Once each season, Levin’s historic Uniting Church is transformed into an intimate, immersive concert space glowing with hundreds of flickering candles, where music, mood, and connection come together in a truly unique live experience.

📍 Venue
Levin Uniting Church
87 Oxford Street, Levin

📅 Friday 26 June
🚪 Doors open: 7.00pm
🎶 Concert begins: 7.30pm
⚠️ Please note: Doors close promptly at 7.35pm

🍷 Included in your ticket
• Complimentary New Zealand wine (or non-alcoholic option)
• Dessert nibbles
• Immersive candlelit concert experience

💛 Music That Feels Good and Does Good
Every ticket supports Levin Uniting Church & Community Centre and the free programmes, support services, and community initiatives we provide for local whānau, including those experiencing hardship, isolation, or vulnerability.

🎟️ Seats are strictly limited to 100 and this event is expected to sell out.

Book early to avoid disappointment and experience rock music reimagined by candlelight.

✨ What to Expect
Step inside a beautifully transformed heritage church lit by around 900 candles, creating a warm, atmospheric setting for an extraordinary evening of live music.

Arrive early, settle in, and enjoy the pre-show ambience with local hospitality, dessert nibbles, and gentle live music from a talented young local musician.

Then prepare for a powerful 75-minute concert featuring reimagined rock classics performed live in strings, blending intensity, beauty, and cinematic sound.

🎻 Special Guest Artists: The Family Lockdown Quartet

Born during the 2020 lockdown, this remarkable family ensemble began performing online and quickly evolved into a sought-after live act across Aotearoa, including performances at Te Papa, Rimufest (Tauranga), and Wellington’s Cuba Classics Series.

Rupa and Donald bring decades of professional musical experience, while Lucy and Gemma are emerging classical musicians studying at Victoria University and already performing professionally.

Together they transform iconic rock anthems into powerful, emotional string arrangements.

🔥 Programme highlights include:
• Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
• Kashmir – Led Zeppelin
• Back in Black – AC/DC
• Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
• Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
• Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
• Dream On – Aerosmith
• Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
…plus more iconic favourites

🎷 Opening Performance
We are proud to showcase a talented young local rangatahi saxophonist performing live for the very first time – an inspiring opening to a night of music and connection.

To Book: https://events.humanitix.com/candlelit-concerts-rock-edition-it-s-a-night-out-that-feels-good-and-does-good/tickets?

Mayor Bernie Wanden says the project reflects a strong blend of community feedback, future-focused design, and respect for Levin’s heritage.

“This is a project that honours our past while creating something meaningful for future generations. It’s about storytelling through design, retaining what matters to our community while opening up new opportunities for connection, activity, and growth.”

The detailed designs, prepared by Athfield Architects on behalf of The Wellington Company Ltd., incorporate key themes raised through community engagement, including onsite carparking, communal amenity space that will create a more inviting and connected town centre environment.

Group Manager Community Vision and Delivery David McCorkindale says the development is a cornerstone of the Levin Town Centre Transformation.

“We heard clearly from our community, and their aspiration is reflected in The Wellington Company’s designs. From accessible public spaces to thoughtful integration of hospitality and residential living, this is about creating a vibrant, connected heart for Levin.”

The proposal retains the footprint of the existing War Memorial Hall while introducing new elements that bring the space to life, including a town square and plaza, laneway terraces, and a mix of hospitality offerings such as a café and shared hospitality and dining spaces. Two hospitality providers are expected to activate the precinct, alongside approximately 20 new residential units.

Design features also incorporate elements of the existing building, including the use of original windows and the addition of mezzanine doors, helping to carry the story of the site forward.

“This is just one piece of the town centre transformation” McCorkindale says. “It’s one of several interdependent projects that together will reshape Levin’s town centre into a place where people want to spend time, do business, and connect.”

Council officers have until 21 May to confirm that the design conditions of the contract have been satisfied. Once confirmed, resource and building consent applications will be lodged to determine whether the development can proceed to construction in its current form.

If consent is granted, construction is expected to begin within three months of that milestone, with the project currently on track for completion by 31 December 2028.

