Waihī Beach Gets a Brand-New Library Opening 1 July

Waihī Beach is set to welcome a purpose-built library and service centre when Te Ara Mātauranga opens its doors on Tuesday, 1 July. The new 400m² facility is four times larger than the existing library and will operate 43 hours a week — nearly double the current 23 hours — bringing it in line with Western Bay of Plenty District Council's three other library and service centres in Te Puke, Ōmokoroa, and Katikati.

The current library closed temporarily at 2pm on Wednesday 18 June to allow staff time to shift everything across to the new building, which sits on the same site. To ease the transition, loans have been reconfigured so that no items will be due back before the new library opens, and borrowers are asked to simply hold onto their books in the meantime.

The new space will feature two large meeting rooms with a moveable wall, a smaller meeting room, public computers, free wi-fi, dedicated reading areas, 'bring your own device' workspaces, and a table for crafts and puzzles. Artwork inside and outside the building incorporates storytelling elements gifted by Te Whānau a Tauwhao, linking the facility to Ōtāwhiwhi Marae and the coastal character of Waihī Beach.

A blessing will be held at 10am on 1 July to mark the opening, with the new space open for the public to explore from 2pm. Western Bay of Plenty District Council general manager strategy and community Rachael Davie said the facility is future-proofed and puts community need first. More information is available at yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/te-ara-matauranga.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).