Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka Law Library
Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka Law Library. Image credit: Elliot McDougall
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There’s a lot that is unique about the Victoria University Te Herenga Waka Law Library. The library supports study, teaching and research for the Faculty of Law at Pipitea campus through an extensive range of online and print material. It is one part of the extensive university library situated in what’s known as New Zealand’s largest and grandest wooden building.
WHERE IS THE LIBRARY LOCATED? The library is situated in the historic, old Government Building opposite the Beehive in Wellington. it once housed our entire public service. An outstanding example of New Zealand’s architectural heritage it’s one of the world’s greatest wooden buildings. Completed in 1876, like many colonial buildings of the era, it was built to resemble a stone palace. This was to convey strength and stability in a young country undergoing rapid growth and change. The building makes extensive use of native kauri timber and the constant threat of fire meant it became one of New Zealand’s first smoke-free buildings. It features two staircases, eight vaults, 143 rooms, 126 fireplaces, 22 chimneys, two hydraulic lifts, 64 toilets, eight verandas and seven porticos. |
Limited restoration began in the early 1980s but by 1990 the building was empty. The Government decided to restore the building and work began in 1994 under the management of the Department of Conservation. The work cost $25 million and was completed early in 1996. It is regarded as a landmark in government-initiated heritage conservation.
Today, the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington occupies most of the building that has been at the heart of New Zealand’s central government activities since 1865.
Today, the Law Faculty of Victoria University of Wellington occupies most of the building that has been at the heart of New Zealand’s central government activities since 1865.
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ABOUT THE LAW LIBRARY
The law library is located on four levels at the southern end of the building. There are rooms where the book stacks are kept - book rooms, subject librarian rooms, study rooms that can be booked, a Māori/Pasifika reading room, and service desk. There are two teams at the library, the client services library staff, and the subject librarians. They maintain and shelve the collection, help students and faculty members to find reference materials, and digitise course materials. Subject librarians work closely with faculty members to help them and their students’ information literacy skill development and assist with improving research output and teaching. The Pipitea teams also support students and staff from Victoria University’s Wellington School of Business and Government opposite in Rutherford House. The Law Library supports legal studies and research with primary and secondary law sources in print and electronic formats. The legal sources span many jurisdictions with focus on Aotearoa New Zealand and other common law jurisdictions. Some of the strengths of the collection are its strong emphasis on international law, legal sources from Pacific countries and recently, coverage to legal sources from China was provided. Subject librarian Catherine Doughty says, “One of the things that makes my work so rewarding is the fact that the Law Faculty and the Law Library are in the same building. It makes for really good networking and working relations, something that is so important in a subject librarian’s role.” SOME SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE LAW LIBRARY In the library is a hydraulic lift rumoured to be haunted. There’s also a collection of fine china that the team use for making cups of tea and in keeping with the colonial environs. Wonderful artworks, a magnificent native rimu staircase and a Christmas tree expertly compiled from law books, complete the scene. |
Image credit: Elliot McDougall
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February 2022