Wairarapa Sportshouse

Sporting clubs and organizations have the opportunity to utilise a dedicated administration and training hub in the centre of Masterton with the opening of the Wairarapa Sportshouse. Located on the corner of Jackson and Chapel Streets the old Video Ezy store has been transformed with a complete refurbishment and the addition of a new wing on the adjacent section. The building has been earthquake strengthened and bought into the 21st century says building owner, Alister Skene from the Prime Community Trust. "We have been looking for a prominent position for the Sportshouse for a couple of years and this location will work fantastically for its users. It gives sporting clubs and lead tenant Sport Wellington/Wairarapa an ideal location to showcase sport in this community. The notion of a Sportshouse is a fairly recent phenomenon - but it is a reality of where sports find themselves in a tough economy where volunteers try to maintain clubs or their sporting code without a lot of resources, money or support."

"The Sportshouse provides those resources (an office suite, IT infrastructure, meeting rooms, conference facilities, activity spaces - even consult rooms for sports medicine or physiotherapy. Add to this the mentoring, networking and support provided by Sport Wellington and you create an environment where sports can grow and succeed. We would love all sporting and recreation groups to have a presence at the facility - whether it be adhoc or permanent this will become the home for sport in the region."

Prime has supported sport in the region for more than 15 years. But the Sportshouse takes our commitment to the community to a whole new level", says Alister. "Because we are a "community developer" not a "property developer" we're not looking for a commercial return on our investment - That's why users pay only a peppercorn rental."

The refurbishment and addition was overseen by the Trust with Gina Jones from Accent Architects the project architect and local builder MB Brown Ltd the contractor. "Stephen Brown and his team have done an outstanding job managing the build - we have tried to sympathetically modernize the structure whilst bringing it up to (earthquake) code. We have gutted the interior, added additional space, changed the roofline and even installed a lift to enable easy access to the first floor.

Joining sporting groups in the building are the Wairarapa Free Budget Advisory Service and the Wairarapa Community Law Centre who have their own entrance from Jackson Street. "These tenants do a fantastic job in our community by providing vital services to their clients, it just reinforces how this is a community facility, a community asset" says Mr Skene. 

If you are a sports club or organisation who would like to know more about the Sportshouse, contact Alister at the Trust office or pop into the Sportshouse and chat to the friendly staff at Sport Wellington who are happy to show you around.

Trust Chairman Greg Scobie and Masterton Mayor Gary Daniell pull the ribbon to officially open the facility.