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Puhoi Hall survived the floods that submerged the village in early 2023 (MM, Feb 23) but now the volunteer-run venue is facing a different type of disaster – skyrocketing insurance premiums.
Puhoi Centennial Hall Society treasurer Sarah Churchouse says in 2022/23, their premium was $3968.13, but this year it has jumped to $8283.34.
“We understand the reasons for these increases, they’re impacting anyone who pays insurance, but such a large rise is difficult to sustain. It also makes future planning tricky when we don’t know how steep the next increase might be,” she says.
Despite these pressures, the committee is determined to keep hire fees for the hall, which has been the cornerstone of local gatherings for generations, affordable for the community.
“We try to keep prices as low as possible and, wherever we can, offer the hall free-of-charge to local groups who serve the public for their meetings and events, such as the Puhoi Emergency Response Group,” Churchouse says.
“This helps ensure the hall remains a place for connection and resilience, not just for private hire.”
Compounding the problem is that grant funding is scarcer than in past years.
As a result, the team has had to get creative, she says.
Their strategies include:
• promoting the hall to the wedding market and film/television productions on a limited budget
• seeking a principal sponsor for financial stability
• launching a community newsletter – already reaching nearly 350 locals in just two months
• collaborating with other not-for-profit groups in Puhoi to market and support one another
Venue hire remains the primary source of income, starting at $30 per hour. Weddings, which cost $1500 for a three-day hire period, are the hall’s biggest earners.
“It’s perfect for DIY weddings or those working with an event stylist,” Churchouse says.
Alongside venue hire, fundraising also plays a vital role. Each year the hall runs a popular quiz night, with the next one set for Saturday, October 11.
However, with only a small team of volunteers, Churchouse says running more frequent fundraisers is difficult.
“Our goal is to keep Puhoi Hall an affordable, welcoming place where people can celebrate, connect and create memories but we’re having to work harder than ever to make the numbers add up.”
