Te Ara Whetū

Te Ara Whetū will be the new library hub for Waikanae, providing a high-quality, flexible, and safe public space which reflects the needs and aspirations of its active local community.

Located at the head of Mahara Place, the new facility redefines Waikanae’s identity and sense of place through the adaptive reuse of the existing library building. Designed across three storeys and 1,300m², it will serve a community of around 12,000 residents while strengthening connections with the neighbouring Toi MAHARA art gallery, creating a cohesive cultural precinct for Waikanae.

The facility is designed around community principles, offering inclusive and welcoming spaces that enable creativity, support learning, and create opportunities for people to connect. Inside, a variety of flexible areas will support events, activities, and gatherings of different scales, while strong visual and physical connections to the surrounding landscape encourage engagement with both place and people.

The name Te Ara Whetū ki Uta, ki Tai – the passage of the stars from the mountains to the sea – was gifted by local iwi Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai. Their ongoing partnership ensures cultural narratives and values are embedded in the design, grounding the project in its unique context.

The project has been developed through extensive community consultation and iwi-led engagement. Studio Pacific is leading the consultant team through a highly collaborative approach, which aligns with the council’s strategic direction for Waikanae. The design is guided by bespoke sustainability targets based on Green Star principles, adopting a low-carbon approach to minimise environmental impact and supporting education around sustainable building performance long after completion.