New $20.1 million library complex with information centre, art gallery, cafe opens in Hāwera

After almost 130 years Hāwera has a new $20.1 million library incorporating a visitor information centre, cafe and art gallery.

Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga was officially opened on Monday, 128 years after the original Hāwera Library was built in 1896.

South Taranaki Mayor Phil Nixon said the facility's completion was a milestone in the council's Town Centre Strategy.

"This modern, multi-functional, facility which includes a library, art gallery, AA and iSite visitor information centre, café, and public toilets will provide residents and visitors with a wide range of services and bring more foot traffic right into the heart of Hāwera."

Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga means the beacon or signal fire of Ruapātahanga, a legendary wahine toa who would light a beacon as a signal for iwi to meet to talk, share ideas and knowledge.

Nixon said the name perfectly symbolised the new centre's purpose as a place for the community to come together.

"Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga will not only be a community and visitor hub. It will be a catalyst for driving change, increasing investment - both social and economic and will completely transform the town centre."

A glass bust of Ruapātahanga stands sentinel at the High Street entrance of the facility.

The Lysaght Watt Gallery was also located in the building and its inaugural exhibition Tuata'i/First featured a showcase of contemporary artists from across South Taranaki.

Nixon said key financial contributors to the project had been the Regional Development Fund, $4m, and Toi Foundation, $2.8m.

"Thanks to substantial external fundraising and by using the council's long term investment fund and other reserves, rates were not raised to build the facility."

Nixon said it had been quite a journey since the building was first mooted in December 2014 - under the leadership of former mayor Ross Dunlop - through to its completion.

"Back then the council, in partnership with the Hāwera Business Association, developed and adopted the Hāwera Town Centre Strategy a suite of actions which would create a more vibrant and economically sustainable town centre.

"One of the key goals underpinning the strategy was that it would be a catalyst to drive change and to encourage private investment in the town centre - and that is what we have seen and are continuing to see happen today."

Nixon pointed to the development of Campbell Lane, the extension of car parks on Victoria Street, opening of the Nelson Street car park, the Woolworths redevelopment in the Nelson/Victoria/Union Street precinct, the Foundry-Te Wanake co-working space and restoration work on heritage buildings in the town centre as evidence of this.

Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga was designed by Daniel Thompson (of Warren and Mahoney Architects) who grew up in Hāwera, and it was built with environmental sustainability in mind.

Nixon said this had the added benefit of keeping ongoing operational costs to a minimum.

Some of the key aspects were the use of solar energy with an array of panels on the roof - which have made use of the north-facing saw-tooth roof design - and a former milk tank (donated by Fonterra) designed to collect water from the roof which was re-purposed for flushing toilets in the building.