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Te Nuku Whare ki Te Matapihi

Moving to Te Matapihi

Artist impression, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, exterior. Image credit: Positively Pōneke.

Nōku te Ao Capital E is moving to Wellington’s new central library, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, in early 2026.

Located in the central city and opening out onto Te Ngākau Civic Square, Te Matapihi will be an integral part of Pōneke. It will be a hub for library services, exhibitions and cultural experiences, and will house City Archives and Nōku te Ao Capital E.  

Teachers, get notified when bookings open for 2026​

We’re expecting high demand for our digital learning programmes. Enquiries will be prioritised in the order they’re received – so don’t miss out.
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Te Matapihi project milestones

Currently, Nōku te Ao Capital E is working with Council and others to move into Te Matapihi in early 2026. Until then you can keep up-to-date with its progress here and on the Councils’ website.
  • March 2019: Library closed.  
  • October 2020: Council approves strengthening the library building.  
  • December 2022: LT McGuiness begins construction.  
  • September 2023-March 2024: Strengthening work to the library building is carried out. 
  • Early 2025: The library building is fully enclosed (back to having walls and windows).  
  • Mid 2025: Landscaping undertaken.  
  • June 2025 onwards: Book collections move back in. 
  • September 2025: Practical completion (when the building is handed over to the Council).
  • September 2025 – February 2026: Library fit-out.
  • March 2026: Opening

Returning home to Te Ngākau Civic Square

Nōku te Ao Capital E, originally called Capital Discovery Place, first opened in 1992 in a custom-designed building under the City to Sea bridge. After calling Te Ngākau Civic Square home for 21 years, our building was deemed earthquake-prone in 2013 which led to us relocating to our current site at Queens Wharf.
After 11 years, we are thrilled to be returning home to the Te Ngākau Civic precinct which holds such a special place in our hearts, as well as in the hearts of many who grew up or raised tamariki in Pōneke in the 1990’s and 2000’s. 
Construction of Capital Discovery Place, 1991.

Construction of Capital Discovery Place, 1991 
Wellington City Council Archives, 00557-701-23

Opening of Capital Discovery Place, 1992
Wellington City Council Archives, 00557-505-10

What will you find when Te Matapihi opens?

  • On-site Nōku te Ao Capital E services for tamariki and rangatahi to grow their creativity and foster learning.
  • The Central Library Services.  
  • The City Archive.  
  • The Council customer services.  
  • A large ground floor cafe.  
  • Active spaces for meeting and making connections.  
  • Quiet spaces to study and read.  
Te Matapihi will showcase the taonga and special collections of mana whenua and subsequent settler communities’ heritage. 
When it re-opens, Te Matapihi will once again be an integral part of the beating heart of our capital city and the life of Wellington. 

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