Upgraded fire system helps save Roxburgh Entertainment Centre

The Roxburgh Entertainment Centre narrowly avoided a serious fire on Friday 3 January 2025, thanks to its recently installed fire alarm system and the swift response of Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

CODC is pleased to report that no one was injured in the incident, and the damage to the building is manageable. The Entertainment Centre, which houses a 258-seat cinema recognised as the longest-running cinema in New Zealand, has been temporarily closed until further notice for assessments and necessary repairs.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire Investigator, Matt Jones, commended the CODC for its proactive investment in fire safety, noting that the damage to the building would have been significantly worse had the recent upgrade not been carried out. "This is a great example of fire protection in action."

“The CODC property team is working closely with Fire and Emergency to ensure the building is restored to full operational safety,” CODC Acting Group Manager – Planning and Infrastructure, Lee Webster said.

"The swift action taken by Fire and Emergency, combined with our upgraded fire protection system, highlights the importance of investing in safety measures which comply with the building code. We are committed to ensuring the Roxburgh Entertainment Centre is fully operational again as soon as possible, and we appreciate the community’s patience during this time. An investigation is currently underway to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.”