Heritage-listed library's future threatened by funding cut
Photo:
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The future of Tai Tapu's heritage-listed library is in jeopardy because of a council funding cut.
The distinctive red stone library was built next to St Paul's Anglican Church in Canterbury's Selwyn district in 1932 on land donated by politician and philanthropist Sir Heaton Rhodes, largely funded by the sale of daffodil bulbs by Otahuna Lodge's head gardener.
Library committee members said they were hit by a "bombshell" Selwyn District Council letter last October, outlining plans to stop funding building and grounds maintenance and repairs from 30 June because it was "endeavouring to apply a more consistent approach across the externally owned facilities it supports".
The letter left volunteers facing an annual bill of more than $13,000 to keep the library open.
In the months that followed, committee members said they grew increasingly frustrated and dissatisfied with council responses to their concerns, culminating in a letter to Selwyn mayor Sam Broughton in May.
They told Broughton the building should not be classified as "externally owned", asserting the decision was made without consultation and an apparent disregard for the building's significance.
"What seems to lie at the heart of the matter is the council policy decision that the library is an externally owned facility. Instead, it has always been a community library for the ratepayers of Tai Tapu and well supported by the council of the time," the letter said.
"Council has suggested that the way ahead will depend on funding applications. That being the case, we do not see a future for the library especially regarding insurance and the maintenance of a Heritage New Zealand historic site."
The rimu-panelled library is open for two hours, three times per week, as well as monthly Sunday afternoons. The category-one historic place is also a popular setting for wedding photographers and admired by visitors and tourists.
The library is owned by an incorporated society established by Sir Heaton - Tai Tapu Library Incorporated - with a constitution that states ownership will be vested in the council if the society dissolves.
The committee has just over $16,000 in special library funds available from the former Paparua County Council.
Tai Tapu library chairperson Maurice Sinclair said he doubted volunteers would be able to win grants or fundraise for expenses like insurance and rates after the money ran out.
"We would have to have someone spending quite a lot of time charging around talking to people and so on. We just haven't got those sort of people on our committee," he said.
Broughton met committee members in June to discuss the library's future but declined to be interviewed by RNZ, saying it was an "operational" matter.
Photo:
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Selwyn Council head of operational delivery Gareth Morgan said the council could not continue funding a "privately-owned" building.
"Tai Tapu library was a surprise to some people in council. Some ex-council officers made a decision in 2020 to fund the maintenance. There was a council restructure in 2022 that identified that this had been taking place and the instruction was to work with the library to cease that arrangement," he said.
"We've had staff working with the library since 2022 and working with them closely in trying to step through a process of getting them to prepare for their future and to stand alone. We have worked with them and we're happy to continue to support them.
"We recognise its heritage status, we recognise it's a fantastic building and we'll do what we can to support them to survive."
The committee disputed Morgan's claims, saying council staff had not worked with the library to prepare for its future over the last three years, let alone closely.
The council spent $13,500 on the library in the past financial year and had pledged to cover its insurance until June 2027, although discussions about a rates subsidy and future insurance cover were ongoing.
The council said bulk book loans from Lincoln library would continue for the time being and the committee was encouraged to apply for community and lottery grants, heritage funding and make a long term plan submission.
The council drafted an agreement to formalise arrangements with the library in 2017, although it was never signed.
It stated that Tai Tapu library was an important community asset that needed ratepayer funding to ensure it was maintained in perpetuity and the council would fund "insurance and other associated outgoings".
The committee said a 2019 memorandum of understanding expired without explanation in 2022 despite repeated requests for its renewal, with members instead assured existing arrangements would continue.
Photo:
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Sir Heaton and his wife Jessie donated money from bulb sales and flower show prize winnings to help fund the library after establishing the country's pre-eminent daffodil collection in the 1920s.
According to Heritage New Zealand, then-Governor-General Charles Bathurst remarked at the library's opening: "I have never before heard of flowers being converted by realisation into a home for the flowers of literature - it is a most ingenious and delightful idea."
