Te Kōputu a te whanga a Toi – the Whakatāne Library and Exhibition Centre – is marking its fifth anniversary on 28 June. The award-winning building has become the cultural heart of Whakatāne, providing three galleries showcasing the best of local and national art, a museum display using the Whakatāne Museum Collection to tell the rich histories of the District, and a public library providing access to a wide range of information – all for the benefit of District communities.

Since opening on 28 June 2012, the Centre has seen 1.1 million people walk through its doors, and the Library has loaned 920,000 items via staff, with another 330,000 items checked out through the self-service kiosks. In addition, 125,000 visitors have accessed the internet through the Library’s APNK computers, and 25,000 e-books have been loaned. During the same timeframe, the Whakatāne Museum and Arts team has delivered 78 temporary exhibitions in the Centre’s gallery spaces, with 37% of these showcasing local artists, 43% national artists, and 20% displaying items from the collection.

Celebrations marking the occasion will be held from Monday, 12 June to Friday, 30 June and will include a Te Kōputu treasure hunt with a Galaxy A6 tablet as the prize, as well as great half-price deals on books and movies to borrow.

The big day will also be marked with a birthday cake on Wednesday, 28 June.