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The Weekend Sun
Big developments for small town
MM N
design Ltd.
architecture drafting interior
Te Puke is undergoing a big change, with plans underway to establish it as a destination town. Te Puke community board chairperson Karyl Gunn says the walkway linking the existing town with the new planned town centre development plan is underway and is due for completion at the end of the year. The walkway construction will go along Jellicoe Street, Commerce Lane and through to Jubilee Park. Playing on Te Puke’s slogan as kiwifruit capital, the park will be developed to contain a giant kiwifruit sculpture, a water feature, an amphitheatre and the first intergenerational playground. Karyl says with development occurring on the Tauranga Eastern Link, traffic numbers are expected to increase during the development stage and the board wants to encourage people to stop in Te Puke on their journey. “We want to create Te Puke as a destination town; as a
An impression of the new walkway. place where people can stop and have their lunch, families can enjoy the playground together and residents can live, work and play in a safe environment,” says Karyl. “We also hope to have performances in the amphitheatre.” She says the board hopes to encourage businesses to develop and open onto Commerce Lane to turn the small area into a big economic development.
In with the new, keeping the old Capitol Cinema today, located on Jellicoe St.
Next time you think of heading to a big blockbuster, why not enjoy the comfy seats and historic setting of the Bay of Plenty’s first 3D cinema – Capitol Cinema Te Puke. Despite having a rich historical exterior, Capitol Cinema houses the latest technology. Boasting not one, but two outstanding Real 3D cinemas, – with some of the com-
fiest seats around– you can have the luxury of a 3D experience as if you were sitting on your couch at home.
Historical setting
Capitol Cinema’s decor harks back to past eras, maintaining the rich cultural heritage in its construction. It was first constructed as a hall in 1917 and it wasn’t used as a cinema until April 1930 when the first talking movie was shown.
By August, the building was officially called Capitol Theatre. It was used for local fundraising events, such as an earthquake relief concert in 1931 for the people of Hawkes Bay and a Victory Ball for Victory in Japan Day in 1945. The Te Puke Boxing Association used it for fights, the RSA used it for debutante balls and finally in 1954 it was the first theatre in New Zealand to be adapted for cinemascope widescreen movies. In 2000, Ross and Evelyn Trebilco purchased the cinema. Since that day they have been constantly upgrading and improving the cinema technology as the years go on including 3D in 2009. To this day, the cinema plays a mix of the biggest blockbusters and the smaller art house films. Read the review of Captain America: The First Avenger 3D on page 48, now showing at Capitol Cinema Te Puke. By Laura Weaser