Revamped Wellington Central Library Te Matapihi officially reopens
Thousands have flocked to Wellington’s Civic Square to explore the city’s revamped central library, which today opened its doors for the first time in seven years.
Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, meaning “window to the wider world”, has received a $217 million upgrade after closing in 2019 because of seismic issues.
Wellington Mayor Andrew Little cut the ribbon this morning, saying the reopening represents a turning point for the city.
The library includes a youth space, Capital E children’s area, a maker space – equipped with 3D printers and sewing machines, digital video and recording studios and multiple gallery spaces.
It will also serve as the new home for the City Archives.
That has meant less room for books, with Wellington City Council earlier confirming 80,000 books from its collection have been given away, sold or destroyed, marking a nearly 18% drop in the number available since the library closed in 2019.
More than 250,000 books on over 8000 shelves are available for loan in the new facility.
The project’s cost climbed from an initial $187m estimate to a total of $217.6m, including furniture and fittings.
Little today said construction inflation was largely responsible for the cost blowout.
Integrating the likes of Capital E, the centre for children’s creativity, into the building also contributed to the extra cost.
Wellingtonians lined up since 8.30am for the 10am reopening, with those in the queue telling the Herald of their excitement for the new facility.
The redevelopment project has been led by the council’s head of creative capital, Gisella Carr, who said the library represents “the essence of Wellington”.
“This has been built for every Wellingtonian from 0 to 100,” Carr told the Herald at the opening today.
She said after years working on the project, she was thrilled to see so many people come to take a look, as lines snaked throughout Civic Square.
A Category 1 historic place, the 4000sq m building was originally built in 1991 and designed by architect Ian Athfield.
Athfield Architects co-designed the new fit-out with mana whenua.
The new cashless cafe on the ground floor, named Central Ground, is run by Sam Huy, who previously owned Clark’s Cafe in the old library.
The Civic Square plaza has also reopened, with the library the first key project completed in the area.
City Gallery is set to reopen in October after strengthening and future-proofing work, and the city’s budget-blown Town Hall will reopen in February 2027.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.