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RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Work begins on Napier's $110m civic centre redevelopment
Napier City's civic centre redevelopment. Photo: NCC (supplied) Construction is underway on a $110 million re-development of Napier's civic centre. Eight years ago, the entire civic centre was damaged in an earthquake and deemed unusable. Council staff have been working from three different temporary and leased buildings since then, and Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan told Nine to Noon that Napier City Council looked at 30 alternative sites to relocate to and underwent public consultation on whether to rebuild or move. She said 90 percent of the public was in favour of using the existing site, and they worked through a range of business cases on what would be the best value for ratepayers. The new project will include a library, council offices and public spaces. "So, what we've ended up with off the back of that analysis is re-strengthening the old library tower for our council staff, and then building a new library adjacent to that," Brosnan said. Napier City Council strategic programmes manager Darran Gillies said it's a massive undertaking with 10,500 square metres of public land to re-develop. "It's a big, big project that will take us about two years to complete," he said. Hawke's Bay consortium MCL Stead won the tender for the project, and 80 percent of the work is being done by local contractors "We've got up to five local apprenticeships being created and the modelling was that for every $1 million we spend locally on this product, we are adding $3.4 million to our local economy. So, it's going to be a really big boost to Napier," Brosnan said. The new civic centre is in the heart of Napier, and Brosnan said it's been hard for residents not having that space. "What we've lost in Napier is our city hub. We have our main streets and retail sector but our space where our community could come see us ... has really been dispersed," she said. "Bringing that back together we are going to see new businesses open up, especially in that hospitality sector, we are already seeing that especially with construction starting on site." The council is hoping to cut the ribbon on the new civic centre around May 2027. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
15-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Napier: Work starts on new $110m civic precinct
It could have taken many more years, likely at much greater cost, said the deputy mayor, whose 12 years on the council have been dominated by the eight years of turmoil since the council and staff turned out the lights for the last time. Chucking in two of the region's worst storms – the Napier floods of November 2020 and Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 (with the Covid global pandemic lockdowns inbetween and now ongoing uncertainties of the political climate) it was in question even until 'a few months ago' as to quite when construction would begin, and whether it would still be what has been planned, she said, standing in the required health and safety raiment of steel-capped boots, hard hat and fluoro jacket. Deputy Mayor Annette Brosnan and city council strategic programmes manager Darran Gillies in the former library space being redeveloped in the Napier Civic Precinct project. Photo / Doug Laing. There's a level of emotion as she recalls: 'I remember the tears when everyone was leaving the building. There was a lot of uncertainty.' Council staff have since been spread across several mainly-leased sites, and there had been nowhere 'for people to come and see us', she said. It was also devastating for the food and beverage business in the area, but she's expecting now a revival with work crews numbering up to 300 people over the next two years, followed by the return of the council's own staff, after a decade away. It is, however, a complex project, as council strategic manager Darran Gillies, and leaders from MCL Stead, the local partnership with the $70.5 million contract for the construction. It's Stead's crane being set up this week, and expected to be on site for over 12 months, with construction progress likely to be watched by the public daily as the site is transformed from a demolition side retaining just the shell of the library tower, which still carries such signage as 'Non-fiction Section,' 'Large Print' and 'Audio Books' on its pillars, and a sort of ghostly feel where the IRD used to hold fort in leased space upstairs. Emerging will be a cluster of three buildings, and landscaped outdoor space through to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council building on the opposite side of Dalton St, and walkthough towards Willis House, fronting Dickens St and linking to the CBD beyond. Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke's Bay Today, and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke's Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues, and personalities.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Local Elections 2025: Napier Councillor Richard McGrath Running For Mayor
