Tokoroa Library Refurbishment Project

The Tokoroa Public Library in Mannering Street is undergoing a major refurbishment to improve the building and to enhance facilities that the larger community can use.

Structural improvements

The most significant improvement is a watertight building! The refurbishment project also includes replacing the wall cladding and roof repairs to address issues with waterproofing, moisture and mould.

The building will get a seismic upgrade and other structural changes that will make the facility more energy efficient and cut operational costs, including:

• Double-glazed windows to increase thermal insulation
• An upgraded HVAC system
• A switch to LED lights that are more energy efficient and require less maintenance

Enhanced services

Once the refurbishment project is complete, the library will also have:

• A customer service desk for rates payments and more.
• A bookable community meeting room that can seat up to 20 people.
• A smaller private meeting room for confidential conversations with staff, Justices of the Peace (JPs), etc. The room can also be booked for an online hui, private lessons or smaller gatherings.
• A soundproof room that serves as a sensory room for neurodiverse members of the community and can also double up as a sound recording room.

The budget allocated to the upgrade project under the Long Term Plan is $2M, and is expected to be completed within this, allowing for contingencies.

The building requires urgent repairs to address ongoing waterproofing issues. This is also a valuable opportunity to carry out a much-needed upgrade of the library facilities so we can better meet the needs of our growing and diverse community.

The refurbishment will make Tokoroa Library more energy efficient, cheaper to run and easier to maintain.

Work on the Library building began in September 2025. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2026. We will be updating the public regularly on the progress.

In the meanwhile, all current services can be accessed at our temporary library in Leith Place.

All library services will continue at our temporary library at Leith Place. There is no reduction of service and you can still borrow and return books and other resources, use the internet and book a librarian at the Leith Place library. All club and community activities as well as JP services are currently running out of the Leith Place library.

Yes! We’re planning a reopening celebration to welcome the community back into the upgraded space. We’ll share updates and the official reopening date on:

• The South Waikato District Council and Library websites
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram)

The months following the closure were used for design by the architect and structural engineer and consenting process. There were also inspections done to see the effect of dampness on the timber, and assessment of the work required.

This was followed by the tender process which resulted in the contract being awarded to Brunel Group.

Our contractors have been hard at work since late last year. You can follow the link on the top of this page to see the latest update and photos of the work completed.

You can:

• Follow us on social media
• Check our website for regular updates
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Read notices at the library or local community centres

There will also be Progress Boards at the site and at Leith Place that will update the public of where we are at with the works.