A $6.3 million Auckland Council investment to renew the Ōrewa public library has finished ahead of schedule, with new doors set to glide open from 19 May.
Throughout 2024, as the Ōrewa library team maintained services from the nearby Ōrewa Community Centre, they’ve watched the old library building gradually transform into a modern, more resilient community hub.
Now, they’re back at 12 Moana Avenue and busy setting up a range of enticing spaces to suit the new, more spacious layout.
Ōrewa Library Manager Carolyn Hickey says the addition of an entirely new mezzanine floor will provide a lot more options for community use in two meeting rooms and additional study space.
“The rooms are perfect for book groups, language classes and all sorts of other community needs that we weren’t able to offer space to before. In addition, the mezzanine upstairs floor space will provide the perfect zone for students to study,” says Carolyn.
In keeping with the concept of building knowledge, local iwi artist Hokimai Rosieur has designed an entry panel called Te Kete Mātauranga, which flows along the front entrance of the building and represents Māori concepts of learning.
The lower ground floor will provide more practical options for visitors with new seating arranged to cater for reading, relaxing and working on a device. Staff will be readily available to help with library support and council services offered from the library, like rates payments, dog registrations and environmental concerns.
“We can’t wait to welcome back our customers of all ages, with more space and refreshed collections. There are so many different people that use our local library community hub and this space will allow us to provide many, many more options.”
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board chair Alexis Poppelbaum says the local board is thrilled that the library upgrade has been completed ahead of time.
“The library is a real favourite among locals - it's always buzzing with activity and is a much-loved hub where the community comes together in the heart of town.
“This was absolutely a worthwhile investment. As the population grows and more people rely on library services, it’s essential to have a space that can grow and adapt alongside the community.
“The revamped library is now brighter and more open, with improved visibility throughout. One of the standout features is the new mezzanine level — it's a fantastic, flexible space that can be used in all sorts of ways to meet the needs of our community.
“A big thank you goes out to our incredible library staff and to the community for your patience during construction. It’s already clear to see the big difference that the upgrade has made.”
Throughout the 12-month rebuild, three-quarters of the old library was deconstructed and removed. A section used for office space has been refreshed to match the new areas, providing significant costs savings for the rebuild.
The architecturally-designed internal space reflects its coastal setting – through natural wood features and a soft blue-grey colour scheme in the flooring. A panel of historic Ōrewa photographs, including the original library, is on display to celebrate the past.
Elaborate lighting, designed to highlight book displays and encourage reading, has been installed throughout the building. The interior itself will provide a warm, dry and more environmentally-friendly space through all seasons with double glazing, insulated roof panels to reduce energy costs, and solar-powered energy generation.
Join the library team for a Family Fun Day
On Saturday 28 June, this free event will be packed with activities for all ages, running from 10.30am to 12.30pm. There will be plenty of fun both inside the library and out in the car park, including bouncy castles, face painting, kids’ activities, a sausage sizzle and ice cream!
Come by the new library, grab a book, and discover all the exciting events, activities, clubs, and daily happenings that make this place such a fun hub all week long - from Monday to Sunday.
Due to limited parking, if you live nearby, it may be easier to walk or cycle to the event.
More detail
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Hibiscus and Bays Local Board contributed $5.5million towards the $6.3 million extensive upgrade.
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The rebuild is anticipated to help support an increase in visitors to more than 235,000 a year.
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The new library features a lift that meets accessibility requirements for access to the mezzanine floor and upstairs meeting rooms.
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There is a fun, architecturally-designed children’s area downstairs, providing more space for activities and collections.
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The new building is made of robust concrete panels with a steel frame.
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The library at 12 Moana Avenue will open from Monday 19 May.
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An official community celebration to mark the opening is planned on 28 June.
