repairs are completed around the middle of July, he said.
"It's good that Rangitane has supported that."
A contingent of more than 16 young people was taken to Wellington in the middle of June to look around the Vibe and Secret Level youth facilities in Lower Hutt and Evolve in Wellington, and the feedback was that they liked the centres with good quality furniture and surroundings.
A power-point presentation was presented to the Masterton Youth Council the week before and a meeting of young people is planned for the second week of the holidays to air ideas for the facility.
"The whole idea about this is for the youth to take it on, not us older generation," Mr Martin said.
Rangitane is looking for support from individuals and the community to get the project off the ground.
"We need patrons or supporters of youth, we need help setting this up.
"The one thing we have learnt is if we don't get the foundation right, it won't stand," Mr Martin said.
The project has invoked support from Street Youth Ministries and Wairarapa Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP).