He Puna Manawa, Tauranga’s new library and community hub, is open.

Hundreds gathered at dawn for the karakia and blessing of the first new building to open as part of Tauranga CBD’s civic precinct redevelopment, Te Manawataki o Te Papa.

City leaders, mana whenua, Tauranga City Council staff and members of the public gathered at 95 Willow St for the ceremony.

As dawn broke, stories were shared about the history of the site and the significance of the building as a symbol of the relationship between the council and mana whenua.

The land is owned by Te Manawataki o Te Papa Charitable Trust, which is jointly governed by the council and Otamataha Trust.

Mana whenua entrusted 539 hectares to the Church Missionary Society in 1838 to safeguard Māori interests and support the church and community.

After the Battle of Gate Pā in 1864 and subsequent land confiscations, the Church Missionary Society gave 80% of the trust land to the Crown.

The charitable trust was established in 2022 as part of a joint-ownership solution intended to reconcile past events and restore mana to hapū and iwi.

He Puna Manawa had an estimated build cost of $91.5m, with construction starting in early 2024.

Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale said the building was finished before the original completion date and under budget, because most of the contingency had been retained.

Mayor Mahe Drysdale said Tauranga's new library and community hub was pretty special. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

He said $3 million had already been released and estimated “probably at least $7 million” would come back from what had been budgeted.

He linked the result to the organisation learning from previous project failures and changing its approach to delivery.

Drysdale said the opening gave the public their first opportunity to experience part of the new civic centre.

“The building’s incredible, throughout the artwork, finish, design, it’s pretty special.”

He said he had not used a library for about 30 years, but now had children and going to the library was one of their favourite activities.

He said he saw the building as a place to bring people together.

More than 92,000 books were moved into Tauranga's new CBD library and community hub. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“We talk about Te Manawataki o Te Papa as the heartbeat of the city. The heartbeat is all those people that come and enjoy the space.”

Drysdale said the library was the first of several developments that would open over the next 18 months.

“It’s really now just getting the people to come and enjoy our city centre again.

“I go back to growing up in Tauranga and we had a really vibrant city centre. I came in a lot as a child because there were reasons to come here.

“That’s what we’re trying to do: ... build some reasons to come.”

Māori ward councillor Hēmi Rolleston acknowledged the significance of seeing the culture and history of the area visibly represented and celebrated in the building’s design.

Māori ward councillor Hēmi Rolleston at the blessing of He Puna Manawa, Tauranga's new library and community hub. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“To see the culture, the story, the fabric of our history being celebrated in a powerful way … it feels really special.”

He said there was sadness connected with the site because of its history, referring to the occupation that had taken place there.

“But to see all the past recede and the tide come in and us come together,” he said, lit his fire that it was coming alive.

“It’s not just Māori design in here, there’s so much other fabric in the history of Tauranga that’s coming together.”

Tauranga City Council cultural adviser Joshua Te Kani at the blessing of He Puna Manawa, Tauranga's new library and community hub. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Council cultural adviser Joshua Te Kani said the relationship with tangata whenua and the wider community made the library special.

He said his role during the development had included guiding engagement between the council and tangata whenua, and helping develop design stories that continued through the artists’ work.

“The civic centre itself has actually been built upon their partnership, literally upon the land that it sits upon.”

Artist Que Bidois said he and co-designer Kelsey Tarato grew up locally but did not see themselves or local Māori reflected in the city.

Artist Que Bidoi at the blessing of He Puna Manawa, Tauranga's new library and community hub. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“Here we are, sort of the owners of this land and descendants of this land, kaitiaki of this land, but there was nothing in the city that reflected who we were as local Māori.

“We’ve finally got to a place where my kids can go, ‘Oh, I’m a part of this because I can see myself within the design work of the space’, so it’s a place that, not just Māori, but everyone can come in and feel at home.”

Friends of the Tauranga Libraries chairwoman, 93-year-old Rita Carter, said the library meant a lot to her.

“I come regularly, but I have bad vision, so I use the audio section of the library.”

Friends of the Libraries chairwoman Rita Carter (left) and president Jill Best. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

President and former libraries manager Jill Best said she was glad to see a community hub people could visit.

Best worked as the manager for 16 years before retiring nine years ago.

A community celebration day will take place at the library tomorrow from 10am to 4pm, with performances, author talks, guided tours, crafts, cultural experiences, tech demos and hands-on activities for all ages.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.