Ōmōkihi - Opening 3pm Tuesday 1 December 2026
66 Colombo Street
Cashmere
Christchurch 8022
Ōmōkihi – connecting the building back to its riverside site
The name Ōmōkihi has been given to Christchurch City Council by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and is consistent with the traditional practice of whakahaumanu te papatupu | restoring the customary title to the land beneath the building. Read more: Connecting South Library back to its history Newsline, 13 February 2024
South Colombo Library now closed and Spreydon Library normal hours have resumed
South Colombo Library at The Colombo, 363 Colombo Street, has now closed.
Spreydon Library has resumed its normal hours (Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm, Sunday closed)
All holds to pick up at South Colombo have been sent to Tūranga.
Ōmōkihi’s next chapter starts 1 December
Christchurch City Council has been rebuilding the earthquake-damaged South Library and Customer Service Hub building, Te Kete Wānanga o wai Mōkihi, since August 2025.
“Construction has gone really smoothly, and our contractors are finishing up their work and handing over the keys today,” says Council Head of Libraries and Information Erica Rankin.
Ōmōkihi features an Auahatanga Creative Space, bookable meeting rooms, a Council customer services hub, a café, study nooks, and an exhibition area. The Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board also operate from Ōmōkihi.
Council Libraries and customer service staff will spend around a month setting up the site before doors open.
“We have around 43,000 library items to migrate back to Ōmōkihi, including 12,000 from our temporary library at the Colombo. On top of that is all the IT equipment, library resources, and furniture that need to be set up and tested,” says Ms Rankin.
A range of temporary “pop up” facilities were set up to serve the community during the rebuild. Starting in early November, these will start to close, and staff will transition back to Ōmōkihi.
The South Colombo Library will permanently close at 4pm on Sunday 8 November.
“Once the South Colombo closes, we encourage everyone to visit our other libraries across the network to browse or return books, pick up holds or make use of our wonderful library resources,” says Ms Rankin.
Staff from the customer service hub at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre will shift back to Ōmōkihi on Wednesday 2 December.
“There’s quite a long to-do list, but the whole team is thrilled about Ōmōkihi’s next chapter getting underway.
“We’re busy behind the scenes planning a range of community activities and events to celebrate the reopening and look forward to sharing these details closer to the big day,” says Ms Rankin.
Key dates
30 October: Construction finishes at Ōmōkihi
8 November: The South Colombo Library closes
9 November: Spreydon Library returns to regular hours
1 December: Customer Service Hub at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre closes
1 December: Ōmōkihi officially opens at 3pm!
2 December: Regular library and customer service hours start:
- Ōmōkihi's opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm
- The Customer Service Hub is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
- The café opening hours are Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm
Ōmōkihi’s next chapter starts 1 December, Newsline, Friday 30 October 2026
Read the project page and sign up to the Ōmōkihi project newsletter
Ōmōkihi opening celebration: Saturday 5 December 10am to 3pm
Find out what's on during our special opening celebration
Ōmōkihi photos
Take a look at Ōmōkihi and its construction
Ōmōkihi timeline
Friday 28 August 2026
Here’s a sneak peek of how the redevelopment of Hunter Terrace north of Ōmōkihi will look. The project aims to improve the connection between Ōmōkihi and the river. The team is working on the pathway at the moment, with planting set to follow as we head into spring.
Tuesday 4 August 2026: Construction on track at Ōmōkihi
The worksite is humming with activity as Ōmōkihi starts to take shape.
We continue to make good progress with the rebuild, with the interior fit-out and installation of services coming along nicely. Landscaping and other exterior work has also picked up steam since our last update.
Behind the scenes, the Libraries team is busy planning the relocation from the temporary library at The Colombo shopping centre ahead of Ōmōkihi's reopening.
There are still a busy few months ahead of us, but we remain on track to welcome everyone back to Ōmōkihi before the end of the year.
Read the latest newsletter and see photos from site
Friday 30 July 2026: Construction on track at Ōmōkihi
The worksite is humming with activity as Ōmōkihi starts to take shape.
We continue to make good progress with the rebuild, with the interior fit-out and installation of services coming along nicely. Landscaping and other exterior work has also picked up steam since our last update.
Read more on Newsline.
