Nelson RSA’s five-year push to bring Stoke Memorial Hall back to life has received a jolt of optimism following the Government’s proposed overhaul of New Zealand’s earthquake-prone building system.
The Nelson City Council-owned hall has been closed since March 2020, when it was found to meet just 17 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS) — well below the 34 per cent threshold that classifies a building as earthquake-prone.
Nelson RSA member Ian Barker says the building’s deterioration over the past five years has been “dreadful” to watch.
“It’s become derelict — a source of continual frustration to everyone who drives past it,” he says. “When you look at the list of organisations, events and activities that used to happen there, it’s a long one. It’s not good for the council, it’s not good for the city, and it’s certainly not good for the Stoke community.”
A business case presented to Nelson City Council in mid-2023 estimated the cost of either strengthening or rebuilding the hall at between $3 million and $6 million, depending on the scope of work. The council later earmarked $2.2 million in its Long Term Plan for remediation or deconstruction in the 2027/28 financial year.
However, new changes announced by Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk could alter the outlook for many older buildings.
The revamped earthquake-prone building (EPB) system aims to “reduce repair costs and reinvigorate communities” by replacing the NBS rating with a more targeted approach. Under the new system, only buildings posing a genuine risk to human life in medium and high seismic zones will remain on the earthquake-prone register — such as concrete buildings three storeys or higher and those built with unreinforced masonry.
“Unreinforced masonry buildings under three storeys in small and rural towns will no longer require remediation or warning notices,” Chris says. “However, owners must secure the façade before removal from the register.”
Nelson and Tasman both fall within a medium seismic zone. Ian says the proposed changes offer renewed hope that the hall could reopen sooner than expected.
“This gives us a lot of hope,” he says. “We’re keen for council to act quickly, review the details, and assess what the next step should be. We’re hopeful the hall can be used again with minimal extra requirements.
“It’s of great significance to us — a memorial to the young men of Stoke who gave their lives for their community.”
Nelson City Council group manager community services, Martin Croft, says staff are assessing the potential impact of the new system on local buildings, including heritage structures.
“Any assessment of individual buildings will depend on the detail of the future Act,” he says.
“Public safety will always remain our top priority.”
