Manurewa resident No’oaere Glassie tears up every time she talks about a hall that's been a safe haven for some of her community's most vulnerable members.
Tadmor Hall — home to the Manurewa Senior Citizens Service Club since the 1960s — may permanenlty close as Auckland Council assesses its future use.
For decades, senior citizens' clubmembers have been convening at the hall once every fortnight, to spend the day interacting over activities.
However, it's been deemed unfit for purpose, with the council looking to relocate the group to another hall because it says the structure isn't safe and is regularly accessed by rough sleepers.
But Glassie said: "We feel safe here, we don't want to go."
"This place was left to the senior citizens and community groups. Our members know this place, it's walking distance and we don't feel comfortable going anywhere else."
She's been a member of theh senior citizens' club since 2018, and has many stories of how their activities have helped members come out of their shells and feel supported.
"We've noticed a drop in our numbers since we first found out that we may be moved. We're all feeling anxious about it."
Glassie's upset because she felt the council hasn't been transparent about its plans for the hall.
Last December, the council boarded and closed up the clubhouse, adjacent to the hall, with all of the senior citizens' club's resources inside.
"I'm so angry, they don't care about us. We were told if we were to relocate, we'd never come back."
Council's manager area operations parks and community facilities, Papakura and Manurewa, Alex Overwater-Davis said there had been ongoing discussions and consultations with the group.
"As the asset owner, we have a duty of care to users and when considering a risk-based approach, it is essential the group is relocated from the current property," Overwater-Davis said.
Security risks and anti-social behaviour
He said the hall and clubhouse both required significant investment to renew. The clubhouse was closed because it was deemed unsafe due to moisture ingress and water damage.
The venue was also regularly accessed by rough sleepers, and regularly broken into, because of its limited street view, he said.
"At this time, given the security risks and ongoing anti-social behaviour occurring on site, the hall is being assessed for future use."
He maintained there were no plans to sell either the hall or the clubhouse, and the club's resources would be released soon.
"We suggested relocating the senior citizens group to Randwick Park because this is a large, accessible venue with cooking facilities and parking."
Glassie said Randwick Park meant extra travel expenses for her members, while Tadmor was conveniently located nearby a few retirement homes in Manurewa.
"We will continue to hold our meetings, even without our resources. We will keep doing what we're doing.
"We do good here in this hall, and it's upsetting that they want to take us away from here."
Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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