Kirsten Wise has a challenger for the Napier mayoralty - city councillor Richard McGrath. McGrath says instead of sitting back and listening, he's going to stand for change in the October local body elections. 'I don't think we are going in the right direction for our community. People are struggling with the cost of living and want to see their council spend money appropriately,' McGrath said. 'Napier council has ignored its core infrastructure for too long, putting nice-to-have projects ahead of its needs. 'How did the new library get promoted ahead of the new hill reservoirs, or more water bores?' Construction of the new civic centre which includes a new library is expected to start by the end of June. The lead contract, recently awarded to Hawke's Bay consortium MCL Stead, is worth $70m plus. McGrath was voted in during a byelection in 2014 and says the council needs to prioritise water, roads and infrastructure. 'I didn't vote for the Long Term Plan last year knowing the library was in there ahead of water. 'I don't get why some projects are leap-frogged ahead of the basic needs. Yes, we do need balance, but I don't think we have that right now.' He considers himself approachable and said he will always be available to speak and listen to the Napier community. 'Your thoughts matter to me. Together we can be solution-focused, delivering the right projects at the right times for our Napier families.' SUB HEAD: Councillor changing sides from NCC to HBRC Meanwhile, Hayley Browne will not be standing for a seat at the Napier City Council. Instead, she is turning her attention to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council. She says she is ready to step up in her career. As deputy chair of the Hawke's Bay Climate Action Committee, which Napier City Council has recently pulled out of, she helped oversee the development of the first Climate Change Risk Assessment. 'I want to work on the big issues and one of those is climate change. I'm realistic about the tough challenges but I can see a pathway forward. 'Our region is full of people who care, who innovate, who step up. I'm standing to help us channel that energy into long-term solutions that serve everyone.' Browne is a second-term councillor. SUBHEAD: 2025 local election timeline July 4 - Candidate nominations open and roll opens for public inspection August 1 – at 12 noon, Candidate nominations close and roll closes August 6 – Public notice of candidates' names September 9-22 – Voting documents delivered October 7 – Last day for posting vote by mail. After this date votes must be returned to council's secure ballot boxes. October 11 – at 12 noon Election day – voting closes midday October 11 – from 12 noon Progress results October 16-22 – Declaration of results October/November – Elected members' swearing in ceremonies
NZ Herald
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Local elections 2025: Napier councillor Richard McGrath running for mayor
'Napier council has ignored its core infrastructure for too long, putting nice-to-have projects ahead of its needs. 'How did the new library get promoted ahead of the new hill reservoirs, or more water bores?' Construction of the new civic centre which includes a new library is expected to start by the end of June. The lead contract, recently awarded to Hawke's Bay consortium MCL Stead, is worth $70m plus. McGrath was voted in during a byelection in 2014 and says the council needs to prioritise water, roads and infrastructure. 'I didn't vote for the Long Term Plan last year knowing the library was in there ahead of water. 'I don't get why some projects are leap-frogged ahead of the basic needs. Yes, we do need balance, but I don't think we have that right now.' He considers himself approachable and said he will always be available to speak and listen to the Napier community. 'Your thoughts matter to me. Together we can be solution-focused, delivering the right projects at the right times for our Napier families.' Councillor changing sides from NCC to HBRC Meanwhile, Hayley Browne will not be standing for a seat at the Napier City Council. Instead, she is turning her attention to the Hawke's Bay Regional Council. She says she is ready to step up in her career. Brown has served as deputy chair of the Hawke's Bay Climate Action Committee, which Napier City Council has recently pulled out of. She helped oversee the development of the first Climate Change Risk Assessment. 'I want to work on the big issues and one of those is climate change. I'm realistic about the tough challenges but I can see a pathway forward. 'Our region is full of people who care, who innovate, who step up. I'm standing to help us channel that energy into long-term solutions that serve everyone.' Browne is a second-term councillor. 2025 local election timeline July 4 - Candidate nominations open and roll opens for public inspection August 1 – at 12pm, Candidate nominations close and roll closes Advertisement Advertise with NZME. August 6 – Public notice of candidates' names September 9-22 – Voting documents delivered October 7 – Last day for posting vote by mail. After this date votes must be returned to council's secure ballot boxes. October 11 – at 12pm election day – voting closes midday October 11 – from 12pm progress results October 16-22 – Declaration of results Advertisement October/November – Elected members' swearing in ceremonies
