Welcome to Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre

The new library, pool and community facility currently under construction in Halswell at last has a name – Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre.

In a competition run from December 2014 – January 2015, Christchurch City Council received 162 valid suggestions from the public. A panel of Council staff and rūnanga sorted through the entries and selected six finalists, which were voted on by the public from 26 January – 8 February. After 766 votes, three choices – All’s Well Centre, Halswell Centre and Halswell Manawa – were neck and neck.

“Halswell Centre had the slight lead on the others, and that’s what was put to the Riccarton–Wigram Community Board for a decision,” says Sarah Numan, Customer Services and Online Channels Unit Manager.

“You can’t really go wrong with the choice – Halswell Centre tells you everything you need to know and reflects the hub nature of the facility, and Te Hāpua adds a bit of poetry and gives it some local character.”

Throughout the naming process, the Council consulted with Mahaanui Kurataiao Ltd (MKT) and the two local rūnanga on a te reo Māori name for the facility to complement the competition name and suggest the local area. The name Te Hāpua has been proposed, giving reference to the flow of water from the pool, with a subtle reference to Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora) which is often known as Hāpua and is of great cultural importance to local iwi.

Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre incorporates the existing Halswell Aquatic Centre alongside a 3000 square metre building housing the new library, customer service desk and multipurpose spaces. The complex, fronting onto Halswell Road, will create a hub for the rapidly-growing Halswell community. Work on the 3050 square-metre centre (1800 square-metre library, 1000 square-metre community facility and 250 square-metre pool office/changing room areas) started on 14 July 2014 and the opening is scheduled for November 2015.

For more information, please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/TeHapua

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