Mystery link on under-fire Wellington library website a ‘mistake’, cost review under way
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
An independent review will be held into the procurement of Wellington City Council’s sleek new $600,000 library website, as new questions are raised about why a link to a commercial business based in the Bay of Islands - now removed - was being promoted on the homepage.
The Post revealed the true cost of the $595,801 spend on Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui - a separate marketing site for Wellington's central library and cultural hub - in May.
Mayor Andrew Little confirmed an investigation would be held into “not just the service provider” - but also the decision-making around it, including who got to sign it off, who didn’t, and how it got “out of control”. The terms of reference are still being finalised.
Critics labelled the site a “gold-plated” promotional stunt, a “glorified brochure” and an “atrocious” waste of ratepayer money because it provides little information for users wanting to book rooms, search catalogues, or join up it, instead redirecting people to the council’s actual library website.
But scroll all the way to the bottom of the homepage and until recently you would have found a “learn more” link to Maramataka Māori - a commercial enterprise based in the Bay of Islands selling Māori lunar calendars, as well as offering online workshop packages and video lessons.
The link has now been removed following inquiries from The Post.
The initial council response, which took three days to arrive, noted it was a mistake: “the link shouldn’t have been there and it’s been removed”.
A later, more detailed response then arrived.
“The original intent of this footer link was to provide visitors with additional information about a feature on our website that shares moon phases and associated environmental energy patterns, such as those relevant to fishing and agriculture, based on the Māori maramataka.
“The link was intended to direct users to further explanatory material about maramataka, along with appropriate acknowledgement of the source of that mātauranga (knowledge). However, we acknowledge that the current link destination does not appropriately reflect that intent.
“We have therefore removed the link while we review and update the content to ensure it aligns with our original intent.”
Finance committee chairperson Diane Calvert queried why the contract was awarded to Auckland’s Journey Digital, despite Wellington having one of New Zealand’s strongest technology and creative sector.
She said whether the latest blunder was “sloppy or intentional” it was completely inappropriate for the link to have been included.
Spokesperson Richard MacLean said while the website budget sat within the overall Te Matapihi programme budget, chief executive Matt Prosser and the current council had made it “very clear” officers needed to prioritise rates affordability.
Under the council’s delegation policy, the executive leadership team can approve spends up to $750,000, without flagging it to councillors.
For large projects like the library redevelopment it was standard process for the chief executive to delegate spending transactions to the senior responsible officer – in this case the chief operating officer, MacLean said.
Rather then the project being advertised through GETS (the Government electronic tendering service) a number of companies on an all of government panel of approved suppliers were invited to submit a proposal.
Although Wellington companies were among those invited to submit a proposal, the preferred supplier was Auckland-based as it met the evaluation criteria more closely.
Calvert said the link was “just one of a number of questions” that had emerged about the website.
Given the concerns expressed by elected members and the community it was only right an independent review be undertaken, she said.
“We need to properly establish the facts following concerns that have already been raised about the website’s cost, procurement, approvals, and oversight.”
Journey Digital has been approached for comment.