Kaikōura's beloved community kitchen could be forced shut if the district council carries out its plan to close the local scout hall.
Kaikōura Scout Hall. Photo: RNZ/Logan Church.
Kaikōura District Council wanted to close the building while it considered its future - which could include demolition.
But locals are pleading to keep it open.
The community kitchen in the old scout hall had served 5500 meals since it began just before the November 2016 earthquake, offering free meals every Monday night.
Coordinator Jill Hann did not want it closed.
"I feel we really need this in our community, especially at this time...it is vital," she said.
The hall was handed over to the council in 1954, but now appeared very rundown with cracked gutters badly in need of a new coat of paint. It also had no fire alarms or extinguishers.
The council said it could cost about $200,000 to fix at a time it was also looking at a 17 percent rates rise so it could afford to fix up roads, bridges and sewerage.
But Ms Hann said the social cost of closing the scout hall far outweighed any repair bill.
"Anybody can come, the rich or the poor, anyone can come and come in.
"That's what I like about it, everyone can come together eat a meal together."
Ms Hann said there was no other suitable place for the kitchen.
The hall was also used for exercise classes and as a meeting place for the youth council and several other groups - as many as 200 people every week used the hall.
Te Hā o Mātauranga (Learning in Kaikōura) co-ordinator Sarah Beardmore said the community had a history of fighting to keep the building.
"There is actually multiple times - at least three times - when this exact situation has come up when the council has thought, 'It is an old building and we need to get rid of it.' And community has responded: 'This is really precious to us."
Kaikōura Mayor Winston Gray. Photo: RNZ/Logan Church.
Mayor Winston Gray agreed the hall was well-used.
"The scout hall has been there for about 100 years. It has had an increasing amount of use since the quake, but it has got some issues."
He said the cash-strapped council had to make some tough decisions about its assets.
"Capital costs would be massive."
The council is expected to discuss the hall's future next week.