Ahead of Haere-roa’s July opening, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel and fellow regional councillors were given a tour of the new student building on Ilam campus.
The group were joined by University of Canterbury (UC) and Student Association (UCSA) representatives on Thursday, for a look at the highly-anticipated new facility, which has been under construction for two years. The building will form part of the University’s new wellbeing precinct.
Among the tour’s highlights was a look inside the revamped Ngaio Marsh Theatre, an icon of New Zealand’s theatre scene, which has been closed since the 2011 earthquake. The theatre is receiving a modern makeover complete with retractable tiered seating and a high-tech sound system.
Mayor Dalziel said she was impressed with the new facilities and how the campus had transformed since her days as a UC student. The Mayor also noted that she was one of many who have already donated to the Ngaio Marsh fundraising campaign, Save me a Seat. The popular campaign recognises donors with engraved nameplates on the back of the theatre’s 327 new seats.
UCSA is thrilled with the response to the fundraising campaign so far, and is encouraging Cantabrians to get involved and help fill the remaining $3 million project shortfall. 120 seats in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre have already been snapped up by eager donors, keen to claim their slice of history.
For more information about the Haere-roa project, visit: www.ucsa.org.nz/haere-roa