It’s on in our city centre!

A new chapter has begun, with He Puna Manawa officially opened today following a dawn blessing and civic ceremony.

A little drizzle did little to dampen the mood as mana whenua, Council representatives, project partners and members of the community gathered at Te Manawataki o Te Papa to celebrate the opening of the library and community hub.

Otamataha Trust Chair Puhirake Ihaka says the opening marks an important moment for Tauranga.

“Today we stand in a place with a long history of people gathering, sharing knowledge and looking to the future.

“For mana whenua, it was important that the history and significance of this whenua and its people was reflected in the building and in the way it was brought to life.

“Today we honour that history while looking ahead. He Puna Manawa is a place for people to learn and connect, and we hope everyone who comes through these doors feels a sense of welcome and belonging.”

Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the new library will be a place for the whole community, with people at its heart.

“Today, we open the doors to He Puna Manawa, marking a significant milestone for Tauranga and an exciting new chapter for our city.

“This is more than a new building. It’s an investment in our people and the future of our city. Modern libraries and community hubs are about so much more than books. They provide opportunities to explore, create and discover, bring people together to share ideas and build connections, and help form part of a city’s heart.

“The building is important, but it’s the people who will bring it to life. I look forward to seeing people from near and far enjoying the spaces within and around it for many years to come.”

He Puna Manawa also stands on a site with a complex history. Today, the site is jointly owned by Tauranga City Council and mana whenua representing Ngāi Tamarāwaho, Ngāti Tapu and Te Materāwaho, reflecting a shared commitment to its future.

The building offers spaces and facilities for people of all ages, including dedicated spaces for children and teenagers, bookable rooms, a Creation Station for designing and creating, sensory and play areas, study and community spaces, a small café and a terrace. It will also be the new home of the Tauranga iSite Visitor Information Centre and Council’s Customer Service Centre.  

The civic ceremony included addresses from Otamataha Trust Chair Puhirake Ihaka and Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale, a performance by Te Pūwhariki Maungatapu Kura, and the presentation of a New Zealand Green Building Council 6 Star Green Star Design rating, recognising the building’s environmental performance.

Tauranga Girls’ College Head Prefect Aiza Mustasam’s words perfectly echoed the sentiment of the day.

“The building can be beautiful, and the books can fill the shelves, but it is the people who give a library its character. It is the child asking a librarian where the dinosaur books are. It is someone recommending their favourite novel to a stranger. It is people sitting together at an event, listening to one another. These are the things that make a library a library.”

The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, signifying the official opening.