Busy first week for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
It has been a busy start to life for Ashburton’s new library and civic centre, Te Whare Whakatere.
In its opening week the new Ashburton Library, Te Kete Tuhinga, had 7335 people walk through the front doors, almost four times the foot traffic in comparison with the same week in 2023 (1891) at the old library.
Those numbers are only likely to increase after the rest of the building's tenants moved in on Monday
That included local café One Ninety Nine which has relocated to Te Whare Whakatere.
Owners Gareth and Jamie Cadogan (pictured) have been running their café business in an alleyway off Burnett St for the past three and a half years, but started serving on the ground floor of the new building on Monday.
It was a simple decision moving the 100m across the CBD for what the foot traffic figures from the opening week show will be one of the most prominent places in town.
“It’s a great space,” Gareth Cadogan said.
Ashburton District Council chief executive Hamish Riach said One Ninety Nine was offered the spot in the building after a robust process to find the right business.
“We shortlisted a few cafes who were interested, and we believe Gareth and Jamie have the right business to complement the new library.
“We were mindful that we didn’t want to introduce more competition for existing coffee businesses in the area, so having One Ninety Nine already established in this part of the CBD is a win.”
The café owners weren’t the only ones celebrating their first day in the new building with the council’s staff also now operating from Te Whare Whakatere.
Staff were excited to finally be in the building for their induction last week and then open for business on Monday, Riach said.
“After the thick end of two months working remotely, it was great for staff to be able to all get together last Friday and reconnect with each other face to face.
“It’s been a long and winding journey at times to get here, but just great to be finally in and under way.”
With everyone moved in, there are still a few things left to complete the building.
The most notable is the metal mesh shroud on the front of the building.
After being installed it was found to be faulty and is being reworked by the manufacturers, Riach said.
An official opening date for the building is still to be confirmed, Riach said, with the council coordinating with the prime minister’s office over dates.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.1% Yes
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46.9% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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