Wellington businesses celebrate library reopening after major disruption
Saturday, 14 March 2026
Businesses are breaking out the champagne and chocolates after years of hardship in celebration of the Wellington central library’s long-awaited reopening.
Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Wellington Central Library is open today from 10am after closing for earthquake strengthening in 2019.
Much has been written about the construction work’s impact on the businesses in the surrounding area, with demolition and road closures blamed driving away foot traffic. Rhys Kaan, owner of Caffeinated Dragon Games, moved his store to Manners St, before it eventually closed this year.
Sue Allen owns Honour, a clothing chain with a store on Victoria St. She and manager Daphne James said they would be celebrating on Saturday with bubbles and chocolate.
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It had been a long hard slog for the store over the past few years, they said. Loud jackhammering and construction noises on the street often gave James a migraine before noon.
Allen credited the survival of the small boutique to the loyalty of her customers and went out of her way to thank them.
“Thanks for supporting us, because it’s not been absolutely pleasant shopping because the road works, the dust, the noise. Thank you for sticking with it.”
Unity Books manager Susanna Andrew said she was so delighted to see the library open.
“It’s a long time coming,” she said.
Although you might think a commercial book seller would be at odds with a public library, Andrew’s view was “the more people read, the more they read here”.
The library’s closure had impacted the general mood and vibe of the central city, she believed.
She could already see the difference in the area around the book store, she said, with more and more people already using the walkway connecting Victoria St to Willis St.
Village Goldsmith marketing manager Louise Chapman said it was incredibly invigorating seeing the library drawing crowds to the precinct.
“We’re so excited to see the opening.”
The last few years had been challenging for the precinct, she said, but the council had been supportive and they were pleased to have made it through.
“The end result is great, with a new spruced up library.”
The Junction - formerly The Hudson - opened on Thursday to coincide with the library’s reopening.
The bar closed last year, going into hibernation until the city saw some green shoots, Yu Group general manager James Pask previously told The Post.
Duty manager Alley Lane said she and her fellow staffers were excited their eatery was open again.
“Wellington is back on the ups.”
A recent Wellington Chamber of Commerce survey found that the capital’s business confidence score had almost tripled over the final three months of last year.
Wellington mayor Andrew Little said it was encouraging to see confidence strengthening across Wellington’s business sector.
“When our local businesses thrive, Wellington City thrives – it’s been a tough few years and we’re not out of the woods yet, but I’m pleased to see confidence returning.”