Library with cars parked outside

The Leeston Library and Service Centre services will relocate to its new temporary site on High Street and open its doors on May 5.

The Selwyn District Council has secured the new premises, subject to lease terms being finalised, next to the Freshchoice supermarket after recent routine roof repairs revealed substantial water ingress issues in the library section of the original building.

The Council library services will continue to offer the temporary mobile library service throughout the Easter school holidays until April 24, before library staff start preparing the new site for opening day.

“We are pleased to secure this new site, but will need to pause our library services in Leeston for a week to enable our staff to create the library space,” says Denise Kidd, Executive Director Community Facilities and Services.

“We appreciate this will cause some inconvenience for regular library users, but hope the community will understand we are making the best out of an unexpected and challenging situation.”

Kidd explains that significant water ingress had affected the ongoing safety and habitability of the original Library and Service Centre section of the building on Messines Street, and the Council immediately took action to relocate the library, as well as remediate and earthquake-strengthen the Leeston Medical Centre and Plunket portion of the same building.

The temporary Library and Service Centre will remain in place until the brand-new facility Whata Rau, is completed in 2027.

Kidd says that services at the medical centre and Plunket rooms will not be interrupted, and that the Council will work hard to minimise the impact of the remedial work on both staff and visitors.

Last modified: 11 Apr 2025 12:30pm