Mayor Wanden says Council is committed to maintaining momentum while continuing to keep the community informed.

“We are delighted that the Wellington Company have embraced the challenge of considering the history and identity of the space and are looking to create a development that will act as a catalyst for the transformation of the Levin Town Centre.”

The Solid Waste Bylaw sets the framework for how waste is collected, transported, disposed of, and managed across the district. It supports safe and efficient waste services while encouraging the reduction of waste sent to landfill, helping to protect public health and the environment.

Consultation opens on Monday 4 May 2026 and closes at 4pm on Friday 29 May 2026.

The current Solid Waste Bylaw is due to lapse in July 2026. Renewing the bylaw is important to ensure continuity of waste services and enable appropriate enforcement across the district.

At this stage, Council is not proposing any changes. Instead, the proposal is to carry over the existing Solid Waste Bylaw 2014, updated to align with a new template.

A broader review of waste services is planned as part of the Long Term Plan 2027, which will include further public consultation. Depending on the outcomes of that future review, the bylaw may need to be updated at that time.

We are legally required to consult on keeping the Solid Waste Bylaw 2014 unchanged. This means a valid bylaw stays in place while we continue to work on the 2027 Long Term Plan and any future waste service decisions.

Renewing the bylaw now provides certainty and continuity for the community, while allowing time for a more comprehensive discussion about waste and recycling services in the future.

Find out more

For more information and to have your say, visit letskorero.horowhenua.govt.nz/proposedsolidwastebylaw2026

The civic building, opened in 2007, is a significant council asset and requires renewal of key building elements to maintain full weathertightness and prevent further deterioration.

Work will focus on repairing and renewing parts of the roof system, including: 

• Replacement of membrane roofing over the building foyer
• Renewal of tiled balconies that also serve as roofing over basement car parking and office areas
• Associated flashing and fixing works.

Following completion of the roof remediation, internal repairs will be carried out in affected public areas, particularly near the public toilets, where previous water got in, damaged wall linings and caused corrosion to steel framing. 

Council confirms the civic building will remain open to the public throughout this work, with safety measures in place during scaffolding and construction activity. 

Running alongside this work, will be a full replacement of the building’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The existing system has exceeded its typical service life and no longer meets performance or efficiency standards. 

The system upgrade will

• Replace the outdoor units with a hybrid system that can adapt to future refrigerant changes
• Install new indoor ceiling units and pipework
• Be better for the environment

We’re working with contractors to carefully plan this stage of work, with a focus on minimising impacts on customers and kaimahi as we undertake this important mahi. The two projects will overlap, with final completion expected late 2026. 

“These works are about protecting a long-term asset, reducing future maintenance risk, and ensuring the Civic Building remains safe, and fit for purpose for our community,” says Chief Executive Monique Davidson. 

Further updates will be provided as each stage progresses.

Council’s Community Facilities and Services Manager Mark Hammond says, “Council knows there is never a good time to temporarily close a well-used facility, but the work is needed to keep the Aquatic Centre safe, reliable and fit for purpose for the community.” 

“We know this will be inconvenient for many people, especially regular users, families and those who rely on the different facilities or swim programmes.” 

“While disruption is not ideal, this is about Council investing in the long-term future of our community facilities so they can continue to support a thriving, connected Horowhenua,” Mayor Bernie Wanden adds.

The full Aquatic Centre closure will begin on Monday 13 April, with the facility planned to reopen on Monday 11 May.

Mark Hammond says, “Organising this kind of work is always challenging, and we do everything we can to reduce disruption to our swim school, fitness programme, and school holidays. It’s not easy, but that’s why we’ve chosen these dates.”

The Hydrotherapy Pool will close a week earlier from Monday 6 April, so ceiling tiles above the pool can be replaced before the full shutdown begins. This will also allow a new hydrotherapy pool liner to be installed.

During the closure, Foxton Pools will remain open, with additional classes and extended hours where possible. Swim lessons and some aquatic programmes will also continue at Foxton Pool where they can, and Swim School families will receive direct communication about any changes affecting them.

