Community hub Te Whare Awhi opens on Huntly West Domain

The Huntly community recently celebrated the opening of Te Whare Awhi. Photo / Waikato District Council

Te Whare Awhi, Huntly’s new community hub, has opened its doors on Fraser St.

The hub is run by Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust, which used to operate the Huntly West Community Hub on Harris St.

The trust was asked to vacate the hub’s premises in the Chorus Exchange building in 2023, when Waikato District Council announced they would lease land and a building on a section of the Huntly West Domain reserve.

The council said Te Whare Awhi was a place of care, support and connection housing a number of programmes and workshops, including food rescue donations, community lunches and family support.

The council said it was built by locals for locals with company BUILTsmart taking care of the construction.

Te Whare Awhi co-ordinator Hine Timothy said it was wonderful to be in the new facility.

“We really appreciate the generous support we have received from BUILTsmart, and Waikato District Council and Genesis Energy. We are excited to share this facility with our community, welcoming regular and new faces and growing our services.”

The Trust also leases the Huntly Scout Building on Hakanoa Domain and uses it as an arts centre called Te Whare Toi o Hakanoa.

Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust has been operating since 2005 to provide a safe, welcoming resource centre that helps the local community.

The Huntly West Hub began as a grassroots initiative in 2013, led by local police and Project Harmony to build community connection, pride, and wellbeing and steadily grew into a thriving centre of activity.

In 2017, Friendship House (Huntly) Community Charitable Trust stepped in to take on the lease and management of the building at 49 Harris Street and was able to expand services, provide regular hours, and further grow its reach in the community.

The Friendship House (Huntly) Community Charitable Trust is now known as Raahui Pookeka Community Centres Trust.