THE LITTLE LIBRARY THAT COULD
Photo Bek Smith
Perched on the banks of the Puhoi River, the tiny but mighty Puhoi Library has stood the test of time – and water.
Words Sophie Morris
The iconic landmark of the historic Bohemian-settled village has weathered more than its share of floods. Now, thanks to dedicated volunteers, Council, and caring locals, the open sign hangs on Puhoi’s main street once again.
The white concrete, red-roofed building was constructed in 1913 (at a cost of £100 plus £18 5d in extras) to house the Puhoi District Roads Board. After ten years it was no longer required and was repurposed as the Puhoi Town Library. With Librarian Mr A. Schollum at the helm, books were donated and the doors opened to the public in 1923. The library served as a reading hub for the village until the Great Flood of 1924 submerged it under seven feet of water, destroying nearly the whole collection. For the next half century the building was used for other purposes – local meetings, first aid, crafts and even as a mortuary.
In 1976, the Puhoi Historic Zone was established – encompassing the library, museum and Centennial Hall. With strong local support, the library reopened its doors in 1977. But the challenges continued: in 2011, it was flooded twice in one week. More recently, storms in 2022, and in January, February, and April 2023 caused more flooding events. During Cyclone Gabrielle around 6,000 books, photos and artefacts were damaged, and the building was yellow-stickered.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Rodney Council and Walker Developments carried out a refurbishment – installing new drainage, insulation, shelving and floorboards. The original kauri table – believed to have been used to lay out bodies when the building served as a mortuary – has been sanded and polished, now taking centre stage. The doors reopened in April, welcoming back locals and visitors alike.
A team of volunteers keeps the library running. President Helen Darnell, who lives in one of the oldest Settler homes in the village and also serves as Sunday librarian says, “It’s great to be back seeing people... it has been through a lot.” The seven ladies of the library who rotate duties also act as unofficial village tour guides – often directing visitors to the Museum and sharing local history – “We get a tremendous number of visitors... it can be difficult to shut the doors on time!”
Open once again after weathering many storms, the Puhoi Library stands proudly – a quaint yet powerful symbol of the village’s enduring history, perseverance and resilience. And as a welcome surprise, it now holds many new additions, including a rich selection of New Zealand history books – all generously donated by the community.
The Puhoi Library is open 10am-2pm, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
1 Ahuroa Rd, Puhoi