News, what's new & more
Every month our team releases an eNewsletter that is published on our website, in it you will find the full list of events we have in all our libraries, some highlited blogs, new items, a kids colouring page and links to our online resources.
All our past month’s Newsletters are also available if you missed them:
October 2020
August 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
Recently we had to say goodbye to our Classic and Easyfind catalogues after many years of faithful service, and had an upgrade for remaining catalogue. Now that these changes are complete, we thought we’d introduce you properly to our sole remaining catalogue and the new features we gained with the latest update — as well as features that mirror well-loved functionality from our old catalogues.
To do this, we’ve created a Catalogue Quick Guide to get you started (below). It covers search options, how to check your account online, save your borrowing history, limit results by branch location and more.
Have a browse, and if there’s a feature you miss or would like help with, you can get in touch with us below:
Email us — enquiries@wcl.govt.nz
PDF version — Catalogue Guide (mobile/desktop)
If you use our catalogue on your mobile device, things look slightly different again. Here’s a special guide to the mobile version:
As ANZAC Day 2020 approaches, it is timely to revisit the life of William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse (Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Ruanui) and honour not just his distinction as the first Māori airman, but also as the first British airman to receive the award of Victoria Cross for his bravery in World War I.
Born in 1887 in Britain, Rhodes-Moorhouse and his siblings did not learn of their Māori ancestry, through his mother Mary Ann Rhodes, until 1908. Sadly, William Barnard died on 27 April 1915 after receiving horrific injuries during a successful bombing mission. However, his wife Linda, and son William Henry, followed in his footsteps and both developed a passion for flying and gained their pilot licenses in 1931.
William Barnard’s son, William Henry, joined the 601 “Millionaires” Squadron at the outbreak of World War II and received a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in July 1940. Sadly, he died later that year after being shot down over the English town of Tunbridge Wells.
Learn more about William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse, and his brave and fascinating family, in the document below. You will also find links to further articles, a film, and a documentary.
Whānau, friends and citizens of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, gathered on this year’s Waitangi Day at Whairepo, The Lagoon, in front of the Wharewaka to observe and participate in the re-dedication of the punga: anchor stone, sculpted by Ra Vincent, which formerly graced Civic Square.
Ra Vincent has blessed our city with four other public works.
“The Tenths Trust gifted twin 6.3-metre Pou Whenua (tribal boundary markers) designed by Te Atiawa sculptor Ra Vincent. The Pou Whenua stand as if on the former beach, symbolising upturned waka. The perimeter of the site is landscaped with plantings.”
(– From Wellington City Council)
The Waka Pou stands in Waitangi Park and commemorates migrations of Pacific Islands people and Europeans to New Zealand.
Read the full article here.
A brick sculpture was created in Vivian Street from bricks which once buried Waimapihi Stream. These bricks were uncovered during excavations of a culvert on the site of the planned Z petrol station. Check the full article with a photo here.
Ra and his father, Bodhi Vincent, have also created a mural in Taranaki Street, with help from young people:
“The design is based on kowhaiwhai patterns that emphasise the spirit of the building’s proximity to coastal waters, and Māori as kaitiaki (guardians) of the land.” (from Wellington City Council)
Mana Whenua of Te Whanganui-a-Tara are proud to claim Ra Vincent as one of their uri – firstly for his beautiful works around the city, but also for his inclusion in the latest Oscar nominations.
His incredible achievements have been chronicled in various websites from IMDB , his personal website, to articles (here, here and here) and so many more.
Congratulations, Ra, for your second nomination for the Academy Award for Best Production Design – (following on from 2012 The Hobbit : an unexpected journey) – such a very proud moment for your whānau and for our city and citizens as well.
Te Ngākau Civic Square will be transformed into a giant Outdoor Reading Room stocked with decommissioned library books that readers are free to take home.
The five-week-long celebration of books will be open from 10am to 3pm Wednesday to Saturday. The first scheduled day is Wednesday 12 February, the last day will be Saturday 14 March. All days are weather dependent.
The Civic Square’s artificial turf will be reconstructed into the Outdoor Reading Room using 24 bean bags, shelves of books, outdoor umbrellas, café style tables and chairs, stools and a large kids activity table. The furniture will be a mix or red, orange, yellow, green and blue, taking inspiration from the City Gallery’s Yayoi Kusama installation in 2009.
We have provided a stock of decommissioned library books which will be regularly replenished as readers find gems to take home.
Some book-related events will also be held at the Outdoor Reading Room. These include readings from local authors involved with the New Zealand Festival, and children’s reading sessions with Wellington City Libraries.
Free daily copies of The Dominion Post, back copies of Capital magazine, Salient student magazine, as well as crayons and colouring cards will also be available.
WellingtonNZ General Manager Anna Calver says the Outdoor Reading Room will help bring vibrancy back to Civic Square.
“We expect it to be popular with a wide range of people from parents taking their children and lunchtime workers, through to those missing the Central Library and visitors to Wellington.
“The Outdoor Reading Room is the perfect place to grab a book and relax in the heart of Wellington. It also provides the opportunity for booklovers to check out the nearby galleries, cafes and shops.”
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster says the Outdoor Reading Room is a very welcome event.
“Te Ngākau literally means the ‘heart’ and events like this keep the heartbeat of Civic Square alive. The Outdoor Reading Room will bring people back to the area to enjoy a novel pop-up library.
“Civic Square is an important location for people to mix and mingle and I know people are pining for the Central Library. We’ve worked hard on the three other city libraries and expect some decisions on the Central Library in coming months.
“But right now, all we have to do is hope Wellington’s weather is kind and then it’s time to slap on the sunscreen and get down to Te Ngākau Civic Square.”
The Te Ngākau Civic Square Outdoor Reading Room is a joint initiative between WellingtonNZ, Wellington City Council and Wellington City Libraries.
The event will be staffed by WellingtonNZ.
Wellington City Libraries present two sessions with Apirana Taylor, for school-age children, at He Matapihi Molesworth Library situated on the Ground Floor, National Library of New Zealand on Thursday 6 February as part of the Waitangi Day commemorations.
These two sessions will fall between the National Library’s two bilingual tours of He Tohu and will complement their programme.
Waitangi Day at He Tohu – ‘Walking backwards into the Future’
Waitangi Day at He Tohu is an opportunity for you and your whānau to see the Treaty of Waitangi.
Activities will include:
– whānau and bilingual He Tohu tours
– tours of National Library digitised collections
– a reading corner with books/ comics and other Treaty resources
– film from Nga Taonga Sound and Vision, and a
– kids’ craft table with Treaty-related activities to help the new generation walk backwards into the future.
