If you’ve walked through the centre of Napier CBD recently you will have seen the old civic building being taken apart. The demolition of this significant site is as important as the construction of what comes next. The operation is being carried out in a way that ensures we achieve a Green Star 5 rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council for our new build. 

Getting to a sustainable future must start with every action today, even actions as hard-hitting as demo!

A Green Star 5 rating represents excellence in healthy and sustainable building. For our new building to achieve ‘five stars’, the demolition of what previously stood there must be taken into account. It’s a highly considered process as each element of this complex structure is removed and carefully disposed of. Thinking ahead, well into the future, is a must-do, not a nice-to-have.

As the existing building is disassembled, planning and early design work are happening for what will come next. The spaces and places that will sit on this site need to deliver on quite a few objectives. At the centre though, is an ambition to create a hub that meets the diverse needs of our community. This hub will include council services where day-to-day face-to-face interaction with community is a core focus. This includes our customer service team, our elected representatives and our library. 

Mana whenua has been with us as we worked through the process of understanding what the key ingredients are for the development. The kōrero has been robust and instructive. There’s has been consideration of taiao, mauri tū, tohu, whakapapa/whakamana, ahi kaa and mahi toi, and how future designs can address te ao Māori. It is key the facility speaks to the place and its history, re-revealing the significance of the site. Manaakitanga plays a fundamental role while the spaces are visually and physically supportive of expressing the cultural identity of mana whenua.

There is a heap of potential in this space, and a lot of people are invested emotionally, culturally and socially in what happens here: residents and ratepayers, mana whenua, local business owners, arts and culture representatives, groups representing the elderly and youth, as well as property developers, planners and architects.

Defining how our new library and civic area will come together will take a team approach. Across the community, different voices, views, disciplines and objectives will all be heard and considered. Doing it properly, at every level – from demo, to design, to development, to getting to opening day – is critical to making a space that is flexible, future-proofed and in tune with environmental imperatives.  

Developing the initial plan was a rare opportunity to design a space that is a collective expression of us and our aspirations as citizens of Napier. This is our chance to celebrate our cultural values and unique history.

Our desire is for Napier’s Library and Civic Area to create vitality in what is now a quiet part of the city. It will help to stimulate economic activity in this area and encourage growth in new businesses and business confidence. We want it to be a safe and inclusive community gathering place for all ages, abilities and cultures. It will be a special place for ceremonial events and celebrations that acknowledge Napier’s history and its diverse cultures. It will have good connections to the nearby city centre, to Marine Parade and to inner city neighbourhoods, hospitality and shopping areas.

The new building will have a role in reenergizing this area, bringing people together, creating buzz, linking with existing activities and initiating new ones. It’s not enough to simply replace like with like. We must add value, improve the built environment, and respond to the immediate and future needs of Napier. 

The new library and civic area illustrates, in a complete package, many of the considerations our community has to make overall. This includes sustainability from the beginning of the project through to delivery, finding a balance between cost and levels of service, bringing together various wants and needs to create a solution that meets the desires of many parts of our community. 

It’s a high profile project because of where it sits, its history and its role in the fabric of our city. It is also important because it’s an opportunity to create something really exciting for the community. For a while it’s going to be a demo site, but then it will begin to become a place for people to meet, spend time together, celebrate significant occasions, and participate actively in the life of Napier. 

Richard Munneke is Acting Chief Executive, Napier City Council