Hapai wrapped for a reason: a step towards the future

Published on 17 April 2025

^{Caption: Hapai Club Building opened in 1966} 

^{Photo credit: Upper Hutt Recollect}

Come end of April, if you are walking down Fergusson Drive near Hapai building, you might notice scaffolding, safety wrap, and a little noise overhead.   

And if you’re wondering what’s going on, we’d love to fill you in - we are re-roofing Hapai building.

This isn’t just maintenance.  It’s preservation of a space that’s quietly served generations of Upper Hutt residents. 

When the Hapai Club building first opened its doors in 1966, it wasn’t just a building—it was the result of years of community effort. From Main Street to Pine Avenue, Upper Hutt locals baked, sewed, raffled, and rallied. Their hard work, combined with a government subsidy, made it possible to open Hapai mortgage-free: a space built by the people, for the people. 

While the use of the building has changed over time, its foundation remains the same—community spirit. 

^{Caption: Hapai Club building under construction}

^{Photo credit: Upper Hutt Recollect}

Why the building is wrapped

After years of service, the roof of the Hapai Building has reached the end of its life.  Time, weather, and internal guttering have taken their toll, and we’ve started to see leaks that—if left unattended—could damage the structure and make the space unsafe for future use. 

To fix this properly and protect the building for years to come, we’re re-roofing and relocating the gutters from the inside to the outside of the building.  This is a futureproof solution that eliminates the risk of ongoing leaks and avoids short-term patchwork repairs. 

What you would like to know

Key information: 

• Re-roofing starts late April (weather dependent) 
• Work will take approximately 2–3 weeks 
• New external gutters will replace internal ones 
• The building will be wrapped to protect from the weather 
• Contractor: Wellington Long Run Roofing Ltd 
• Contact information: askus@uhcc.govt.nz  

This Is about stewardship

We know it’s natural to ask: “Why are we spending money on this building?” 

We understand that every dollar spent comes from our community, and we take that responsibility seriously.  Letting it leak and deteriorate would mean greater costs down the line, not just financially, but culturally. We’d risk losing a part of our community fabric. We know its recent use as office space was a shift from its origins.  

That’s why this work is more than just maintenance.  

This is about getting ahead of a bigger problem, protecting what we already own, and making sure the building continues to serve people well into the future. 

While the building is currently under review for future use, we know one thing for sure: together we’re protecting a community legacy so it can serve the next generation of Upper Hutt residents. 

Have questions? Email: askus@uhcc.govt.nz

Have a memory to share? Email: heritage@uhcc.govt.nz