Kaikohe's long-awaited community hub and library opens its doors

A community hub and library 15 years in the making is opening its doors in Kaikohe today.

The idea of a purpose-built civic hub on the town's main street was first mooted by the Far North District Council in 2011.

After many changes and permutations, it has evolved into the $14.6m building due to open at dawn at the corner of Broadway and Raihara Street.

The hub, which will be formally named by local hapū, will incorporate a council service centre, library, creative space for tamariki, meeting rooms, a gaming room, pop-up recording studio and café.

Designers including Kaikohe studio Ākau developed the plans based on input from hapū, schools and the community.

It was built by Far North firm Henwood Construction, three-quarters of whose employees live in Kaikohe, after a tender process led by council-owned company Far North Holdings.

The old Kaikohe service centre, at the council chambers on Memorial Drive, will remain open until 5pm on Monday.

From Tuesday all face-to-face council enquiries, such as paying for dog registration or rates, will take place at the new hub.

The project has evolved significantly over the years.

Originally the hub was planned to be built on the former Kaikohe Hotel site by a partnership comprising Te Rūnanga-ā-iwi o Ngāpuhi, the council and Far North Holdings.

At that point it was set to include new council offices and a museum, with a price tag of around $20m.

The council planned to contribute $11.8m, with the balance from grants and other sources.

The Kaikohe Hotel, which hosted Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 but later slid into decline, was demolished in 2014.

Later, the plans were scaled back and the council opted to build the hub on the neighbouring site instead, buying the corner property occupied by Petersen Motors and a second-hand clothes store in 2020. By that time the budget was around $11m.

Construction started in August 2025.

Completion of the complex means all four of the Far North's main population centres now have a community hub bringing together library and council services.

Kaitāia's Te Ahu Centre, which incorporates a library, information centre, museum, cinema, cafe and community hall, opened in 2012.

Te Hononga in Kawakawa houses a library, Hundertwasser museum, gallery, council service centre and freedom camping facilities. It opened in 2020.

Kerikeri's Procter Library was built in 2004 and largely funded by the Procter family. It gained a council service centre, previously located in rented premises in the John Butler Centre, in 2025.

The former Kaikohe Library, at nearby Marino Place, closed at the end of October. The council is still considering what to do with the building.

Celebrations at the new Kaikohe Library and Community Hub are due to start at 5.30am on Monday, 9 November, with a formal blessing and ceremony, followed by guided tours, community activities, kai, entertainment and tamariki-friendly activities. The library and hub will officially open for business from 2pm.