A new use for the old library

Kaitaia's old library is to be leased as a bilingual early childhood centre, while the former museum will be split between a foodbank, a people's centre and museum storage.

When the $14 million Te Ahu Centre opened earlier this year it created a single civic complex combining the library, i-Site, community hall, theatre, museum and council service centre. A key part of the business plan was that the vacated buildings would be sold or leased at market rates.

The first four leases were approved at a Far North District Council meeting last week, with the former library on Melba St leased to Te Whare Reo Rua o Kaitaia for nine years as a bilingual early childhood centre.

Five expressions of interest were received for the building, but Te Whare Reo Rua's was the only one which met all criteria (which included that it had to be used for health or educational purposes). The lease is for three years at an initial $15,600, with two three-year rights of renewal. The tenant has to meet the cost of bringing the building up to Ministry of Education standards.

The former Far North Regional Museum on South Road, a stone's throw from Te Ahu, has been split up to make it easier to find tenants.

Far North Foodbank Trust will occupy space at the rear, which will be fitted out with a small kitchen, while the Kaitaia People Centre Nga Hoa Awhina will use the front. Their leases, for six and nine years respectively, will also be at commercial rates.

The only controversy was around leasing the remainder of the building to Far North Museum Trust as a storage area for parts of the collection not on display.

That lease was initially to have been at 50 per cent of the market rate, rising later to the full rate.

Cr Monty Knight, however, was concerned the deal was too hard on the museum.

He doubted the trust could afford market rent, saying the collection belonged to the people of the Far North, and the museum could simply hand it to the council to look after if the terms were too harsh.

Mayor Wayne Brown reminded the meeting that Te Ahu's business plan hinged on achieving commercial returns on the surplus buildings, but museum trust chairman Phil Cross countered that retaining part of the old museum had always been part of the plan.

"We don't want to be put in a position where we're set up to fail. It is your collection, and we are looking after it on your behalf," he said.

Councillors resolved that part of the building be leased to the museum at a peppercorn rate, but the trust would cover costs such as water and power.

Mr Brown asked for a two-year rent review clause to put pressure on the museum to earn some money, but, as a Te Ahu trustee, abstained from voting.

The future of two other vacated buildings, the old council offices on Redan Road and the i-Site "lighthouse" on South Road, has yet to be determined.