The work includes renewals to pool tanks, membranes, tiling, grouting and expansion joints, along with upgrades to circulating pumps, filtration and heating systems. Other work includes repairs to hardware, masonry, cladding, flooring, painting and replacement of the water supply on the eastern side of the facility, including hot water supply to the changing rooms.

While the closure will not be ideal for some, the work is necessary. Council appreciates the community’s patience while this work is completed and look forward to welcoming everyone back to a refreshed Levin Aquatic Centre.

We will continue to share updates on its website and Facebook pages as the project progresses.

For more information, visit the Levin Aquatic Centre Maintenance and Renewal Works project page

Fish & Game made a submission on the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill which sets out the specific changes needed to ensure the new laws work as intended — protecting the habitats, waterways, and public access that anglers and hunters rely on.

“We support replacing the RMA and we want this reform to succeed,” Chief Executive Corina Jordan says.

“But the Bills as drafted make it much harder for trout, salmon, and other valued introduced species to be protected. They define ecosystem health solely around indigenous species, which means environmental limits can’t be set with trout and salmon habitat in mind.

“While Fish & Game has been advocating for a reduction in bureaucracy and costs when restoring wetlands, we are concerned that the ability to protect wetlands has been reduced in the bills. We want to see a definition of wetlands and clear mechanisms to protect them – we’ve already lost more than 90 percent of what we once had,” says Ms Jordan.

“Access is a priority for our licence holders, losing access to a river is losing something we all have a right to enjoy. Access needs to be protected and improved.

“Ultimately, these proposed reforms as they currently stand mean an uncertain future for anglers and hunters.”

Fish & Game’s detailed submission on the reforms is available here.

The submission sets out the specific changes needed to ensure the new laws work as intended – protecting the habitats, waterways, and public access that anglers and hunters rely on.

Fish & Game’s submission calls for amendments to ensure:

• The goals framework explicitly includes recreation, fishing, hunting, public access, and habitat for trout, salmon, and game birds
• The ecosystem health definition is expanded to include valued introduced species so environmental limits can protect trout and salmon habitat
• Wetlands are clearly defined and explicitly protected, while restoration pathways are enabled
• Esplanade reserve provisions are strengthened and the 20-metre minimum width retained
• Water Conservation Orders and Sports Fish and Game Management Plans are recognised in planning and consenting decisions

Recreational fishing and game bird hunting contribute to regional economies and are a cornerstone of recreation, wellbeing, and connection to place for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders.

“This submission reflects three decades of clear mandate from our licence holders: habitat, water quality, and access are what matter most. We are asking Parliament to listen to them.”

About Fish & Game New Zealand

Fish & Game New Zealand is the statutory manager for sports fish and game birds, established under the Conservation Act 1987. It manages trout, salmon, and game birds and advocates for the freshwater habitats they depend on, on behalf of 175,000 licence holders. Fish & Game is entirely user-funded.

The independent review by Tonkin and Taylor assessed the main remediation options previously considered and found that some are unlikely to deliver the best environmental outcomes.

The review found that capping the sides of the old landfill would be costly, with a very rough estimate of between $700,000 and $1 million, and is likely to have limited environmental benefit given the age and condition of the closed landfill. It also found that installing a 200 metre groundwater extraction trench is not feasible, as it would require dewatering wetlands and treating extracted groundwater, and could create new environmental risks without clear evidence of benefit.

Instead, the review points to other interventions that are more likely to be effective. These include improving how the neighbouring wetland functions, looking closely at how nearby drains interact with groundwater and the Hōkio Stream, and strengthening monitoring so Council can better understand what is happening and respond early if conditions change.

Importantly, the review confirms that recent surface water monitoring has not shown unsafe levels of ammoniacal nitrogen in the Hōkio Stream, and an ecological assessment found no evidence of current harm to stream life at the time of survey. However, it also makes clear that the current monitoring network needs to be improved to better understand how groundwater, wetlands, drains and stream flows interact across the site.

