The Roxburgh Pioneer Brass Band was grateful for its $2,000 operating grant from the Teviot Valley Community Board (TVCB) this week, and secured the same amount for next year too.

One of the only country bands left in New Zealand, the Pioneer Brass Band has been established in the valley since 1884, but was now “struggling” without its Roxburgh Entertainment Centre as a base.

Member Doug Dance told the TVCB not being able to hold any regional or national events due to lack of facilities would affect the group of 18, “but we’re going to keep going and keep blowing as long as we can”, he said.

In recent years the band performed at various ANZAC day celebrations across Central Otago, and one member played The Last Post in Wellington last year.

Doug said the entertainment centre had been described as one of the best playing halls in New Zealand, because of the “absolutely outstanding acoustics”.

Only three community grant applications totalling $10,000 out of an estimated $23,575 were received for the Teviot Valley Grants Reserve.

A new community arts collective called On The Rox was successful at receiving $5,000, which it will use to secure a commercial lease in Roxburgh.

Fay Kennedy addressed the community board with the group’s plans, which she said had taken five years to develop.

She said the Teviot Valley had a wealth of artistic talent but until now there had been no available facility in the town from which to operate from.

“The catalyst was the availability of the building on Scotland Street.”

The collective already had 18 signed members committed to monthly memberships to cover the cost of renting the space, and a team of support people to help run the shop.

Artists would be selling homewares, recycled clothing creations, jewellery, screen printing, mixed media and even bird houses.

Fay said they also wanted to run educational workshops for both children and adults, and had applied for funding through Creative NZ.

Puna Rangatahi (Alexandra Youth Group) received $2,500 for expenses associated with using the Scout Hall building - and was also successful at gaining a multi-year grant (2025/26 and 2026/7).

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