Thames Coromandel District Libraries

11/06/2026

Don't be alarmed! A nationwide test of our Emergency Mobile Alert system is taking place this Sunday.

10/06/2026

Awesome research from Tairua Heritage Society ! What are your memories of Tairua Library?

Tairua Library

This story has proven to be a difficult task as most of the information I dug out was buried amongst other stories and I could find no information between 1920 and 1970. However, here is what I discovered ...

In April 1885, the Thames County Council received applications from two respectable citizens of Tairua. They were asking for a subsidy for the Tairua Library. Mr Murdock, Secretary of the Union Sash and Door Company thought that twenty pounds would be appropriate while Mr Rylance, chairman of the School Committee was much more modest, asking for just five pounds. The Council decided in favour of Mr Rylance.

Young Isabella McGregor recalls how, during the first world war, the ladies of the Tairua Red Cross and headed by Mrs Cory-Wright Snr, met regularly to roll bandages and knit balaclavas and mittens for the troops. The meetings were held in the Library or Reading Room as it was often called - a small gabled structure with a high chimney on the site previously occupied by the old mill near the entrance to the wharf. It seems this was burnt down in or around 1920.

Ruth Tomlin remembers her time as Tairua’s librarian for twenty-five years. She started in there 1972, replacing Horace Rowbotham. They managed to get a small building next to the post office (where the Pepe Grand is). She recalls how they had to move the books from the store that the Julian family owned on the corner of Manaia Rd - where the Manaia is now. Then in 1987, the library moved to the prefab building (now the Annexe) on the hall grounds. Ruth remembers that at first there wasn’t enough books to fill it but it soon became very cramped.

Finally, in 2008 with the completion of the new building on Manaia Road, the library finally found its new forever home.

Today our lovely library continues to evolve, providing us with that all-important reading matter and all manner for children, a wonderful learning space with its after-school programmes.

Photo: We think this is the old original library / reading room by the wharf. If anyone knows anything different, please let us know.

References: Bennett. F (1986) Tairua. pp 59, 88,165. Arrow Press, Morrinsville, NZ.

Rushforth. D. (2011) Tales of Tairua in Ruth Tomlin. pp 48. Moth Publications, Tairua.

If anyone has any information or photos of the library before 1972, the Heritage Centre would be most grateful.

📜Stay tuned - Next week it’s a visit to the post office.

Follow our Tairua Heritage Society page as we continue sharing the stories that shape Tairua. Visit us at our Tairua Heritage Society Centre at 223 Main Road, Tairua and experience our history for yourself - we’d love to welcome you!

09/06/2026

All the best children's books from Aotearoa, as selected by an esteemed panel of judges.

08/06/2026

UPDATE 10/6/26: Ka pai, Tairua and Thames! Our workshops at Thames Library and Tairua Library are now full. Get in touch if you'd like to be added to our waiting list. We still have space in the workshop in Whitianga.

---

We're looking forward to celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year!✨
Book in now for our flax weaving workshops with Sally, at all three of our district libraries in June and July.

08/06/2026

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤

Help shape the future of local government on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Government has asked councils to consider reform options — and we want to hear from our community to inform our choices…

Survey open: now until 15 June

Your feedback will help shape the options for the future of local government in the Thames-Coromandel district.

Mayor Peter Revell says:
“Time is short, but that makes it even more important that we hear from our communities now.”

Head to www.tcdc.govt.nz/localgovernmentreforms to make sure your voice is heard.

07/06/2026

Winter's really setting in here on the Coromandel! Stay cosy at your local library this week and take part in one of our awesome free events.

Read more here: https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Facilities-and-Recreation/Libraries/Whats-On

05/06/2026

Turned 18 recently? Make sure you’re enrolled and ready to have your say in the 2026 General Election!

It only takes 5 minutes to enrol online at vote.nz/enrol. All you need is your NZ passport or driver licence, or a RealMe verified identity.

You can also enrol without ID by completing an enrolment form online - you can have it emailed or posted for you to sign and return.

If you’re still 17, you can complete an enrolment form now and we’ll enrol you on your 18th birthday so you’re ready to vote!

Find out more at vote.nz

02/06/2026

31/05/2026

Happy long weekend! Our libraries are closed today.

We'll be back tomorrow with our regular free events. Be sure to explore our website to read more about what's coming up: https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Facilities-and-Recreation/Libraries/Whats-On

29/05/2026

Don't forget, our libraries will be closed on Monday for King's Birthday. There's still time to whip in for some last-minute weekend reading, as we're open as usual on Saturday morning.