Ashburton District Council has accepted two Maori names, gifted by Arowhenua, for the new library and civic building.

The library will be known as Te Pataka o ka Tuhituhi and the civic centre as Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka.

Te Pataka o ka Tuhituhi means the storehouse of written publications, while Te Waharoa a Hine Paaka derives from an ancient matai tree that once stood at Alford Forest. Known as Hine Paaka, the tree was a significant landmark to Maori travelling through the district.

Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown said the names celebrated te reo in a prominent and obvious way and linked to the history and heritage that mana whenua had in the district.

“Arowhenua have gifted two separate names on the basis that one name alone could not capture all that the building offered. We’re delighted to accept both and will find a way to give life to the names in the new building."