Latest news - 19 September 2021

We are carefully packing up Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui - Wellington Central Library. Behind the hoardings, the experienced Crown Relocations team has begun the eight-week process of moving the historic fittings into storage for the next four years. This involves carefully removing, labelling, itemising, and wrapping the fixtures, following the guidance of our heritage expert.

They will also upcycle or recycle standard office furniture, or library equipment that is not going into storage or being used elsewhere within Council.

When - They will work during the working week (Monday to Saturday) and expect to finish by November, unless we experience a delay, such as an increase in Alert levels.

How - Crown Relocation are working to lessen any noise for the neighbouring residents and businesses as much as they can by using the basement to move items out of the library. So please be aware of trucks entering and leaving the basement entrance on Harris Street.

What's next - Over the coming four years we’ll be strengthening and modernising Te Matapihi. This includes installing base isolators; expanding levels three and four; designing spaces for our Libraries, City Archive, Council Service Centre, and Capital E to bring back Wellington’s much-loved community living room to the CBD.

Over the coming months we share regular updates on how the design for Te Matapihi is progressing through our Wellington City Libraries and Council newsletters, social media and websites. So sign up for the latest news at www.wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-information or follow the news.

15 April 2021
On Thursday 15 April 2021 the proposed design and service principles to guide the operating and service development model for the refurbished Central Library were presented to the Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee Council for adoption. The Committee was also presented with options for developing the building’s upper floors and sustainability.

The design principles were developed through early engagement with mana whenua, key stakeholders, and potential partners, and our library teams. They also align to the draft design principles for Te Ngākau Civic Precinct.

At the meeting the Committee agreed to:

  • the design principles outlined below:
  • Engage fully with mana whenua. This included an amendment to use the Library’s te reo name “Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui” from now on.
  • Design for the visitor:
    1. "whole of population" inclusion: traditional, new and future users
    2. facilitating access to knowledge and knowledge services
    3. anchoring social infrastructure in the city.
  • Harness the power of partnership:
    1. through an integrated (not just co-located) service from Libraries, City Archive and Council Service Centre
    2. as the home of Capital E.
  • Design a visitor experience that is modern, fit for the future, and Wellington:
    1. a spatially flexible, accessible, modern environment speaking strongly of Wellington
    2. a hub of creative, civic, and humanities activities and a visitor attraction in its own right
    3. designed to evolve in response to ongoing digital and population change.
  • extend levels 3 and 4 of Te Matapihi as outlined in the report. The estimated cost of $8.5m would require additional funding in the 2021-31 Long-term Plan and add an estimated three months work to the construction programme.
  • progress sustainability initiatives within the design of the building, with the objective of obtaining a 5 Green Star rating. This is estimated to require additional Long-term Plan funding of $1.9m.

Following an oral submission by Claire Mabey of Verb Wellington, and Juliet Blyth of ReadNZ, who spoke on behalf of Te Ha, ReadNZ, Booksellers, Publisher’s Association and Verb Wellington, the Mayor put forward an amendment for officers to work with partners to investigate creating a dedicated space for a Literary Hub within the building, which was also adopted. You can read the minutes of the meeting on the Council webpage.

The options to extend levels three and four will now be included in the next phase of the design process which is currently underway. We will share more information on the process in the coming months.

Update 28 October 2020 - Council decision on future on the Central Library 

On Wednesday 28 October 2020 Council debated on whether to strengthen (Option C) or build a new (Option D) Central Library for the city. The Council adopted Option C to remediate the current building to the highest level of resilience.

Council recommended Option C to remediate the building to the highest level, based on information gained from the public consultation process and the progression of the design and engineering work. This built on the information available at the time the Statement of Proposal was published.

The cost of Option D is now similar to Option C. Option C will also deliver the elements which were important to supporters of Option D, such as ability to deliver a future proofed library service, mitigate climate change and improved sustainability.

Council also recommended Option C to be incorporated in the draft Long-Term Plan (LTP) which was adopted on 28 October 2020. This allows the officers to continue working on the design and service level brief, including engaging with stakeholders. The results will be presented to Councillors in March 2021 for approval. This also provides the public another opportunity to consider the project alongside the Council’s financial position and other priorities for our city, including Three Waters and Let’s Get Wellington Moving.”

The LTP consultation will begin in March 2021 and will describe Option C in more detail, alongside updated information for all the other options which were considered.

In June 2021 the Council will consider the consultation results and make the final decision on the project to be included in the final LTP.

You can read the paper (included in the Council meeting agenda) on the Council website. The meeting was also livestreamed on the Council’s YouTube page.

Below you can read the revised reports from the external engineers, architects and quantity surveyors which have been published on the Wellington City Council website. They are also available as links on the right-hand side of this web page.

Note: The changed information in the above reports is shown in red text, and information that is no longer relevant has been struck through.

Background
The Central Library has been our city’s living room and a vital part of our vibrant inner city for decades. The building itself isn’t safe to use. There are several ways to make it safe for people to be in, which also brings new possibilities in using the space. This is our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to set up the central library to continue to support Wellington's diverse communities for at least the next 50 years. 

We developed a Statement of Proposal (SOP) outlining the issues with the building, the practicable options available and the factors they were assessed against . 

What options were proposed? 
The Statement of Proposal outlined five options for retaining a central library service in Te Ngākau Civic Precinct.

The Statement of Proposal also included options which were discarded, with the reasons why. The public was able to provide their views on these five options, or provide their own ideas, or say if they preferred an option which was not put forward.

Why does the proposal suggest modernising the library?  
While the priority is on re-establishing a Central Library, we also are responsible for ensuring the new service can meet the needs of Wellington’s future generations. While providing access to books and other physical and digital collections will continue to be a core service, we can also offer people access new technologies, spaces and services which support life-long learning, connection and community.

How were the five proposed options decided and others discarded? 
Each of the options were assessed against a range of factors. They included the building's resilience and safety; how it could support a modern library service over the next 50 or more years; the costs and timeframes; how it connects and enlivens Te Ngākau Civic Precinct and how it may affect the environment.

Why did we close the Central Library?
New guidelines for concrete buildings, which were developed by the engineering community and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) found the Central Library structure and floor system design posed a high level of potential failure in a significant earthquake, and met 15-20 percent of the National Building Standard. On that basis, the Council’s Chief Executive closed the building to the public on 19 March 2019.


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