Happy holidays from the Ōmōkihi team! 

This time next year, you'll have a shiny new present for Christmas – Ōmōkihi will be ready to open. This year, we can wish you a very happy holiday season, and give you a bit of an update on where we're at, what's coming up, and what our teams are up to.

On the twelfth day of Ōmōkihi, the Council gave to me:

• 3000 square metres of concrete foundation.
• 69% waste diverted from landfill.
• One membrane roofing.
• One steel frame.
• ... and a whole lot of timber framing.

What a difference seven months makes: Ōmōkihi in December (above) and in May (below).

What can we expect in 2026?

Cook Brothers Construction will be working flat tack throughout the year to make our expected December open date. Over the next 12 months, you'll start to see the frame of the facility fill out piece by piece – walls, windows, and the glass lantern ceiling that will let all the sun in. We'll also be fitting out the bits you can't see, like electrical and drainage. 

Giving back to the community

With the beloved South Library services now relocated, our contractors are going above and beyond to give back to the local community while they wait patiently for Ōmōkihi to open. In the last year, Cook Brothers Construction has:

• Refurbished and upgraded the mud kitchen at the Pebbles Montessori preschool.
• Provided two carpenters to help build a chicken coop at Cashmere Primary School.
• Built a leafcutter bee home at Thorrington Primary School to support local biodiversity.
• Built a chicken coop at Beckenham School with sponsorship from Mitre 10.

What the Council teams are up to...

Despite the closure of South, the Libraries team is as busy as ever filling the gap. They're getting wonderful feedback about the temporary South Colombo pop-up library – people love the way the space is being used, and we're seeing just as many preschoolers enjoying our programming as we had at the old building. At nearby Spreydon Library, foot traffic has doubled since South closed. And finally, South Mobile at the South Christchurch Farmers' Market is a hit! Every fortnight, visitors enjoy books, magazines, and outdoor games for families. 

The Beckenham Customer Services Hub team wishes you all a happy holiday season from their temporary home at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre. They're looking forward to seeing you all again in their new home.

The Governance team, which looks after your local community board and hosts all the meetings where the decisions get made, is working hard to make sure the new board room, activity room and meeting rooms all function well when Ōmōkihi opens.

Get in touch and stay updated

Check here for background information on the Ōmōkihi project. If you know anyone who's interested in the project, they can sign up to this newsletter there too.

Email southlibraryproject@ccc.govt.nz if you have any questions.

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It's easy to talk to us – follow us on Facebook, call 941 8999, or talk to your Community Board members.