Jamie Godden (top) oversees the lowering of the top section of Kuripuni’s Chinese pavilion roof into place. PHOTO/JADE CVETKOV
Kuripuni’s Chinese pavilion has finally reached a new peak – but not without some stress.
Tiling the roof of the pavilion, a project linked with Masterton’s sister city Changchun, has been a marathon rather than a sprint, with work going on since May.
Last week a hefty terracotta cap was added to the top.
It required a cherry-picker and some creative thinking.
Masterton district councillor and member of the New Zealand-China Friendship Society Jonathon Hooker was on hand to see the progress.
“It’s taken some time, but all good things come to those who wait,” he said.
The pavilion has received $70,000 in council funding, with the container of tiles – but no instructions – provided by Changchun. Additional funding has come from Trust House and the Wairarapa Trust Lands Trust,
Hooker said, as well as from “private donations”.
Cherry trees have been planted around the pavilion.
“We wanted somewhere people would be able to enjoy the environment we live in,” Hooker said.
Project manager Dave Borman said the team of retired building inspector Hans De Vries and fourth-generation brick-layer Len Lamb had done a “tremendous job” translating a traditional Chinese design to meet New Zealand building standards.
