Opunake Courthouse (1901)

The Opunake Courthouse in Tasman Street has been unoccupied for a number of years and has been allowed to fall into a state of neglect. The building still appears as a category 2 building on the Heritage New Zealand register (#4953) and in the Opunake Heritage Inventory (2003). After the courthouse closed, the building was converted into a medical centre, with many of the interior fittings being given to Stratford's Pioneer Village. 

The courthouse was officially opened on 27 February 1902 by Sir Joseph Ward. The building was one of three public buildings erected or altered within a very short space of time in Opunake. The others were the new post office and upgrades to the police station. 

Tenders for the new courthouse were called for in April 1901 and the Manaia builder, John Ryan, was successful with a price of £573.12s. The sub-contactors involved in the project included Messrs Wallace & Broughton (painting & decorating) and Mr Hodgson (plumbing). The architect is unknown, however the writers of Opunake Heritage Inventory speculated that it may have been the Government architect, John Campbell. 

The building was finished in 6 months with the first court sitting happening on 22 November 1901. 

A visit to Taranaki in 1902 by Sir Joseph Ward was seized as an opportune time to get a senior minister in the Seddon government to open both the courthouse and the new post office. The Opunake Times reported the visit in great detail with the opening of the post office being the main attraction. After the post office was opened the official party, "proceeded to the Court-house where, in a brief speech, Sir Joseph Ward declared it duly opened."