Te Manawa (Westgate)

Te Manawa (Westgate) is a community hub located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is Auckland Council’s first fully-integrated community hub.[1] Officially opened on 6 April 2019, Te Manawa services and resources include a library, customer service centre, rooms for hire, commercial kitchen, creative spaces, work and study areas along with a Citizens Advice Bureau. It serves the suburbs of Westgate, Massey, West Harbour and Hobsonville. Before its official opening, Te Manawa made a soft launch on 26 March 2019 to test the team and the facility, which attracted two thousand visitors on that day.[2]. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Te Manawa had a two-month long closure - closed on 20 March 2020 and reopened to the public on 20 May 2020.[3] [4]

Te Manawa
CountryNew Zealand
TypePublic library
Established2019 (2019)
Location11 Kohuhu Lane, Westgate, Auckland
Coordinates36°49′07″S 174°36′27″E
Branch ofAuckland Libraries
Map

Building
Te Manawa façade in December 2019

Te Manawa, known as Westgate Library and Multi-Purpose Facility before the Maori name was gifted, is the central piece of work of the new Westgate town centre development. It was designed by Warren and Mahoney in collaboration with Rawstorne Studio for its interior architecture. The project was one of four 2019 Interior Awards Winner.[5] The project was also granted the DINZ (Designers Institute of New Zealand) Best Awards – Public & Institutional Spaces – Silver Pin in 2019. [6] Te Manawa’s green design includes stormwater detention and re-use, solar power and heating and air-conditioning.

Space and space names

In Te Reo Maori, Te Manawa means ‘the heart’.[7] The name Te Manawa as well as other space names within the facility was gifted by Matua Heta Tobin of Ngāti Whātua Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara [8]. The name reflects the buildings purpose to be at the heart of the community, a place where people are the life blood.

Te Whare Tapere - Children's Space
Nooks at Te Whare Tapere, Children's Space

Te Whare Tapere[9] meaning a place of entertainment, story-telling, dance, games, music and other entertainment in Te Reo Maori is the children's space. This anchoring piece of interior architectural work was designed by multidisciplinary award-winning artist Robin Rawstorne.[10] The space looks like a pool in the middle of a forest glade, with ripples radiating outwards intending to generate a sense of ownership and investigation in the children. Te Whare Tapere also includes a stage for storytelling and performances. Nooks are one of the most attractive features for many children allowing them to curl up in. On top of encouraging children to the use space to the most, better flexibility of furniture and space rearrangement was another design principle. [11]

Te Ara Tapuwae, also located on Level 1, includes the creative hub and studios. Ara [12]means 'a route'; whereas Tapuwae [13] means 'footprint'. Te Ara Tapuwae was used to be a reference to all ancestors.

Hinengaro [14], a Maori word for mind, thought, intellect, consciousness, awareness, was used to name the community space on level 2. Those spaces on Level 3 were given the names of Kokiri [15] meaning move forward, promote, advocate, lead and Ngatahi [16] meaning united with one thought.

Services

Library services
The building of the old Massey Library and now it has been re-purposed.

Te Manawa inherits the library services of Massey Library. It is a part (one of 55 branches) of the wider family of Auckland Libraries, which has extensive collections of books, e-books, newspapers, magazines and online resources, even free movie streaming. There are designated places for its fiction, non-fiction, children's and teen's collections at Te Manawa. Te Manawa's community language collections include Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Pacific Island languages, such as Fijian, Samoan. There are 8 PCs available for customers to use for free; whereas, Wi-fi connection is available for everyone regardless of having a library membership or not. Te Manawa has a designated study space allowing customers to sit down and study quietly.

Back in 2010, then Waitakere City Council noticed that Northwest Auckland was growing so fast that the Massey Library was unable to meet future demand. A proposal to build a new three times larger library plus town square and bus interchange was put on table. [17] Massey Library was permanently closed on Thursday, 21 March 2019 shortly before the soft launch of Te Manawa.

Programmes and events

Te Manawa has a varied programme of free events and classes, including Wiggle and Rhyme, learning 3D printing, trying out a recording studio, and improving conversational English. Te Manawa also has a team dedicated to Programme and Outreach.[18]

Council services

Te Manawa provides a good range of community services. At this stage, local residents can pay their Council rates, register a dog and make general Auckland Council service inquiries under one roof and served by the same team.[19] Te Manawa expects to further expand the council services, such as building consent submission, in the future.

Community venue hire

Te Manawa has meeting rooms as well as a commercial kitchen and business hub for community use with a small charge.[20]

References
  1. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  3. "Auckland Council to close libraries, pools, recreation centres and major venues". Our Auckland, Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. "Libraries and fitness centres to reopen". Our Auckland, Auckland Council. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  5. "Finalists revealed: 2019 Interior Awards". Architecture Now. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  6. "Te Manawa – Westgate Library and Multi-Purpose Facility". Warren and Mahoney. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  7. "Manawa". Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  9. "Whare Tapere". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  11. "Te Whare Tapere – Children's space". Rawstorne Studio. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  12. "Ara". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "Tapuwae". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  14. "Hinengaro". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  15. "Kokiri". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  16. "Ngatahi". Te Aka Online Maori Dictionary. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  17. "Bigger library part of new town centre". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  18. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  19. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  20. "Te Manawa – Community Hub and Citizen-lead Space". Libraries Aoteraroa. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
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