The Tawa Anchor Project: A Bold Vision for a New Community Hub
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- Jul 7
- 5 min read
Tawa is once again showing how strong community leadership and partnership with Wellington City Council (WCC) can shape a better future for everyone. The Tawa Anchor Project is a new community-led initiative and aims to redevelop two of Tawa’s key community assets: the Mervyn Kemp Library and the Tawa Community Centre.
The Tawa Community Board, the Tawa Business Group, and the Tawa Residents’ Association are teaming up with WCC and propose that both facilities be combined under one roof into a brand-new, purpose-built community hub. The proposed facility would be built on the current community centre site at 5 Cambridge Street, a location well placed in the heart of Tawa.
“We really appreciate the work Council staff are doing alongside local residents to look at options for a new facility that will meet Tawa’s needs both now and into the future,” said Tawa Community Board Chair, Jill Day. “Our current library and community centre are always buzzing with activity, and this project is a chance to create something that brings long-term benefits and makes Tawa an even better place to live and raise a family.”
Why Now?
Tawa’s current community facilities have been well-used for many years, but they are showing their age. The community centre, first built in 1953 to house the former Tawa Borough Council and updated in 1991, now has serious weather-tightness problems. The space still retains its original Council-era configuration and struggles to meet the diverse and growing needs of today's users.
Meanwhile, the Mervyn Kemp library, which opened in 1974, is also too small to keep up with growing demand, especially as more people work from home and use the space during the day. When the library first opened, Tawa’s population was around 10,300 and has grown by more than 50% to over 15,800 in 2024, and it is expected to keep growing in the years ahead. However, the current community buildings cannot keep up with the demand for spaces that are modern, welcoming, and easy for everyone to use.
Community Spaces Under Pressure
The Tawa Community Centre currently supports a wide range of community and Council activities, including:
Playgroups and school holiday programmes, including Lego days and movie afternoons.
Support services, from Poverty Free Aotearoa, JP services and soup kitchen. Receiving weekly food donations from Kiwi Community Assistance, Salvation Army and Kai Ika.
Cultural and hobby groups, including crafts, music, and table tennis.
Jigsaw puzzle library, with the largest selection of puzzles in the Wellington region.
Community meetings hosted by the Tawa Community Board and local organisations.
Civil Defence support functions, including selling 200L emergency water tanks.
Recycling and e-waste collection point
The centre hosts nearly 80,000 people a year (that’s over 300 per day) and would happily accommodate more if there were a more flexible layout and more up-to-date amenities.
The library is equally stretched. With the rise in remote and hybrid working (up to 20% in 2025 compared to 7% in 2018), residents increasingly rely on it not just for books, but for:
Free Wi-Fi and workspaces
After-school activities and literacy, and STEM programmes
Access to printers, computers, and digital support
In the six months to April 2025, the library received nearly 34,000 visitors (around 270 per day), issued over 57,000 items and ran regular programmes for pre-schoolers, school children and adults. Staff frequently field requests for meeting rooms, study spaces, and digital learning support - services that are limited by space.
The Vision for the Future
The Tawa Anchor Project seeks to deliver a purpose-built facility that meets these diverse and growing demands - one that reflects the community’s values and is adaptable for generations to come.
The Tawa Anchor Project is being led by the Tawa Business Group, Tawa Community Board and Tawa Residents Association, who are working together to plan for the future. This is a chance to create a shared space, like a living room of the community, that reflects Tawa’s identity, brings people together, and makes it easier for everyone to access community and recreation services in one place.
Like any great living room, it's a space for learning, sharing stories, and building relationships. It's where generations meet, cultures mix, ideas spark, and neighbours become friends. Thoughtfully designed with cozy reading nooks, flexible gathering spaces, and vibrant areas for creativity and play, it would allow for:
Co-located services to reduce duplication and improve access.
Flexible rooms for community hire, events, and classes.
Improved accessibility and safety for all users, especially people with disabilities and older adults.
Integrated, energy-efficient technology for digital learning, meetings, and work.
Local Economic and Civic Benefits
The benefits extend beyond the building itself. “Investing in a modern, integrated community facility is also an investment in Tawa’s economic future,” said Gary Denton, chair of the Tawa Business Group. “A well-designed hub will bring people into the town centre, support local businesses, and help create the kind of vibrant, attractive environment that encourages long-term economic growth.”
The redevelopment will also enable the Council to repurpose the current library site, unlocking further opportunities for local benefit and potentially offsetting some of the development costs for the new centre.
Strong Political and Community Support for the Tawa Anchor Project
The Tawa community is pleased to see strong political support for the project, including from mayoral candidate Andrew Little and Northern Ward Councillors Ben McNulty, Tony Randle, and John Apanowicz. Their endorsement reflects a shared recognition of the urgent need to invest in locally driven, future-focused infrastructure and ensure genuine partnership with local voices.
Working with our Northern Ward Councillors, the Community Board, Residents’ Association, and Business Group are actively exploring next steps and seeking initial investment to maintain project momentum.
Anchoring the Future
The Tawa Anchor Project aims to create a modern, multi-use community hub that brings together the Mervyn Kemp Library and the Tawa Community Centre under one roof. This purpose-built facility would respond to Tawa’s growing and diverse needs by offering flexible, accessible, and digitally enabled spaces for learning, community activities, and essential services.
“As its name suggests, the Tawa Anchor Project is about creating a central, connected space that anchors the community — socially, culturally, and physically — for generations to come,” says Tony Hassed, local Tawa Resident.
Stay connected, stay involved. You can learn more about the project or share your thoughts by contacting:
Jill Day, Chair of the Tawa Community Board, at jill.day@wcc.govt.nz or
Bernadette Pallister, BID manager of the Tawa Business Group at info@tawabusiness.co.nz.