New Plymouth's Womens Rest Room

Rita comes home for party 27 May 2006
By ROCHELLE WEST Not many could boast calling a toilet block home. New Plymouth's Rita Thomas can.

The 91-year-old, who was the custodian of the New Plymouth Women's Rest Rooms from 1969 to 1978, not only cleaned the toilets, she lived in the building – and loved it.
Living in a flat at the rear of the rest rooms, Mrs Thomas enjoyed the convenience of inner-city living long before it became popular.
She was employed by the council to look after the popular refuge for women – day and night.
Returning to the quaint public toilets on James Lane yesterday to celebrate the rest rooms' 70th birthday party, the memories flowed for Mrs Thomas.
There were the Friday nights when giggling school girls would change into their glad-rags in the pristine women's toilets, slap on their make-up and emerge from the cubicles young ladies for a night out.
Then there was a time in the 1970s, when the Huatoki Stream burst its banks.
Muddy waters and more than the odd rat surrounded the well-built stucco building.
"The water was right at the back door, it came up the steps. I had to be carried out."
Merchandise, including fridges and babies' clothes, from nearby flooded shops floated by as Mrs Thomas' family saved her from her watery home.
There was also the work. "My job was keeping everything clean – all the toilets, replacing toilet paper and soap, washing the floors and polishing the floors."
Today, rest room attendants look after the building during day-time hours, with the old flat being converted into an office and staff room.
Mrs Thomas was one of dozens of women and the odd man to join in the rest rooms' 70th birthday afternoon tea party yesterday.
As well as the usual party food treats, a giant cake – complete with colour photograph of the rest rooms mounted in the icing – was cut for all to sample.
The women's rest rooms, often described as a haven for women, have had a colourful history to rival its bright colour scheme.
It has survived the threat of demolition on several occasions – the latest was recently, when women rallied to successfully fight the New Plymouth District Council, which planned to demolish or move the building to make way for the Huatoki development.
More than 3000 people signed a petition to stop the demolition.
Built for the New Plymouth Borough Council in 1936, the James Lane rest rooms replaced the old women's toilets opposite the fire station on Courtenay St.
According to Puke Ariki reseachers, the central location and ease of access was heralded as a breakthrough for women of the time, especially "country visitors".
Last year, the rest rooms received recognition of its status – winning an award for the best public rest rooms in New Zealand.