Friday 29 May 2026: Books, laughter and coffee all in one place at Ōmōkihi café
Christchurch café owners Jan Kim and Jay Lee are bringing their famous scones to Beckenham’s Ōmōkihi.
Read more on Newsline.
Friday 24 April 2026: Update
The building is now enclosed and secure. Phase 1 (Western half) wall linings are now receiving their first coat of paint along with ceiling installation underway. Phase 2 (Eastern half) first fix is also moving rapidly towards completion, with wall linings now being installed. Landscaping activities have now commenced with the extension of the carpark into Hunter Tce underway, along with regrassing activities. Operational workstreams are actively being progressed.
Friday 13 March 2026: An update on Ōmōkihi!
Cook Brothers Construction has made quick progress this year: the 'first fix' for the western half of the building is complete, which means the windows, cables, plumbing and doorframes are all in and the plaster has gone up on the walls. Preparation for the landscaping is underway with soil arriving onsite in April.
Information from Ōmōkihi Project newsletter
February 2026: Site Manager Update
In Part A, first fix is now near complete and the roof is almost finished, sitting at 99%. Exterior cladding is also well underway, giving the building an increasingly finished look. Civil drainage remains on track to be completed by the end of February, with landscaping works due to commence towards the end of the month.
Over in Part B, the team has started installing mechanical units, and a soft start on first fix is now underway, marking the next stage of progress for this area of the project.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on completing drainage and starting landscaping works, while internal services and first fix activities continue to progress across both areas of the site.
Paul, Cook Brothers
Friday 13 February 2026: Cafe for Lease
Looking for a unique opportunity to operate a café within a brand-new community facility? Christchurch City Council is seeking public tenders to lease and operate a café located within Ōmōkihi – the new library and customer service centre in south Christchurch.
The Council is looking for a service provider that will enhance the customer experience of the facility as a whole.
Your high-quality products and commitment to excellent customer service will make your café a destination in its own right. Your customers will include visitors to the facility, Ōmōkihi staff members, the local community and passing foot traffic – the Council estimates at least 250,000 people will visit the facility each year.
The space available for lease consists of a prep kitchen and café located on the east side of the building, with direct access from the outdoor seating decked area on to the landscaped lawns leading down to the river. The lease area includes both indoor and outdoor customer seating spaces.
Find the full details and submit a proposal via GETS: GETS | Christchurch City Council - Ōmōkihi Cafe Lease
Close Date: 12noon, Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Friday 19 December 2025
Check out the Ōmōkihi end-of-year update
Monday 18 August 2025: First concrete pour
Cook Brothers Construction has completed the first concrete pour on Ōmōkihi, using more than 300 cubic metres of concrete, which comes to 52 truckloads.
Read Foundation laid as Ōmōkihi takes shape on Newsline.
Tuesday 15 April 2025: Rebuild to begin
Contractor appointed and demolition begins.
Cook Brothers Construction has been appointed the main contractor to carry out the construction of Ōmōkihi. They'll spend the first few weeks stripping out the interiors of the existing building at 66 Colombo Street, then move on to the full demolition.
Read Ōmokihi rebuild to begin on Newsline
Monday 13 January 2025: New library and service hub popping up soon in South
The temporary library, South Colombo, is opening at The Colombo shopping centre on Monday 24 February 2025. The temporary Customer Service Hub is opening at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre on Monday 10 February.
Read New library and service hub popping up soon in South on Newsline
13 February 2024: The new South Library has been gifted a name - Ōmōkihi – connecting the building back to its riverside site
The name has been given to Christchurch City Council by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and is consistent with the traditional practice of whakahaumanu te papatupu | restoring the customary title to the land beneath the building. Read more: Connecting South Library back to its history Newsline, 13 February 2024
28 September 2023: Rebuild recommended
The Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board recommends a rebuild of the South Library building and endorses the concept design. Read Decision on the future of South Library on Newsline.
30 May 2023: Concept design released for feedback
The concept design is released for public feedback. Read First look at the concept design for a new South Library and Service Centre on Newsline.
January 2023: Lead designer appointed
Ignite Architecture appointed as the lead designer.
1 June 2022: Rebuild investigated
The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building. Read Concept plans to be drawn up for new South Library and Service Centre on Newsline.