Roxburgh Park Rebuilds Cinema After 2025 Fire Through Community Screenings

The historic Roxburgh Cinema in Roxburgh, Central Otago, was destroyed by fire on Waitangi Day, February 6, 2025, leaving only the façade standing before demolition. Volunteer efforts have since kept screenings running outdoors at the nearby rugby grounds.

Preserving Continuous Operation

The cinema originally opened on December 11, 1897, with 258 seats and is recognized as New Zealand's longest continuously operating cinema on the same site. Following the fire, the volunteer-led cinema committee began hosting outdoor film screenings at the nearby rugby grounds to maintain the claim of being the longest continuously running movie theatre in the Southern Hemisphere. This approach keeps the tradition of public film viewing active without interruption on the original site.

Insurance and Stakeholder Planning

Approximately $6 million in insurance funds has been secured for the Roxburgh Cinema project, with a stakeholder group forming to plan a permanent replacement venue. The secured funding provides a concrete base for future decisions on rebuilding or adapting the space for continued film presentations.

Next Steps for Local Film Access

Residents can follow updates on outdoor screenings through the volunteer committee and monitor progress on the replacement venue via the stakeholder group. These steps focus on restoring indoor options while maintaining current access to films in the interim period.