Construction of the new building behind the Raglan Old School Arts Centre started at 10am on Monday 24th May. A small ceremony marked the start of the project with Sunnah Thompson, a Ngati Maahanga kaumatua blessing the building site and the building project. Clem Parker, an ex Waitetuna resident and member of the St Lazarus Trust turned the first sod. The St Lazarus Trust provided the foundation funding that allowed the building to go ahead. Other donors are the NZ Lottery Grants Board, Logan Campbell Estate and the Raglan Lions Club.
Archaeologist Sian Keith, from Warren Gumbley Associates was present to supervise the excavation work. Arts Council Chair, Rodger Gallagher said it was exciting to have a community building project going ahead in Raglan. The new building will increase the floor area of the Arts Centre by 60%.
The ceremony was followed by morning tea. And then a big digger from Raglan Excavations started the work proper at 10am guided by D & L Shilton builders and the archaeologist.