Union gets okay for new building

The cost for the new building will be met by HKRFU

Levin Domain will remain the spiritual home of rugby in Horowhenua-Ka¯piti after plans for a brand new administration building on the northern side of the ground were given the green light.

Well, for the next 40 years at least.

Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Union was granted a 20-year lease for the building — with a 20-year right of renewal — after its proposal met with approval at a Horowhenua District Council meeting late last year.

HKRU were requesting a lease of land from HDC to erect the new 350m2 “administration building, clubroom, community space and corporate box”.

The building would be erected on the northern side of the ground, opposite the main grandstand.

The cost of the new administration building and community clubrooms — expected to cost $700,000 — would be met by the HKRU.

HKRU CEO Corey Kennett said it had been working on the proposal for more than a decade and it would stump up all the cash with zero impost to ratepayers.

“. . . $700,000 is a very significant sum for a not-for-profit organisation,” he said.

“We are cognisant of the extreme pressure that is put on

council funds and we are very proud of the fact that we will not be requesting any funding from HDC.”

Kennett said rugby had been played at Levin Domain for more than 110 years and admitted there was pressure in recent times to move its headquarters further south.

“We are a hyphenated province, we do have pressure to re-locate our home ground and headquarters to a southern venue,” he said.

“We want our home to be at Levin Domain for now, and forever . . . we feel that this sacred taonga should have rugby played on it forever.

“We are also very interested in engaging with HDC and other community partners to offer other activities such as festivals, concerts and community events. An administration building and community clubrooms will aid this.”

Kennett said the building would have minimal impact on the surrounding environment and they were working with HDC building officers to ensure the building was “aesthetically pleasing”.

The Hurricanes run out on to Levin Domain for a preseason match against Crusaders in early 2019, in front of what was a record crowd for the ground.

The Levin Domain scoreboard, near where the planned new building will go at the northern side of the ground.

There was a crowd of 4000 at Levin Domain in 1969 when Horowhenua beat Tonga 22-10.

The Levin Domain grandstand.