Natalie Redwood, Friendship House secretary Linda Vanstone and Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai cut the cake while Friendship House chairman Neil Crowther watches on. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Natalie Redwood, Friendship House secretary Linda Vanstone and Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai cut the cake while Friendship House chairman Neil Crowther watches on. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Hikurangi Community Library has added another notch to the belt of the historical building it occupies, clocking up 25 years of serving the community.
A group of about 20 people including past and present volunteers, Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai and councillor Greg Martin gathered to mark the milestone.
Long-time committeemember and former Friendship House chairwoman Betty Fyfe spoke about the library's early days.
The building, which is listed as a heritage building, was the former Hikurangi Post Office which closed in 1992. Friendship House bought the building and started converting it into a library - an official opening was held on November 13, 1993.
"A lot of the books that we've got, that belong to us, we got from the Zonta book sale over the years," Fyfe said.
She said the volunteers who had run the library were "just paramount" and have contributed so much.
Those were thoughts echoed by current chairman Neil Crowther: "Without them we wouldn't have this library at all."
Hikurangi Community Library celebrated 25 years in the old Post Office. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Fyfe said Friendship House started around the mid-80s and was based in what is now the Hikurangi Museum but used to be the Hikurangi Town Council office. Then it moved into the old courthouse which is now also part of the museum but used to be along the road.
