Carterton District Council

The show must go on at Carterton Events Centre

EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS, THE CARTERTON EVENTS CENTRE TEAM KEEPS GOING. SIMON RAYNER (LEFT) CHECKS THE AUDITORIUM LIGHTING. JOE SAMUEL FOOTS THE LADDER FOR BRETT STRINGER. REAGAN GUNDERSEN (RIGHT) CAPTURES THE OCCASION.

Dave Sims, the long-� me Venue Coordinator at Carterton Events Centre, said the past 10 years have been exci� ng for the team. For a decade, the team at Carterton Events Centre have been ensuring the show must go on. The Centre’s maiden event was in October 2011. Since then, it has provided a vast range of entertainment, social services, and events. Its versa� lity has been underlined as the challenges of covid-19 was faced. In October 2021, the Centre hosted vaccina� ons for Carterton District Council [CDC] team members. Geoff Hamilton, CDC chief execu� ve, said the Event Centre and its team are a huge asset for the community. “Ge� ng large scale civic projects delivered is always challenging. With foresight, previous Councillors incorporated both the Youth [Rangatahi] Centre and the library into the building design. That has been of enormous benefi t to our community.” The Centre has been pivotal for Carterton. It’s a space for people to come together, celebrate, and remember. Friday 29 October marked 10 years since it was offi cially opened. Since the fi rst curtain call, the Centre has grown in popularity, with locals, and touring companies. One of the Centre’s strengths is its team. Behind it all is a team of dedicated staff who go the extra mile to ensure a world-class experience for visitors, be they world famous stars of stage and screen, or the most passionate bookworm visi� ng the library each week. Dave Sims has led the team since doors opened, as Venue Coordinator, leaving just a few weeks short of the 10th anniversary. He said the past decade has been an exci� ng � me for the Events Centre and Council staff . “Everyone has pitched in to help. There were new experiences for everyone, and we discovered very quickly how much it was needed in the community. It exceeded expecta� ons from the start and many of the doubters soon came in to say they’d been wrong about the project.” Greg Lang, Mayor of Carterton, said the Events Centre provides the crucial func� on as a venue and library, and also off ers so much more. “We value its versa� lity. You cannot underes� mate the part it plays in tough � mes. Behind it all is a team that keeps things going, and ge� ng things done - with teamwork, dedica� on, pride in their work, and a customer focus.”