Community celebrates opening of new Lyttelton boardroom

Old and new combine in the Lyttelton-Mt Herbert Community Board’s new boardroom where the big oval table used by the former Banks Peninsula District Council takes pride of place.

The new boardroom, at 25 Canterbury Street, overlooks Albion Square and was officially opened on Wednesday.

Light and spacious, the new boardroom is a big improvement on the narrow, cramped meeting space the Lyttelton-Mt Herbert Community Board has been using since earthquake damage forced the closure of the Lyttelton Service Centre.

Community board member Ann Joliffe and chair Paula Smith inside the new boardroom.

Lyttelton-Mt Herbert Community Board Chairwoman Paula Smith said the Board had insisted on retaining the big oval table formerly used by the Banks Peninsula District Council for the new boardroom.

“As well as acknowledging its significance in terms of our local government history, members felt the big formal table better reflected the mana and dignity of democratically elected public office,’’ Ms Smith said.

When the boardroom was not being used for local government business, it would be available for community use.

“We hope this room, with its big oval meeting table, will be used by all kinds of community groups and truly become the Lyttelton Community Boardroom,’’ Ms Smith said.

The new boardroom also features a sideboard that belonged to the Banks Peninsula District Council and a Maori carving the BPDC was presented with when the Banks Peninsula District Plan became operational.