1932: Tai Tapu Library

April 11, 2024

By AHNZ

Tai Tapu Library, South Canterbury. Without government who would build the libraries?

This one was opened on 12 August 1932 and paid for with the proceeds of prize-winning daffodils grown on the property¹. And, the subscriptions of those desiring to be members. The public library itself is even older than this building.

However, it was opened by Governor-General Bledisloe who used the opportunity to lecture we New Zealanders over having a ‘narrow outlook’. He said we were “insular” and suggested we should get some geography books for this library so we could learn about the wider world!

“The insularity of New Zealand was referred to by Lord Bledisloe at the opening of the Tai Tapu Library on Friday as a possible danger in causing a narrowness of outlook. The people of New Zealand, he said, needed a wide outlook because of their insularity, and he recommended the inclusion in the library of a few works on topography which would give their readers a greater knowledge of the world. ” – Otago Daily Times (1932,) Papers Past

“During the early 1920s Lowe and Rhodes decided to put aside the money raised from the sale of narcissi bulbs and prize money won at flower shows to fund the construction of a new library for Taitapu. By the time Lowe died in 1924 the fund stood at just over £1,000. At the opening of the library in 1932, the Governor-General Lord Bledisloe commented: ‘I have never before heard of flowers being converted by realisation, into a home for the flowers of literature – it is a most ingenious and delightful idea’.” – Heritage New Zealand

“The Tai Tapu Library is owned by the People of Tai Tapu and is run by volunteers including myself.” – Maggie Senior to AHNZ (11/4/2024)

Was Bledisloe being insulting to Kiwis for being parochial? Was this a populist thing to say at the time? Or was he warming us up to get involved in another silly imperial war?

Now, in the 2020s, Tai Tapu Library continues to be run owned and run Tai Tapu locals at their own initiative. However, Selwyn District Council and any citizen can access it. I suspect The State will desire to increase hegemonic control of this landmark and eventually grab it as it has so many freedom libraries before.

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1 The daffodil land and the library land were all once one; “The daffodils were grown on the Otahuna Lodge estate in Tai Tapu. Rhodes also put a lot of his own money into building this library,” M. Senior

Image ref. Rosemary Spiewak Collection (1990,) Canterbury Stories

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