The Leys Institute Library opened in March 1905 and the gymnasium next door opened in 1906.
The Leys Institute Library was gifted to Auckland Council in 1964 after the final trustee of the original trust died.
The Leys Institute is an important heritage taonga (treasure) for our tamariki Children. and mokopuna Grandchildren.
We are restoring it to:
To understand the needs of our community, we worked with mana whenua Hapū and iwi with ancestral relationships to certain areas in Tāmaki Makaurau where they exercise customary authority. and rōpū (a group) of community leaders including:
Our project partners bring valuable local knowledge to the design process. They include a:
A 2018 investigation shows the building needs restoring to improve safety.
The Waitematā local board approves initial plans to restore the institute. As the buildings are prone to earthquakes, the Leys Institute closes in December due to safety risks.
The Leys Institute Little Library opens in May at 14 Jervois Road to offer the community temporary library services until the Leys Institute reopens.
On 25 July 2024, the Planning, Environments and Parks Committee (PEPC) approved funding for the restoration project under the Regional Seismic Fund. Visit Leys Institute to be restored and protected with additional $9.5 million council boost to read more.
We aim to confirm the final scope of the preferred option by the end of 2024.
This involves:
During the first half of 2025, we will work on:
In the second half of 2025 we aim to:
The procurement stage will include:
We estimate that the physical works will start in late 2026 to 2027 and take around 12 to 18 months to complete.
We aim to reopen the Leys Institute Library and Gymnasium by 2028.
Once the building work finishes, the library service at Jervois Road will return to the new building.
You will still be able to hire spaces in the new building.
