Avondale's new library, community hub and upgraded town square Te Hono
2018 - TBC
- Avondale
- In Progress
- Urban regeneration
- Mana Whenua
This new, modern and lively community hub will include a library and offer flexible spaces for gathering, learning, creating, while celebrating Avondale's diverse culture.
With versatile indoor and outdoor areas, Te Hono will cater to a wide range of community events and activities. It’s part of our vision to create a vibrant, connected hear for Avondale, setting it up for the future.
Overview
Te Hono, Avondale’s new library, community hub, and upgraded town square, is a joint project between Auckland Council and Eke Panuku in partnership with mana whenua. While Auckland Council is focused on constructing the building (library and community hub), Eke Panuku will enhance the town square and surrounding outdoor areas. Together, we're committed to creating an inclusive hub that serves as a focal point for both locals and visitors.
Strong, future-focused communities need high quality local services to support growth, attract investment and support the local economy, and Te Hono will play an important role in ensuring this happens in Avondale.
Project vision
Te Hono is set to become the vibrant heart of Avondale, uniquely reflecting the area's identity through a thoughtfully integrated, multi-purpose community hub and upgraded town square. The design emphasizes community activation, supporting a wide range services and activities.
Celebrating the significance of mana whenua and Avondale’s rich cultural landscapes, Te Hono will be a place for learning, creativity, and meaningful social interaction, while also complementing and energising the Avondale town centre.
Key features
The updated design for Te Hono reflects the project vision and outlines the hub’s key features and functions, while remaining aligned to the project’s original design brief of providing:
- Pātaka Kōrero / Library space, including Wai Tuhura (tamariki/children space)
- Te Whakatōpū / Community hall
- Te Pou / Street-level Community room
- Huimanga / Reserve-level community room
- Te Rauora / Community kitchen
- Messy creative space
- Parenting room
- Toilets and showers
- Spaces for the Citizen Advice Bureau and Plunket
- Staff work spaces and storage spaces
- Kitchenettes
* Bookable meeting rooms include the community hall, community room, street and reserve level spaces, and small meeting room spaces.
To find out more about the design, click here.
Next steps
We're getting closer to starting construction on Te Hono...
But before we can get underway, there will be some changes required in the town centre...
- Building deconstruction and parking changes: In early November 2024, we’ll say goodbye to the row of buildings at 1971-1987 Great North Road to make space for Te Hono. Fencing will be installed around the site, so parking won’t be available here, but you can still park at 6 Racecourse Parade.
- Access changes to Avondale Central Reserve: From November, access from Great North Road won’t be available and the netball courts will be temporarily closed. The recently replaced basketball hoops and learn-to-ride area will remain open, with access via the car park at 28 Racecourse Parade.
- Access to 6 Racecourse Parade car park: Access from Great North Road into 6 Racecourse Parade (the old ‘3 Guys’ site) will be closed. You will be able to enter and exit from Racecourse Parade.
- Playground update: The Avondale Central Reserve playground was removed in August, but a temporary nature play area will be installed near the basketball court, in time for summer!
- Public toilet to be removed: The public toilet needs to be removed so that Vector can relocate power cables. A new toilet block will be installed in a central town centre location.
- Dale the spider: The distinctive spider statue that has graced Avondale's town centre for more than twenty years has been removed so that construction on Te Hono can start. The statue is safely in storage while its owner, the Avondale Business Association, progresses plans for its repair and restoration. You can read about the business association's plans, including for Dale, in its latest magazine.
What’s in a name?
Te Hono, meaning "the connection," perfectly encapsulates its role in the community—offering ways to connect place, people, and purpose. The name was gifted by mana whenua representatives from Te Kawerau ā Maki and is supported by Te Ākitai Waiohua, Ngāti Te Ata, and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
A key role in urban regeneration
Te Hono is a cornerstone of the Eke Panuku Avondale urban regeneration programme, which aims to breathe new life into Avondale and ensure the neighbourhood is resilient and can support a strong community. Through this project, we’re working to make the town centre a more vibrant and welcoming place, with better-quality housing, improved public spaces, and enhanced connectivity.
Background
- The need for a new Avondale Library and Community Hub was identified in the Central West Community Needs Assessment and facilities investigation conducted in 2016. The chosen location, which includes the row of shops at 1971-1987 Great North Road, Avondale, was approved by the Whau Local Board. This site offers the best long-term outcomes for the community, allowing the new facility to be seamlessly integrated with an upgraded town square.
- Te Hono is set to become the vibrant heart of Avondale, reflecting the area's unique identity through a thoughtfully integrated multi-purpose community hub, and upgraded town square. The design brief vision includes encouraging community ownership and activation, supporting the delivery of responsive programmes, services, and activities, and creating a flexible, multi-purpose facility that brings community together.
- Celebrating the significance of mana whenua and Avondale’s cultural landscapes, the hub will be a place for learning, creativity, and meaningful social interaction, while also complementing and energising the Avondale town centre.
- Centrally located in the town centre, Te Hono will feature modern library spaces and versatile multi-use areas that can host a variety of community events, both indoors and outdoors. The concept plan, which was approved by the Whau Local Board in June 2021 following public consultation, ensures that the hub meets the needs and aspirations of the Avondale community. For more information, click here.
- In 2022, 30 additional parking spaces were built to support access to Te Hono, ensuring that locals and visitors can easily attend services and events at the hub.
- The approval of the concept plan allowed for the development of a preliminary design, which was adopted by the Whau Local Board in September 2023. This design reflects the community’s input and outlines the hub’s key features and functions. More information on the design detail and history can be found here.
- In September 2023, Auckland Council voted to reallocate $15 million from the planned Whau Aquatic and Recreation Centre development budget to secure the future of Te Hono, underscoring the project’s importance to the Avondale community.
Key timeline
Location of Te Hono approved by Whau Local Board
December 2018
Other projects in Avondale
- Avondale
- Complete
28 Racecourse Parade Car Park
15/05/2022 - 15/08/2022
- Avondale
- Complete
Crayford Street West upgrades
28/02/2022 - 22/07/2022