Te Aka: Napier’s new library project

Te Aka is the name of the project that is delivering a new library and meeting space for our community and councillors. This area will also be the new base for our Customer Service Centre. The new buildings and outdoor area will be in the block bound by Hastings, Station and Dalton Streets.

This is a rare opportunity to design a space that will celebrate our cultural values and unique history. It will be a community gathering place for ceremonial events and celebrations that acknowledges Napier’s history and diverse cultures.

From the beginning of the project, we’ve worked in partnership with mana whenua to co-design the new building and its surroundings. The design will reflect what is unique about our place and people, and the stories that are important to the whenua (land).

We are currently developing the designs for the new library and councillor meeting space. We have set aside $58 million to complete the project.

At the same time, we’re developing designs for the outdoor space next to the new library, as well as the wider area and the lane between the new facility and the District Court. It will be a high-quality civic space that all residents can be proud of, supporting small and large events. We have set aside an additional $7.5 million to develop the outdoor area.

The design of the outdoor space will allow library activities to extend beyond the new building, such as for children’s story time. The area will provide for cafe dining, waiting spaces for buses, e-bike charging stations and shaded seating for people to enjoy the outdoors all year. New pathways and laneways will be built throughout the area and ground level changes will be made to create safe and fully accessible pedestrian flows. There will also be plantings throughout the site.

The New Zealand Green Building Council runs a sustainability rating system for commercial buildings known as Green Star ratings. We’re targeting a Green Star Level 5 rating. This represents excellence and best practice in sustainable design and construction.

This project is now well underway after previous consultation with the community. Therefore, we are not seeking community feedback specifically on the library project.

We anticipate that Council will approve the detailed designs in late 2024 and we aim to start construction towards the end of 2025. Further details on the project can be found on the Napier City Council website here.