Motueka's planned service centre relocation sparked heated and at times emotional exchanges between community board members and ward councillors at an extraordinary meeting last week.
The service centre provides a local point of contact for residents to access council services, information and support, and deal with matters such as rates, applications and licences.
Motueka's current Hickmott Place building has been sold by Tasman District Council as part of a move to consolidate council assets. The service centre is scheduled to relocate into Te Noninga Kumu-Motueka District Library early next year, but the decision, made unanimously by the district's 15 councillors, has attracted significant opposition from parts of the community.
Motueka Community Board chair Claire Hutt asked the council to halt work associated with the relocation and reconsider other options, including the former Pah Street library building.
“The community board considers that the library should remain primarily a dedicated community library and community facility, and that the proposed incorporation of the council service centre into the building is not appropriate for the long-term interests of Motueka.”
Board member David Ogilvie says the library was designed with a 10-year population growth forecast but was already short of space for facilities such as a research room and an area for local history collections.
“From my point of view, this library is too small.”
He says his preferred option remains the former library building.
“That's what we've talked about for years.”
However, Motueka’s ward councillors pushed back during the meeting, held at Te Noninga Kumu on Monday, 3 August.
Councillor and deputy mayor Brent Maru told attendees the council had not disregarded recommendations from the board or community but instead chose what it believed was the best option.
He questioned whether the move would have a negative impact the library. “I honestly don’t… I actually think this cements the library even more securely.”
Brent says service centres sharing facilities with libraries is becoming increasingly common across New Zealand.
Concerns were also raised about how the move might alter the library's atmosphere and purpose.
Board member John Katene (Te Ātiawa) compared the issue to the separation of spaces within a marae.
“Two separate places. So this place here to Māori is recreation to the community.”
The recent rates increase was another key topic, with all three councillors highlighting the pressure on the council to balance community expectations with rising costs.
Councillor Trindi Walker says the council is receiving a high level of feedback about rates bills.
She also warned there was a risk Motueka could lose its service centre altogether.
“Imagine the loss to our community if that was to happen,” she says.
“That is the fear I live with, because I sit in council, and I hear what we’ve having to do, because you know we don’t have the budgets we used to have, and we’ve got to make the most of what we’ve got.”
She acknowledges that the community board feels it was not been given enough opportunity to engage in the process but says that other options come with costs that “aren’t palatable”.
Councillor Kerryn Ferneyhough says there is a lot of rhetoric about saving the library.
“I don’t think any one of us would ever agree to do something that we thought would actually harm our library. We love this library as much as anyone here,” she says.
“It's going to be, from what we've seen, yes, a change, but a relatively small one.”
Claire then asked that the community board be given the opportunity to present its report at the next full council meeting on Thursday, 18 August.
The motion was carried by a majority vote, with the three community board members present and Kerryn voting in favour. She says she understands frustrations that the board and wider community feel their concerns have not been adequately heard.
Brent and Trindi abstained.
