The Turner Centre in Kerikeri is pleased to announce and welcome Gerry Paul as the new GM
A highly respected figure in New Zealand’s performing arts and event management industry with more than 20 years of experience and knowledge, Gerry joins the Turner Centre from CubaDupa street festival in Wellington where he has been Festival Director since 2019.
Under his leadership as Festival Director, CubaDupa won the Wellington Gold Award in the Vibrant category, is currently a finalist in the New Zealand Event Association Awards for Best Cultural and Best Community events and was touted as the largest post Covid festival in the world in 2021, with over 160,000 in attendance. Gerry is currently a finalist in Wellingtonian of the Year for 2021 in the Arts category.
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Gerry grew up in Lower Hutt, but has visited the Far North several times either performing or as a keen spearfisherman where he holidayed in Matauri Bay. He moved to Kerikeri late last year with his wife and daughter who is attending Kerikeri Primary School.
As a musician Gerry toured the world in over 40 counties, playing at venues such as Sydney Opera House and some 500 music festivals around the world with some of the biggest names in folk music. He won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in America in 2010 and has worked as a music producer on several award winning albums.
“I’m hugely excited to be joining the amazing team at the Turner Centre. It’s clear that the centre has played a starring role in the lives of so many people in Kerikeri and I am looking forward to contributing to this legacy” said Gerry. “I can’t wait to discover the stories, creativity and energy of the Te Tai Tokerau that make this such a great place to live and work and create a calendar of activity and bring the best in arts and entertainment to the stages of the Turner Centre.”
Gerry starts the General Manager position while former Venue Manager Hadlee Wright has moved on to an Advisor of Community Readiness and Recovery role at Fire and Emergency NZ.
About the Turner Centre
The Turner Centre was built in 2005 and is operated by the Charitable Company, The Centre at Kerikeri Limited, with a voluntary board of Trustees. The Centre receives no government funding and thus needs to raise $500,000 each year to operate and be able to provide access to community groups at heavily discounted rates. Over the past seventeen years, the Centre has hosted over 2000 community events, and would like to increase the number it can support each year in the future.
The Centre has a range of facilities on offer including the Plaza, Event Centre and Auditorium. These are some of the largest spaces in Kerikeri and under the Covid-19 Protection Framework Red setting, can accommodate 100 guests with full bar and catering services available. There are temporary office spaces for rent and a recently renovated meeting room. For enquiries, visit the website www.turnercentre.co.nz or contact ginny.pearson@turnercentre.co.nz
