Community halls across New Zealand are considered to be "a glue that binds us together", but some of these aging buildings are facing uncertain futures.

Following legislation that came into effect last year requiring owners to bring all buildings up to 34 per cent of the building code or demolish it, a shadow has been cast on the viability of many heritage buildings, including town and community halls.

Horowhenua District Council's long-term plans includes decisions on the fate of five public halls. Staff recommended selling or demolishing to reduce costs, but after public submissions and debate two will be sold, and three have a stay while investigations continue .

DAVID WALKER/STUFF Construction has begun to restore and strengthen Christchurch's town hall, but costs have blown out to $152 million.

The Matamata Piako District Council has decommissioned four halls in its region while another two are in the process of being decommissioned. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council sold two hall sites in the past five years, and the Masterton District Council's town hall was closed in June 2016 due to having an earthquake rating below the required standard.

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* Government asked for $10m to help build Wellington town hall music hub

* Pelorus Sound War memorial hall faces potential ruin

But there is an argument the halls represent something bigger than a ledger item to be costed and sold.

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF Shannon Memorial Hall, Rey street, Shannon. - Shannon farmer Jarrod Rider outside the hall.

In Shannon, the hall was built with donated labour and money long before the current district council existed. Some residents claim councillors from outside their community have no right selling their hall from under them.

Mayor Michael Feyen expects residents will mobilise to save three in jeopardy because communities value using them and treasure the halls' history and significance as war memorials.

"The Foxton memorial hall was repainted and refurbished inside recently; it's really beautiful. It just seems nuts to flick it off as an earthquake-prone building when we can fix it. There's no others like them around."

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF Shannon Memorial Hall, Rey street, Shannon.

But the cost to strengthen is often "significant", Massey University director of construction professor Robyn Phipps said.

"They do hold a place of significance. Some date back to settlers' times, and they became a social hub back in the 1960s. They were the place where there was the Saturday night dance and school productions. It's a complex issue, and it's about the trade-off between heritage and certain standards and public funds."

Early ornate un-reinforced masonry is the most vulnerable.

TAIHAPE MUSEUM The Taihape Town Hall in 1923.

"It's very brittle" she said. Whereas "older timber buildings perform very well, timber's very ductile", pliable.

Town halls nationally span the breadth of aesthetics, from simple wooden rural structures to ornate Victorian masonry relics, and tired mid-century monoliths and common uses include yoga, playgroups, functions, wedding receptions, birthdays, wakes, school productions, fundraising events, community barbecues, community classes and fairs.

"I like restoring our heritage buildings where possible, but sometimes that can't be the case because of the cost to bring them up to standard for earthquake codes, durability, acoustics, and so people with all abilities can use them," Phipps said.

Taihape has a population of about 1500 people, but bringing its aging town hall up to spec could cost $2.5 million, Rangitikei mayor Andy Watson said. However, if they decide not to keep it, they're still looking at costs to sell or pull it down.

The council has just earmarked funds for a new multi-purpose centre for Bulls followed by two other towns. They will replace the aging halls, combining them with libraries and information centres to help minimise costs by making use of the same staff, he said.

But Watson is not a fan of modernising without retaining ties to the past, and is backing work to try to save the district's heritage buildings.

"It's not only our council halls there's a number of private halls in rural areas, and some have a huge sense of history. Through New Zealand, it's an enormous cost. It puts pressure on all sorts of other things ... in your budget."

Like many others, the council is in discussions seeking help from central government's new $3 billion provincial development fund. But Watson says he's not holding his breath because hall projects are jockeying against projects to boost regional economies.

Town hall projects:

Construction has begun to restore and strengthen Christchurch's town hall, but costs have blown out to $152 million.

Wellington City's town hall is expected to cost $90m for earthquake strengthening, and the project could be expanded into a national music hub, for which $10m of the $187 million is being sought from central government.

After closing in 2015, the town hall in the small Taranaki community of Manaia has just been allocated $1 million for earthquake strengthening and renovation.

Supporters of Homewood War Memorial hall in Pelorus Sound are considering a membership scheme to fund its future.

The family of Stuart Ellwood were taken aback to find the disposal of Foxton's Memorial Hall could mean destruction of a room named after the Vietnam War casualty.