Ashburton’s new library and civic centre has been gifted a new Māori name, Te Whare Whakatere.

It will replace the two previously gifted names Te Pātaka o kā Tuhituhi (the storehouse of publications) for the library and Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka (the gateway of Hine Paaka) for the civic centre.

Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Chairperson Fiona Pimm said the new name had been proposed after a visit to the building site recently with Ūpoko Tewera King, Mayor Neil Brown and Chief Executive Hamish Riach.

“After viewing the various spaces and interpreting how the public will use them, our Ūpoko felt that one new overall name for the building was appropriate.”

The whole civic complex on Baring Square East will be known as Te Whare Whakatere.

The Council Chamber will be called Hine Paaka, and the library space will be known as Te Kete Tuhinga, meaning a basket of script.

Mayor Brown said Council was working on names for many other spaces and meeting rooms in the three-storey building and would be sharing them with the community soon.

“We’re delighted with the new names gifted from Arowhenua. I think we have achieved a great milestone here; the names link well to the history and heritage that mana whenua and pākeha share in our district.”

The three new names were formally received by Council at a meeting today (23 August), following a presentation from Mr King in which he explained the intention behind the new name.

“Te Whare Whakatere literally translates as The House of Ashburton and this name was chosen to reflect that this is a multi-purpose building that will be used by a number of different groups and all should feel that this is their house.

“This is a magnificent new building that gathers together the existing library and civic functions and incorporates the historic Pioneer Hall into the building. Te Whare Whakatere is much more than just a gateway to other Council facilities and the wider district.”

Hine Paaka lived in the late 1600s and was the revered wife of Ngāi Tahu Chief Maru.

Her name was memorialised and given to an ancient matai (beech) tree that once stood at Alford Forest, possibly for over 1000 years.

The tree was a significant landmark to Māori travelling through the district to the pounamu trails of the West Coast.