Council’s immediate focus is on action. This includes putting an enhanced monitoring framework in place to provide better, more frequent information and allow changes to be detected early. This approach means Council is actively managing risk and will be ready to move quickly if indicators show that intervention is needed.

Following the workshop on Wednesday 17 December which included an independent technical advisor who spoke to the Tonkin and Taylor findings, Council will move to implement the updated monitoring framework and consider options for next steps.  Alongside enhanced monitoring, Council is progressing practical environmental work. This will include working with iwi partners, the Neighbour Liaison Group (NLG) and Project Management Group (PMG) to explore wetland enhancement and potential drain modifications on adjacent land recently purchased by Council.

These options are aimed at strengthening natural buffering, managing risk, and protecting the Hōkio Stream over the long term.

Chief Executive Monique Davidson acknowledges that this is a long running and deeply felt issue for many in our community, particularly local Iwi and those who call Hōkio home. Mrs Davidson says, “Regardless of what the data shows at any point in time, Council recognises the concern and maemae that many people carry and remains committed to being open, careful and guided by expert advice.”

Mrs Davidson continues “Ratepayers rightly expect that when Council invests in solutions, those investments deliver real outcomes. By focusing on enhanced monitoring and interventions that are more likely to work, Council is ensuring decisions are based on solid evidence and that resources are directed where they will make the most difference.”

Council is developing an Access & Parking Strategy to guide how people get to, from and around the town centre – both now and as Levin continues to grow. Rather than presenting a draft upfront, Council is starting by asking the community what matters most.

Mayor Bernie Wanden says the early input will help inform the issues, opportunities and priorities the strategy needs to address.

“Accessibility and parking play a big role in how people experience the town centre. We want to understand how residents are currently moving around, where the pain points are, and what people think will be most important for the future,” says Mayor Bernie.

The work comes at a pivotal time, with the upcoming Ōtaki to north of Levin (Ō2NL) expressway set to reshape how traffic flows through Levin. Once open, the reduction in through-traffic is expected to create safer, quieter streets and unlock opportunities to make Oxford Street more people-friendly and better connected.

Council is seeking feedback on:

• how people currently access the town centre

• their experience finding parking

• what helps or makes it harder to get around

• what should be prioritised in the future when it comes to town centre access and parking.

• Ideas for managing parking demand and turnover

“This is about planning ahead so Levin’s Town Centre remains vibrant, accessible and welcoming. The more we hear now, the better placed we’ll be to make balanced decisions that support our community and local economy,” says Mayor Bernie.

Have Your Say

The Access & Parking Survey is now live and takes around five minutes to complete. Engagement runs from Tuesday 18 November 2025 until 4pm, Friday 16 January 2026.

The survey and information are available at: letskorero.horowhenua.govt.nz/ltcaccessandparking

In October 2024 elected members, with the endorsement of Te Awahou Foxton Community Board, directed Council officers to “purchase the buildings on the endowment land at Nash Parade and Fabrin Street off the Boys Brigade, noting that the source of funding be from the Foxton Beach Endowment Fund, following a valuation for a fair and reasonable price given the buildings conditions”.

That decision was made in a meeting which excluded the public, to further negotiations with the Boys Brigade in respect to the property, but can now be made public.

The Boys Brigade had previously indicated a desire to relinquish its interest in the property, covering about 3.2 hectares, for which it had a longstanding lease with Council. This included two buildings that the brigade owned.

Council has since come to an agreement with the Boys Brigade and obtained the buildings, giving greater flexibility when deciding what the future of the land will look like. Any future decisions regarding the land will be made in close consultation with mana whenua, acknowledging the cultural significance of the site and its historical associations.

Boys Brigade New Zealand national director Mike Brewer says the organisation extends its thanks to Horowhenua District Council and its staff for their support and cooperation throughout negotiations.

“We deeply appreciate their assistance in facilitating the relinquishment of the buildings that BB New Zealand has proudly owned for many decades,” he says.

“While this marks the end of a cherished era in our camping legacy, we are confident that the proceeds from this transition will be wisely invested in the future of youth development initiatives within the Manawatū region. These investments will continue to benefit young people through our movement for generations to come.”