Source: Radio New Zealand
The queue to get back into Wellington Central Library, after seven years, reaches around the also just-reopened Civic Square, past ongoing work at the Town Hall. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Thousands have queued – some for hours – to get back in the doors of Wellington Central Library, which reopened on Saturday, newly strengthened and renovated after being shut for seven years.
A ceremony was planned, with a ribbon-cutting, then music and story-telling performances throughout the weekend. The library, called Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, was open again for normal operations, from 10am Saturday.
The eye-catching building in central Wellington has been closed since March 2019, when it was deemed an earthquake risk, with significant work needed.
As the launch unfolded, former library staff member Jane Shallcrass told RNZ she never once would have expected thousands of people to be waiting outside the door for a library, but she was thrilled by the community support.
“To see the joy on people’s faces as they came up the escalator and realised the full glory of the new library, and I think to hear the music – that was really great, just wonderful. And that all these people are queuing two hours, for a library – not for a pop star or anything.”
Jane Shallcrass, at the opening. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Shallcrass worked at the central library when the Ian Athfield-designed building first opened in 1991 (the library itself has existed since 1893). But today she was back to perform in one of the choirs, and said the $217 million bill for the library project was money well spent.
Artwork by Māori artist Darcy Nicholas in the new Wellington library. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Te Ngākau Civic Square, next to the library, also reopened on Saturday, with new landscaping, seating, play areas and water features.
Wellington mayor Andrew Little said the milestone is a positive turning point for the central city.
He said as well as books, the library contains a variety of creative spaces, including an area with 3D printers and a CNC machine.
- First look inside the new Wellington library
- Take a look inside the newly refurbished library with RNZ.
Andrew Little, at the official ceremony on Saturday. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
“The area of town which the library is in has been kind of boarded up and shut down and difficult to move around for some time,” Little said.
“So with all the hoardings coming down and the library opening up and a place for people to come in their hundreds, it’s really going to make a big difference to that part of town.
“We’ve now got a space – or spaces – for people to come. They can come to the library, there’s a range of things they can do here, and they can go into the square and just enjoy, relax, meet, gather, protest – do whatever they want to do. The spaces are back.”
On another side of Civic Square, Te Whare Toi The City Art Gallery, which closed for construction work in June 2024, is scheduled to reopen later this year. While facing the gallery across the square, the Wellington Town Hall, which closed in 2013 as it was deemed earthquake-prone, could reopen next year.
Inside the library, earlier this month. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Creative spaces are a feature of the new Wellington library building, which RNZ toured earlier this month. Supplied
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
