Pongaroa War Memorial Community Centre Committee

A public meeting held in the Pongaroa Town Hall on the 15th October 1945 had been called to address the lack of amenities in the area and the drift of the young folk from the country to the towns. It was decided that a community centre in Pongaroa was to be built, the erection of this building also to be a suitable war memorial for the Akitio County in memory of those who gave their lives. The Akitio Community Centre Memorial Committee was then established and the “Akitio Community Centre Peace Memorial Fund” was created with the aim of raising funds for the acquisition of land and the building of a community hall later to be named the Akitio County War Memorial”. A pound for pound subsidy was also collected from the government on all money which had been raised. On the 27th September 1953 the memorial was officially opened by the Hon. K J Holyoake, MP for the District. The committee continued to meet to facilitate improvements, maintenance and events. It is unknown exactly when the Committee was wound up as there are no minutes held after 1955, but the other records held do not go further than 1968.