The Civic Theatre Waipukurau opened on 12 November 1981, it was designed by Hastings architect Peter Holland to replace the old Municipal Theatre in Kitchener St which had to be demolished after being declared an earthquake risk. 

Today, the Civic Theatre Waipukurau complex is run by Sereena & Donald Parkinson, showing movies, and also operating Latitude 40 South Cafe and Roaring Forties Takeaways. The main cinema seats 260+ people, and is equipped with the latest digital-cinema technology, the largest screen in Hawke's Bay and dolby surround sound.