In last October's "letter of intent", the council said it intended to transfer the library's special funds to the society so committee members could make their own financial decisions.
"Going forward, we appreciate the heritage status of the building and its importance to the community and we will provide information to assist you with exploring alternative funding," the letter said.
Otahuna Lodge.
Photo:
Christchurch City Libraries, CCL-Selwyn-P4231583
In correspondence that followed, the committee expressed scepticism about the council's approach and said any notion the library was owned by the people of Tai Tapu had no legal validity.
"We see this as a 'one size fits all' policy which conveniently ignores the value of Tai Tapu library to the council," the letter said.
"In our constitution, the council is named as the future owner should the incorporated society status come to an end. The home page for Selwyn Libraries lists Tai Tapu as a community library which may be accessed by all members of Selwyn Libraries.
"With due respect, we request the opportunity for consultation on a policy which places the future of Tai Tapu library in jeopardy."
In April the council offered to provide building and grounds maintenance, window cleaning, internet access and insurance until June 2027, although the money would come from the library's special funds - money the committee estimated would run out a year earlier.
Springs ward councillor Grant Miller said it would be exceptionally sad if the library closed and urged the council to be pragmatic.
"The community is ratepayers, that's who we are, so whether it's the Selwyn District Council's name on the title or whether it's the library [society], that's semantics. The reality is, it's a community asset. The council should be looking after it," he said.
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The committee disputed Morgan's claims, saying council staff had not worked with the library to prepare for its future over the last three years, let alone closely. The council spent $13,500 on the library in the past financial year and had pledged to cover its insurance until June 2027, although discussions about a rates subsidy and future insurance cover were ongoing. The council said bulk book loans from Lincoln library would continue for the time being and the committee was encouraged to apply for community and lottery grants, heritage funding and make a long term plan submission. The council drafted an agreement to formalise arrangements with the library in 2017, although it was never signed. It stated that Tai Tapu library was an important community asset that needed ratepayer funding to ensure it was maintained in perpetuity and the council would fund "insurance and other associated outgoings". The committee said a 2019 memorandum of understanding expired without explanation in 2022 despite repeated requests for its renewal, with members instead assured existing arrangements would continue. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Sir Heaton and his wife Jessie donated money from bulb sales and flower show prize winnings to help fund the library after establishing the country's pre-eminent daffodil collection in the 1920s. According to Heritage New Zealand, then-Governor-General Charles Bathurst remarked at the library's opening: "I have never before heard of flowers being converted by realisation into a home for the flowers of literature - it is a most ingenious and delightful idea." In last October's "letter of intent", the council said it intended to transfer the library's special funds to the society so committee members could make their own financial decisions. "Going forward, we appreciate the heritage status of the building and its importance to the community and we will provide information to assist you with exploring alternative funding," the letter said. Otahuna Lodge. Photo: Christchurch City Libraries, CCL-Selwyn-P4231583 In correspondence that followed, the committee expressed scepticism about the council's approach and said any notion the library was owned by the people of Tai Tapu had no legal validity. "We see this as a 'one size fits all' policy which conveniently ignores the value of Tai Tapu library to the council," the letter said. "In our constitution, the council is named as the future owner should the incorporated society status come to an end. The home page for Selwyn Libraries lists Tai Tapu as a community library which may be accessed by all members of Selwyn Libraries. "With due respect, we request the opportunity for consultation on a policy which places the future of Tai Tapu library in jeopardy." In April the council offered to provide building and grounds maintenance, window cleaning, internet access and insurance until June 2027, although the money would come from the library's special funds - money the committee estimated would run out a year earlier. Springs ward councillor Grant Miller said it would be exceptionally sad if the library closed and urged the council to be pragmatic. "The community is ratepayers, that's who we are, so whether it's the Selwyn District Council's name on the title or whether it's the library [society], that's semantics. The reality is, it's a community asset. The council should be looking after it," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
