July 22, 2026WaikatoHauraki town Ngatea’s new library and community centre could create a communal identity not dissimilar to the Sydney Opera House, says the architect who designed it. Perched in the same place as its bulldozed predecessor, the facility came in just under the $4.6 million budget and opened on Wednesday. “What really disappointed me at the time was this community started getting a bit divided and that hurt. He described the finished product as a fantastic asset and said it was brilliant for the community. The opening even spurred out of town community librarians to travel, with Kaiaua-based Gill Hewson and Chris Barlow singing the building’s praises.