Whangarei District Libraries

18/06/2026

Mystery from the Archive!
Recognise this church? Could that be the Western Hills in the background?
This relatively simple church, most likely built in the late 1800s, features decorative elements of the Gothic Revival style fashionable in Victorian Britain at the time. Its pointed-arch doorway, narrow lancet windows, and ornate pinnacles on either side of the façade reflect this influence. These features were adapted to our local environment, constructed in readily available timber rather than traditional stone—a style often referred to as Carpenter Gothic.

Comment below if you can shed any light on our mystery photo!

11/06/2026

⛪ 'Pompallier: Man on a Mission' by Adam Cutforth ⛪

In the newest installment of our Heritage Talk series, Adam Cutforth takes us on Jean-Baptiste Pompallier's remarkable posthumous journey from his hometown in France back to the Hokianga.

You can watch previous recordings of our Heritage Talk series on the Whangarei District Libraries' YouTube channel.

Recording of a presentation as a part of the Heritage Talk Series h...

10/06/2026

Mana Wāhine Talks is a special speaker series creating space for the mana of wāhine to shine through whakapapa, storytelling and lived experience as part of the Puanga Matariki Festival.

Don’t miss these inspiring upcoming talks at Te Puawānanga, Whangārei Central Library:

Mana Wāhine Talks - Sergeant Elyse Lewis
📅 Thursday, 25 June 2026
⏰10.00am to 11.00am
Hear from Sergeant Elyse Lewis as she shares her journey, experiences and insights in a powerful kōrero celebrating wāhine leadership and resilience.

Mana Wāhine Talks - Janet Hetaraka, Dr Maia Hetaraka, Aorangi Hetaraka, Kahikatea and Kōkōwai
📅 Thursday, 2 July 2026
⏰10.00am to 11.00am
Join an incredible line-up of guest speakers for a meaningful conversation grounded in whānau, identity, creativity and mātauranga Māori. This special session will bring together intergenerational perspectives and lived experiences in a celebration of connection and community.

Both talks are free to attend, no registration required. Nau mai, haere mai 💫

09/06/2026

✨ Celebrate at the library ✨

Here’s some insight into upcoming Puanga Matariki events at the library. These community events embody the meaning of the season which is a time for connection, reflection and remembrance.

The events happening in Te Puawānanga at Whangārei Central Library are listed on our website here: https://shorturl.at/iqaTh

04/06/2026

📚🎧 The Shelf: the Whangarei District Libraries' podcast 🎧📚

Tune into the latest episode of The Shelf, in which your librarian co-hosts chat about their current reads, reflect on the Kings Birthday holiday and a close encounter with royalty, play part of Adam Cutforth's Heritage Talk "Pompallier: Man on a Mission", and we interview one of the newest members of our library team!

The Shelf is supported by the awesome team at Radio and ONEONESIX.

In this episode your hosts Eddie and Karlie...• Discuss what we'v...

01/06/2026

☀️🎵👧🏽 Preschool Funtimes 👶🏻🎵☀️

Kia ora, parents and grandies! You’re welcome to bring your preschool aged tamariki to our Funtime sessions which are held weekly during school terms. There’s music, dancing, stories and lots of giggling. It’s great for the kids (literacy, socialisation, coordination skills) and also the parents… because who doesn’t enjoy a little mid-morning boogie? Certainly not the big kids featured in this video!

🎵 Sing out in the comments if you’re in our Funtime family!

[All children attending these sessions must be accompanied by an adult.]

All the info is on our website:
https://www.wdc.govt.nz/library/Visit/Tamariki-children/Preschool-Funtimes

29/05/2026

👑 King's Birthday: Monday 1 June 👑

A reminder that all of our library branches will be closed on Monday 1 June in observance of The King's Birthday public holiday.

Some helpful hints:
▪️Our external chutes will remain open for book returns
▪️You can access our digital library 24/7 to read eBooks, listen to eAudiobooks, stream movies, and more. Follow the instructions on our website here: https://shorturl.at/rlDIa

26/05/2026

📖🎧 The Shelf: the Whangarei District Libraries podcast 🎧📖

In the latest episode of The Shelf, your librarian co-hosts chat about...
What we've been reading, the Mobile Library service, how we celebrated , and the ways that libraries empower patrons by encouraging lifelong learning.

Thanks to our friends at Beagle Radio and for supporting our show.

In this episode your hosts Andy and Melani chat about... • What we've been reading• He Huarahi Hakamōhio | The Mobile Library • How we're celebrating Youth W...

21/05/2026

📚🤩 Check out our Teen Space 🤩📚

Clock it, Fam. Rangatahi have their own space at Whangārei Central Library. It has all sorts of books, a dedicated study space, and comfy seats to chill out on. It’s an area especially for tweens and teens to learn, create and hang out.

*** This video is what happens when millennial librarians make content for Gen Z 🤭😅🤣