The new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere, will be fully open to the public and Ashburton District Council staff from Monday 29 January. The library remains on track to open a week prior, on Monday 22 January.

Chief Executive Hamish Riach said contractors were resolving a problem with the air conditioning system on the top floor, so admin staff working on that level would continue to work remotely until 26 January.

“Our library staff are very excited for all their users to see the new library space on the ground floor and level one, and have been moving books and other resources across since the beginning of the new year. It’s a shame that the air conditioning system on level two will not quite be ready on the day the library opens, but the contractors have identified an issue and are busy fixing it.”

Te Whare Whakatere will be blessed by Arowhenua at a 7am ceremony on Friday 19 January, ahead of the library opening, and an official opening of the whole building with invited guests will take place later in the year.