Libraries Offered Funding Reprieve After Public Outcry

Thursday, 4 July 2024, 2:30 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Unplanned library closures and reduced hours could soon be over in South Wairarapa after extra funds were allocated in the council's Enhanced Annual Plan.

Last July, opening hours were abruptly cut after a South Wairarapa District Council (SWDC) decided not to approve funding of $165k for casual library staff in its annual budget.

The controversial decision resulted in reduced library hours in Featherston, Greytown, and Martinborough, which was met with public criticism and sparked an internal review.

Prior to last year’s Annual Plan decision, SWDC had alleviated staffing pressures with central government funding, but this had ended.

In its 2024-25 Enhanced Annual Plan, which was adopted last week, the council has included funding to employ one full-time and two part-time library assistant roles for the Wairarapa Library Service.

This will enable all three South Wairarapa libraries to be open 5.5 days a week.

Currently, Featherston Library is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Martinborough and Greytown are closed on Thursdays and Sundays.

The libraries have also been forced to close for several days due to staff shortages over the past year.

South Wairarapa councillor Rebecca Gray said the library service was fantastic and was pleased councillors had approved a plan that reinstated a level of funding that would align with the community’s expectations.

“Last year, we were in a position of trying to approve an annual plan that came with some very uncomfortable rates rises so we were trying to think of as many ways as possible to reduce that rates impact on people," she said.

"There’s only so many things you can cut. One of the things that was presented to us was an option to decrease the funding for casual staff for libraries, which we did unfortunately.

"With the consequences of that, we engaged with the community, we tried to work with what we had to get the most service across the three towns that we could.

"There’s only so many ways you can shuffle the cards."

She said feedback from the community had shown there was “a strong love for the libraries” which “made it an easy decision this time that we would fund it as much as we could”.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

© Scoop Media

Local Democracy Reporting

Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.