Rolleston 'library' name discussion delayed till May

Rolleston residents battling to have the word ‘library’ included in Te Ara Ātea signage are disappointed Selwyn district councillors have not discussed the issue this month as planned.

Rolleston Residents Association members have been fighting to have the word included since they first approached district council staff in June last year.

After staff declined their request, they went to district councillors directly, speaking in the public forum of the district council’s December meeting.

In response, district councillors decided they would address the issue, and ordered a staff report that would inform their discussion.

The name issue was a major talking point with Selwyn Times readers, with many voicing their opinions on whether ‘library’ should be added to Te Ara Ātea.

District council chief executive David Ward said at the December meeting he expected the report would be ready for the March meeting, which was held on March 8.

Rolleston Residents Association vice president Jens Christensen said he had been told prior to the March meeting that discussion had now been put off until the May 10 meeting “where it will be considered with the council’s bicultural and bilingual signage strategies.”

By this time it would be almost one year since the association first asked district council staff if ‘library’ could be included on the building and associated signage.

“It’s just unfortunate that that takes it out to five months since the issue was raised (at the public forum),” Christensen said.

“I think the council could have acted a lot quicker than that, to be honest.”

Ward confirmed the discussion had now been delayed to May, as the issue was to be considered alongside the district council’s bicultural and bilingual signage strategy, which was still being developed. The strategy, in draft form, would be presented at the May meeting.

“The strategy is considering the use of te reo Māori and English on council signage, including the scope of any proposed changes,” Ward said.

The Selwyn Times understands if the word ‘library’ was to be added to signage for Te Ara Ātea, it may also be added for the Whata Rau building to begin construction at Leeston next year.

Whata Rau will replace the current Leeston Library and Service Centre at a new site next to Leeston Reserve.

Whata Rau will be a library and multi-purpose facility with a community centre, council service centre, as well as arts, education, social and cultural spaces.

The district council reported in December the new name was gifted by Te Taumutu Rūnanga.

A district council spokeswoman said at the time there were no plans to rebuild or rename the district’s remaining two libraries at Darfield and Lincoln.