Central Library

Central Library in Garden Place Te Koopuu Maania o Kirikiriroa is the community library for the inner city and nearby suburbs. It also acts as a hub, offering larger lending collections than other local libraries. It holds specialist and research collections, including Archives, Reference & Special Collections, newspapers, world languages, music scores, and Stack.

According to our traditional accounts, the original name for the hill that once extended through Garden Place was known to Ngaati Wairere as Te Koopuu Maania o Kirikiriroa (the smooth belly of Kirikiriroa). This hill was famed in pre-European times for its gardens and cultivations along its eastern and northern slopes.

The building exterior features a whakataukii:

He toi tupu,
Growth of the treasure, 

He toi ora,
Sustenance of the treasure,

He toi i ahu mai,
Development of the treasure,

i Hawaiki e
The treasure that stems from Hawaiki

The whakataukii uses natural light to create shifting shadows throughout the day. Its facade symbolises both traditional and digital storytelling and knowledge. 

Tai timu, tai pari is an animated work by Hollie Tawhiao exploring the ebb and flow of tides, people, and stories. Tracing a journey from Hawaiki to Kirikiriroa, it reflects migration, settlement, and the enduring relationship between whenua, people, and the Waikato River. A steady heartbeat runs through the work, representing the mauri of place amid changing landscapes. Designed for a low‑resolution LED grid, it uses bold colour and movement to create a welcoming, contemplative presence. The lights are switched on nightly, from half an hour before sunset through until 11pm.