Manawatū District Council is upgrading the Manawatū Community Hub/Library to turn it into a multi-use Community Hub that meets the evolving needs of local communities, with the support of a grant of $150,000 from NZCT.

“We rely on our current Library for event and meeting spaces, hosting popular learning programmes and simply to provide a safe space for people to be,” says Community Services Manager Adie Johansen. “However our current facility is maxed out and the open plan layout doesn’t meet the acoustic or space needs of our community. This grant from NZCT is very much appreciated and it will help us develop a facility that the community can be really proud of.”

The library team have put considerable effort into delivering a community facility which provides opportunities for social interaction and wellbeing (te taha whānau), physical wellbeing (te taha tinana), and literacy (including digital literacy).

To further build on this approach, a complete refresh of the current building is in the planning and will provide a modern, safe, community space for whānau conferences, one-on-one learning programmes, community activities and an appropriate space to undertake private services such as private tutoring and meetings with Justice of the Peace.

Ideas for the Community Hub stem from public engagement activities carried out by the Council in 2021. It was clear from feedback that rather than just refresh of what was already there, huge opportunities could be seized by creating a safe, multi-use space for the community to use.

“The plan for the Community Hub facility expands on the existing footprint. It will separate the library and community spaces and create three meeting rooms and one large event space that can double as two meeting rooms,”says Adie.

“The multi-use Community Hub facility needs to be able to cope with these quiet spaces, and still allow for the not-so-quiet, like the seniors Tea and Tales sessions, the Knit and Natter ladies, energetic school holiday programmes and waiata groups.”

The creation of the meeting rooms in the multi-use facility will ensure these services grow with the community in a space that is fit for purpose and future proof for the next thirty years. It will also provide free Wi-Fi and internet access and areas for self-discovery, networking, recreation and exploration.

“Increasing community wellbeing in the Manawatū District, especially in this post COVID-19 climate is crucially important,” adds Adie. “The facility aims to provide a collaborative and culturally-inclusive community space to meet the community’s needs and we will be working with groups in the community to enable a broader range of services to be delivered.”

The redevelopment project will take place over the next 18 months.