Marriage of convenience
FANCY getting married at the Oamaru District Court?
It may be possible under an agreement between the Waitaki District Council and the Ministry of Justice for use of the recently reopened courthouse.
The first court sitting at the historic courthouse in more than seven years was held on January 16.
The ministry confirmed in a statement the building was being made available to hire ‘‘for events approved by the council and the ministry’’.
The arrangement was part of lease negotiations between the council, which owns the 1883 courthouse in lower Thames St, and the ministry, which leases the building.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said the courthouse could be used for a wide range of events when court hearings were not taking place.
At the moment, the court sits each fortnight on a Wednesday.
‘‘It could be overflow if the opera house had a conference on and needed the extra space, it could be a meeting room or a breakout room, it could be used for public meetings and functions and, potentially, if someone wanted a different venue for a wedding or even a funeral, perhaps.’’
The ministry could veto anything it did not deem appropriate to be held in the building, he said.
Given the building was not used often, it made sense to open it for community use, Mr Kircher said.
‘‘We thought it was a good opportunity . . . it’s another part of the winwin we were looking for.
‘‘The idea is if someone is wanting to use it they contact the council and we get the information and run it past the ministry and confirm what that fee might be.’’
A councilfunded earthquake strengthening and refurbishment project took close to $900,000 and about eight months to complete after the building was closed in November 2011 when it was identified as being earthquakeprone.
It officially reopened in October.