Run by deconstruction company TROW Group, the events are being held on Friday October 28 from 5 pm to 10 pm at 3 Pringle Road, Te Atatū Peninsula.
Residents and loyal patrons can gather to share stories and bid the historic building farewell before it is dismantled due to health and safety hazards. They can buy memorabilia from the tavern at the auction with proceeds going to charity. Items going under the hammer will include the iconic Park in the Bar sign along with other goods from the pub. All profits from the auction are in the confirming stages of being donated to the Te Atatū local high school, supporting their young creatives.
Pop up stalls and food trucks will be dotted around P.O.P Up Maketi 834, the vision of Saia Latu, the General Manager of TROW Group, who wants to empower the community. Local companies will be offered temporary free space to exhibit their businesses as well as sell goods and services at the market. P.O.P stands for people over profit.
Among the key highlights are karaoke, a DJ and live entertainment. Children will keep entertained with a bouncy castle, face painting and giant lawn games before relaxing on bean bags. People can pose for one last picture with the tavern inside a big custom-made Instagram photo frame with a hashtag.
TROW Group is a fully Pasifika-owned and operated company which delivers full project, lifestyle services, salvaging hundreds of tonnes of construction materials every year. It will be showcasing plans to design out waste from the tavern deconstruction. The goal, says TROW Group, is to salvage as much material as possible from going to landfill and reuse it as an extension of the Te Atatū Tavern’s story.
West Auckland Trust Services (the Trusts) on behalf of Waitākere Licensing Trust expects to finish deconstruction of the building by December if no unforeseen issues cause delays.
Built in 1974, the tavern was permanently closed in May after an inspection report identified potential health and safety risks in the building. Allan Pollard, CEO of The Trusts, says the safety of staff and patrons has been the most important consideration in the decision to close the tavern. “The tavern had very loyal patrons and we know this news will be disappointing for them, but we cannot and will not compromise the safety of our staff or the public,” Mr Pollard said.
Concerns identified in the report include cladding and possible structural problems with the roof, evidence of dampness (including signs of rot and mould) in the building’s structure and interior, and the need to replace electrical mains.