Library mahi - Pani Christie and the Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub and Library
The team from back left: Brendon, Megan, Pani and front: Meto, Annie, Sally and Brooke.
Meet Pani Christie and the Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub and Library team, discovering what makes them love coming to work every day.
The hub is part of the nine Hutt City Libraries and is situated in the heart of Wainuiomata, near the community centre and other community services.
Pani’s love of libraries started in 2013 while volunteering at the community centre. She was hired when a position came up next door at the library. Pani’s ability to connect with her community was recognised. This was around when the library and the community centre were merged to create the Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub.
Pani is a 2023 recipient of a LIANZA SLANZA Tertiary Grant to complete the Open Polytechnic LIS diploma over the next two years.
“I didn’t realise how much was involved in this study. Now I know the structure and what they expect, it’s much easier.” She has a good team behind her who are always there for feedback and coffee when she gets stuck.
Pani’s role as Pou Tiaki comes after ten years of dreaming of being a library professional. “I love libraries,” she says,” because I love helping people. I like finding the information they need and ways to help them.”
“I love my team and the people in the community that I can help. I’m part of this community and passionate about supporting it,” says Pani.
Pani works with a team of nine creative people. Megan Hindmarsh is the Pou Whakahaere/manager, Meto is the senior librarian/ senior Pou Tiaki, and Sally, Annie, Malia, Vera, and Brooke are the other Pou Tiaki.
It’s a tight team that loves working together. They take time for each other, building strong ties through regular dinners, celebrating birthdays, and supporting each other.
As a one-stop hub, there are books, events, meeting rooms, a council desk for rates, and many activities developed in response to community needs.
When I was there, the Justice of the Peace was visiting, and a table of over ten women were knitting and laughing. They’ve been meeting there for over ten years.
“Our community loves us – we’re always busy,” says Megan.
A kaumatua social group does karaoke, mirimiri, and rongoa sessions. There are Baby Bounce and Rhyme, and Storytimes for the younger users. In summer, there’s a rangatahi programme after school with kai and basketball. Brooke covers the digital skills area with stepping-up and coding classes.
Many people come in daily for various activities, services, and library resources. Kaibosh meals are distributed every Friday afternoon, a hectic time. Government departments like MSD and IRD regularly use the hot desks in the hub.
Pani set up a community garden this year. “She is amazing – she always comes into work ready to take on anything,” says Megan. “One day, she turned up with seedlings and compost, and then we had a garden that people helped themselves to.”
Everyone on the team has an area of passion, and they are encouraged to bring it into their mahi. Brooke loves the digital area, so she looks after that. Vera supports older people, running Ready Steady Balance with over 30 people attending, and a home library service that helps those who can’t come into the library.
Pani is part of the heritage team with Annie, running family history clinics and ancestry groups. It’s a dynamic, supportive team. If you are passionate about something, you are encouraged to set it up.
“We all pitch in to help each other when needed. Everybody runs a programme and the senior and other staff members support them.”
Megan says it brings her joy to see the community engage with and benefit from the programmes they run at the hub.
There is a real sense of support and genuine caring for others on this team. They love their work and the creativity they can bring to it. “We’re lucky – we are trying to build our team all the time,” says Megan, who makes a mean birthday cake whenever it's someone's birthday.
The hub is part of the nine Hutt City Libraries and is situated in the heart of Wainuiomata, near the community centre and other community services.
Pani’s love of libraries started in 2013 while volunteering at the community centre. She was hired when a position came up next door at the library. Pani’s ability to connect with her community was recognised. This was around when the library and the community centre were merged to create the Wainuiomata Neighbourhood Hub.
Pani is a 2023 recipient of a LIANZA SLANZA Tertiary Grant to complete the Open Polytechnic LIS diploma over the next two years.
“I didn’t realise how much was involved in this study. Now I know the structure and what they expect, it’s much easier.” She has a good team behind her who are always there for feedback and coffee when she gets stuck.
Pani’s role as Pou Tiaki comes after ten years of dreaming of being a library professional. “I love libraries,” she says,” because I love helping people. I like finding the information they need and ways to help them.”
“I love my team and the people in the community that I can help. I’m part of this community and passionate about supporting it,” says Pani.
Pani works with a team of nine creative people. Megan Hindmarsh is the Pou Whakahaere/manager, Meto is the senior librarian/ senior Pou Tiaki, and Sally, Annie, Malia, Vera, and Brooke are the other Pou Tiaki.
It’s a tight team that loves working together. They take time for each other, building strong ties through regular dinners, celebrating birthdays, and supporting each other.
As a one-stop hub, there are books, events, meeting rooms, a council desk for rates, and many activities developed in response to community needs.
When I was there, the Justice of the Peace was visiting, and a table of over ten women were knitting and laughing. They’ve been meeting there for over ten years.
“Our community loves us – we’re always busy,” says Megan.
A kaumatua social group does karaoke, mirimiri, and rongoa sessions. There are Baby Bounce and Rhyme, and Storytimes for the younger users. In summer, there’s a rangatahi programme after school with kai and basketball. Brooke covers the digital skills area with stepping-up and coding classes.
Many people come in daily for various activities, services, and library resources. Kaibosh meals are distributed every Friday afternoon, a hectic time. Government departments like MSD and IRD regularly use the hot desks in the hub.
Pani set up a community garden this year. “She is amazing – she always comes into work ready to take on anything,” says Megan. “One day, she turned up with seedlings and compost, and then we had a garden that people helped themselves to.”
Everyone on the team has an area of passion, and they are encouraged to bring it into their mahi. Brooke loves the digital area, so she looks after that. Vera supports older people, running Ready Steady Balance with over 30 people attending, and a home library service that helps those who can’t come into the library.
Pani is part of the heritage team with Annie, running family history clinics and ancestry groups. It’s a dynamic, supportive team. If you are passionate about something, you are encouraged to set it up.
“We all pitch in to help each other when needed. Everybody runs a programme and the senior and other staff members support them.”
Megan says it brings her joy to see the community engage with and benefit from the programmes they run at the hub.
There is a real sense of support and genuine caring for others on this team. They love their work and the creativity they can bring to it. “We’re lucky – we are trying to build our team all the time,” says Megan, who makes a mean birthday cake whenever it's someone's birthday.
