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Otago Daily Times
23-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
‘Balance' sought in naming of South Dunedin library
Māori and English names could both feature at South Dunedin's new library complex — a move described by the mayor as bringing balance. The Dunedin City Council yesterday accepted Te Whata o Kaituna, the name gifted by mana whenua, for the overall building. Councillors at the civic affairs committee meeting also put forward South Dunedin Community Library as the preferred name for public consultation on the library component of the building. That suggestion came from Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, who said it was simple and brought an ideal balance between Māori and English. Council staff are to report back next month regarding consultation on the name for the library. Mr Radich likened the situation to the national anthem, which he said featured not precisely the same word meanings between two languages, but was sung to the same tune. "Here we have this one building and two different names that actually mean different things, but they're all about the same tune." Cr Bill Acklin said Te Whata o Kaituna captured the "flavour" of the building while the library naming would note the largest function within it. He observed "people got a bit concerned" previously about the absence of English in the naming of Mosgiel's Te Puna o Whakaehu swimming pool complex. "I think we've got the balance right here," he said. Cr Acklin added the Mosgiel pool name was not confusing, as could be demonstrated by anyone using Google Maps. Cr Carmen Houlahan said the council's resolutions about the library were a good compromise. The two resolutions — recommending the South Dunedin Community Library label for public consultation and accepting Te Whata o Kaituna as the building's name overall — were voted on together and passed 13-1. Cr Brent Weatherall voted against, saying naming the library separately from the building "complicates the whole situation". Noting whata described an elevated structure used to store kai, Cr Weatherall said "well, we're storing books here". Cr Sophie Barker said Te Whata o Kaituna could be translated loosely as "a store room of nourishment for the heart and soul". The paper given to councillors was presented as being "for noting" after a Te Pae Māori committee meeting, including that the building's name would be Te Whata o Kaituna. Cr Lee Vandervis pointed out an apparent problem with this — the committee was not a decision-making body and staff could not be "directed" by it. The council changed the wording to show it accepted the name given by mana whenua.
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Mana whenua name for South Dunedin library revealed
Mana whenua have given South Dunedin's new library complex a name reflecting the area's historic links to traditional knowledge. The building complex, which houses the new South Dunedin Library, will be called Te Whata o Kaituna. In a report for next week's civic affairs committee meeting, Dunedin City Council (DCC) acting corporate policy manager Nadia Wesley-Smith said the name referenced the area's former abundance in mahika kai (traditional food gathering and the places it occurs). In the past, South Dunedin was an estuary "abundant with shellfish, fish, birds and other wildlife". Whata describes an elevated structure used to store kai. "[The name] recognises traditional knowledge systems used in cultural practices, and today, the knowledge held within the library structure for the community to access," Ms Wesley-Smith said. At December's Te Pae Māori meeting, the council and mana whenua partnership forum, mana whenua formally gifted the name to the South Dunedin library and community complex. At March's meeting, it was proposed the building complex be named Te Whata o Kaituna, and the library housed within have a separate name. "The naming of the building demonstrates the application of Te Taki Haruru [the council's Māori strategic framework], the expression of the DCC's commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi," she said. Artwork on the library's outside depicted tuna (eels), acknowledging the history and culture of South Dunedin, Ms Wesley-Smith said. "There has been some discussion in the community around the option of naming the building after a previous Dunedin City councillor and library advocate, however both staff and mana whenua have since engaged with the family who have confirmed they do not wish for the building to be named thus. " In November, councillors voted 6-4 to lease the upper floor of the complex at commercial rates, rather than reserve some space for community organisations at a cheaper rental, a decision which outraged the organisations. A notice of motion from Cr Carmen Houlahan to overturn the decision was lost 7-5 in April. At Tuesday's infrastructure services committee, property services group manager Anna Nilsen said an opening date for the complex had not been confirmed. It had been expected to open by mid-year, but the project was forecast to run into September, Ms Nilsen said. "We're just trying to see if we can speed that programme up and gain any ground between now and then." — APL
