Students help restock Wellington’s Central Library again

More than 4000 books were moved to the earthquake strengthened Te Matapihi Central Library today by 50 students from the school, reminiscent of an effort in the 1940s when the same college helped after the library's council failed to budget for the library's relocation costs.

“When the previous library on the corner of Wakefield and Mercer streets closed, the council hadn’t allocated any funding to move the books,” said Wellington City Council’s principal creative producer Kirsten Mason. “So, when Rongotai College offered 500 boys to help, the offer was gratefully accepted.”

This effort made headlines at the time. The Evening Post reported in February 1940 that the boys worked in "great fun," and were given milk and biscuits in between.

Today's students have kept that spirit alive.

“It feels really good to know we’re remembering those boys back then,” said head prefect Leo Powdrell.

“Years from now, we’ll be remembered as the ones who did the same work.”

Some former Rongotai students also attended, including Henry Whitford Lee, who took half a day off work to be part of the "historic event," and Matt Eagle, who said he was "delighted to help get the library back up and running."

One of Wellington's most beloved public spaces, Te Matapihi, will reopen in March next year after extensive strengthening and renovation following the earthquake.

Mayor Andrew Little said it would be "a wonderful place, not only for books, but also a hub for digital interaction and community engagement."

More than 400,000 books will soon return to its shelves, and the library's reopening will mark a new chapter for the capital, once again written with the help of Rongotai students.