Te Kahu o Waipuna – the new Marlborough art gallery and library
Ten years in the making this new library opened its doors to the public on May 12, 2023. Te Kahu o Waipuna is in the heart of the Blenheim CBD and has been an overwhelming success in its first seven weeks of opening.
The opening of Te Kahu o Waipuna. Photo: Anthony Phelps/Stuff
The building cost $20 million. In 2020 the Government announced a three-billion-dollar shovel-ready fund and Te Kahu o Waipuna Marlborough Art Gallery and Library received $11 million from this fund.
Tangata whenua and mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rārua and Rangitāne o Wairau blessed the building on June 30 gifting the name Te Kahu o Waipuna. A kahu is a traditional cloak and denotes the metaphorical embracing of people. Waipuna has multiple meanings. Waipuna is spring water and references the puna that rise to the northwest of Blenheim and feeds the river that flows past the building.
Tangata whenua and mana whenua Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rārua and Rangitāne o Wairau blessed the building on June 30 gifting the name Te Kahu o Waipuna. A kahu is a traditional cloak and denotes the metaphorical embracing of people. Waipuna has multiple meanings. Waipuna is spring water and references the puna that rise to the northwest of Blenheim and feeds the river that flows past the building.
The stairwell in the library is also a seating feature. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
Te Kahu o Waipuna was purpose-built to reflect the unique surroundings of the Wither Hills. The panels on the exterior of the building mirror the shape of the hills and catch the light throughout the day, making a statement as motorists arrive in Blenheim on State Highway 1.
The landscape theme continues inside the building. The colours of the land are reflected through the ground floor and the colours of the sky are reflected throughout the first floor.
Designed by architectural firm Warren and Mahoney building commenced after the blessing of a mauri stone by mana whenua on August 19, 2020.
Te Kahu o Waipuna is 3600 m² with 600m² for the art gallery, 1100 m² for shared spaces and 1900 m² for the library. The old library was 1400 m².
The size of the library collection did not increase significantly as the aim was to create a feeling of space and light, in stark contrast to the old library. The beautiful central staircase and elevated seating area is lit by a huge skylight.
Six meeting rooms of various sizes are available, and the demand has been overwhelming. The library was extremely well used during the recent teacher strikes.
Visitor numbers were up by 183% with 64,487 visitors in the first seven weeks. For comparative purposes, the population of the district is 51,900. The average number of weekday visitors is 1,426 and the weekend average is 1,150.
Opening hours were extended on Sundays from 1-4 pm to 10 am-4 pm, to mirror Saturday hours.
Over 1,400 new members joined, and more than 1,600 expired memberships were renewed in the first seven weeks. Customers that didn’t use the old library are using the new facility, particularly teens. The café and art gallery have also seen large numbers of visitors.
The bi-lingual signage throughout the building has been challenging for some residents.
The new gallery has optimum exhibition display, ideal collection storage, and flexible and welcoming public programme spaces. The gold entrance is one of the most impressive aspects of the design. Sharing spaces with the gallery brings many new opportunities. We have very quickly become a destination, for both visitors and residents.
The landscape theme continues inside the building. The colours of the land are reflected through the ground floor and the colours of the sky are reflected throughout the first floor.
Designed by architectural firm Warren and Mahoney building commenced after the blessing of a mauri stone by mana whenua on August 19, 2020.
Te Kahu o Waipuna is 3600 m² with 600m² for the art gallery, 1100 m² for shared spaces and 1900 m² for the library. The old library was 1400 m².
The size of the library collection did not increase significantly as the aim was to create a feeling of space and light, in stark contrast to the old library. The beautiful central staircase and elevated seating area is lit by a huge skylight.
Six meeting rooms of various sizes are available, and the demand has been overwhelming. The library was extremely well used during the recent teacher strikes.
Visitor numbers were up by 183% with 64,487 visitors in the first seven weeks. For comparative purposes, the population of the district is 51,900. The average number of weekday visitors is 1,426 and the weekend average is 1,150.
Opening hours were extended on Sundays from 1-4 pm to 10 am-4 pm, to mirror Saturday hours.
Over 1,400 new members joined, and more than 1,600 expired memberships were renewed in the first seven weeks. Customers that didn’t use the old library are using the new facility, particularly teens. The café and art gallery have also seen large numbers of visitors.
The bi-lingual signage throughout the building has been challenging for some residents.
The new gallery has optimum exhibition display, ideal collection storage, and flexible and welcoming public programme spaces. The gold entrance is one of the most impressive aspects of the design. Sharing spaces with the gallery brings many new opportunities. We have very quickly become a destination, for both visitors and residents.
Marlborough District Council Libraries manager Glenn Webster and mayor Nadine Taylor in a reading nook at the new Blenheim Library. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
The new library is a lovely space to work in and we have received positive feedback from most residents. We have a closer working relationship with the Art Gallery and we intend to nourish this in the future. The library staff retained penal rates for weekend work, and we have good food and coffee in our café- what’s not to like?
We are now able to host events with other organisations such as book launches and talks – which was impossible in the old library due to space restrictions. For example, we had 200 people attend the school holidays Deano Yippadee event. Holiday movie sessions in the large meeting space were also well attended.
The Marlborough Book Festival used the library for several author talks and workshops in July.
And we have launched Teen Library Lounge as we now have a dedicated teen area, with the best view in the building.
Play and Learn is a new offering for the under-twos, replacing Baby Rhyme Time. It is caregiver-led play-based learning on a range of themes.
A dressing-up station and outfits purchased for the children’s library have been a huge hit. We continue to offer Lego Club, Code Club, Bookclub, Cheeky Monkeys (under 5s), and After School Fun. We are planning to further expand our offering of programmes and events, but the overwhelming popularity of our new library has meant we have yet to find the time and energy to do this.
See more of the building on this One News report.
We are now able to host events with other organisations such as book launches and talks – which was impossible in the old library due to space restrictions. For example, we had 200 people attend the school holidays Deano Yippadee event. Holiday movie sessions in the large meeting space were also well attended.
The Marlborough Book Festival used the library for several author talks and workshops in July.
And we have launched Teen Library Lounge as we now have a dedicated teen area, with the best view in the building.
Play and Learn is a new offering for the under-twos, replacing Baby Rhyme Time. It is caregiver-led play-based learning on a range of themes.
A dressing-up station and outfits purchased for the children’s library have been a huge hit. We continue to offer Lego Club, Code Club, Bookclub, Cheeky Monkeys (under 5s), and After School Fun. We are planning to further expand our offering of programmes and events, but the overwhelming popularity of our new library has meant we have yet to find the time and energy to do this.
See more of the building on this One News report.