Rimu timber to repair Facade and South Wall

$2,000 of $6,200 goal

Given by 17 generous donors in around 4 months

We need 620m of profiled rimu weatherboard to replace rotten timbers to restore the facade + south wall of our category 1 heritage building

West Coast

Removal of stucco and invasive inspection has revealed rotten timbers that need replacing before we can proceed with painting and restoration of the iconic facade and south wall of RMH. Local mills in Reefton and Stillwater have generously provided 'work in kind' to prepare, cut and profile the new rimu rusticated weatherboards, because this significantly reduces the costs involved we are asking for supporters to donate $10 per metre to replace the boards. We need 620 metres. Please help us restore this nationally significant landmark building.

Runanga Miners' Hall Trust's involvement (page creator)

Friends of Runanga Miners' Hall began in 2009 as an initiative of the residents community development organisation, Runanga Area Association Inc. A conservation plan, fire protection plan and structural engineers report were commissioned and the building was awarded Category 1 status by Heritage New Zealand in 2014. Cyclone Ita hit the West Coast in April 2014 causing significant damage to the building (and leveling vast blocks of native forest). The threat of demolition mobilised action and a charitable trust was formed to take ownership of the project and building. The support, funds and effort of us many mean we can save this nationally significant building for current and future generations.

About us

RMH is a category 1 historic place, an iconic building of great significance to the history of organised labour in New Zealand. It is an important marker of the history of small town life as reflected in Runanga.

The project is needed because RMH has fallen into disrepair over the years due to lack of community funds to do general maintenance.

The whakapapa of RMH dates to the early days of the Runanga Radicals, Webb and Semple, O’Brien and Hickey. The project aims to share their stories and ideas, and restore the hall to enable continued and future use.