Te Ara Whetū – a new library for Waikanae

We're delivering a modern, accessible community library for Waikanae. 

After listening to the community’s feedback and considering several building options, Council agreed to refurbish and extend the former library. The building will be developed into a modern library and community hub.

What's new

November 2024 – The concept plans for Te Ara Whetū have been refined and the project is moving from concept design into preliminary design phase. This phase includes finalising the building’s layout and finishes.

Changes to the layout include:

• moving the entrance lobby slightly south so it better aligns with the positioning of Toi MAHARA and provides better separation between the entrance and the supermarket truck lane
• moving the plant room to the roof. This frees up space on the ground floor and gives the staff workroom more natural light
• adding an accessible public toilet to level 1
• changing the secondary fire staircase to an external staircase, leaving more floor space for the library and removing the need to cut the existing floor slab.

The former Waikanae Library 

Background

The Waikanae library building was closed in November 2018 due to poor air quality, and a temporary library opened in July 2019.

We’ve had advice from a range of specialists, and we’ve tested a lot of thinking along the way with our community advisory group, the Waikanae Community Board, mana whenua, and others.

Modern libraries are changing; they’re more of a community hub offering a wide range of activities and experiences. They connect, strengthen, inspire, and activate their communities.

We have a unique opportunity to reimagine what a new library facility could offer our changing community.

We looked at options and limitations around a physical space, what property Council already owns, and the possible impacts of purchasing more.

We also took into account:

• previous engagement, which told us the new facility must be in Mahara Place
• the right sized facility for the predicted 2051 Waikanae population of 24,500 people
• how we can minimise further disruption to businesses and the community in Mahara Place, which has already endured several years of construction
• avoiding replicating services that are, or could be, delivered by other providers.

Following an extensive engagement process between 12 June and 22 July 2023, Council agreed to refurbish and extend the former library building to provide a warm and welcoming multi-functional space. This option is budgeted for in our current Long-term Plan and does not preclude us from looking at how we incorporate other options in the future.

Concept plans

See the concept plans for Te Ara Whetū [PDF 698 KB] below – and check out how your feedback last year informed the concepts. Make sure you keep scrolling, and see the fly-through model of the proposed layout.

Note that these concepts are subject to change. 

Ground floor | Te papa 

What happens on this floor?

Children's library, magazines and newspaper collections, indoor/outdoor flow, staff workspaces.

See larger image of the ground floor concept plan.  [PNG 129 KB]

First floor | Te papa tuatahi

What happens on this floor?

Main book collections, meeting rooms. 

See larger image of the first floor concept plan.  [PNG 156 KB]

Second floor | Te papa tuarua

What happens on this floor?

Terrace, community lounge, and large meeting room. 

See larger image of the second floor concept plan.  [PNG 149 KB]

Fly-through of the proposed layout using September concept plan

Te Ara Whetū – gifting of a name

Te Ara Whetū means the passage of stars. It’s a reference to the term Te Ara Whetū ki Uta, ki Tai - the passage of the stars from the mountains to sea. In this case, ‘from mountains to the sea’ refers to the view from the Tararua Ranges to where the Waikanae River meets the Tasman Sea.

Te Āta Awa ki Whakarongotai gifted the name to recognise the location the building sits in. The area around Mahara Place area is steeped in Māori history and it’s proper to recognise this significance in public facilities.

Although the word "library" isn't in this name, Te Ara Whetū will be a library first and foremost. More than using the term library, Te Ara Whetū links the library to the heritage, significance and uniqueness of its location.

Te Āta Awa ki Whakarongotai decided the time was right to gift the name so our designers can incorporate concepts which sit behind the name into the library’s design. 

Timeline

Project objectives

The project objectives describe what we aim to deliver for our community with this new facility. The feedback we received on these objectives will help guide location of the new library, and the design and functions the new facility offers, including:

• supporting communities to connect
• building healthy and resilient individuals and community
• creating a sense of place and belonging
• providing opportunities to learn, work, and create
• supporting cultural identity and understanding
• championing inclusivity
• providing an exemplar for sustainable practices.