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Tūranga - our first gift through business partnerships

We are tremendously proud that the first gift through The Christchurch Foundation is to Tūranga.


At nearly 10,000 sqm, Tūranga is the largest public library in the South Island. Located at the corner of Cathedral Square, Colombo Street and Gloucester Street, in the heart of the central city, this incredible building was designed in discussion with Ngāi Tahu and the Ngāi Tūāhuriri rūnanga. Terraces and openings on upper floors face culturally significant points in the Canterbury landscape and beyond:

  • Kā Tiritiri o te Moana – Southern Alps

  • Aoraki / Mt Cook

  • Horomaka / Pātaka o Rākaihautū – Banks Peninsula

  • Maungatere – Mt Grey

  • Hawaiki – according to oral traditions, one of the places of origin of New Zealand's earliest settlers



Tūranga itself is a name that carries with it considerable responsibility. Tūranga speaks of whakapapa across generations, connections to the north and out to Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa and the wider Pacific. Recounted in the waiata ‘E Tuku Ana’, Tūranga is celebrated in a depiction on the west-facing outer wall of the library building.


Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying that "an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest". This is a common philosophy held by our team, our partners and the passionate people who work in and around Tūranga.


Tūranga is the centre of knowledge in Ōtautahi, a kete full to the brim with fact and fiction. A place where locals and visitors can access and share knowledge, and where your imagination is free to roam. Tūranga opened on Friday 12 October 2018.


Collectively TSB, Spark and Southbase have committed $2.5M to Tūranga through The Christchurch Foundation.

For TSB, as a 100% New Zealand-owned bank and corporate citizen of Christchurch, they felt responsible for contributing to this wonderful city and supporting the local community. Tautoru | TSB Space on Level One will enable people to come together for meetings, events and functions. There are endless opportunities for community growth when people have access to a facility such as Tūranga, with its state-of-the-art learning spaces, unique events and passionate staff. Providing quality services and facilities aligns strongly with TSB’s commitment to providing positive customer experiences.


Spark is a founding partner of The Christchurch Foundation, and through us, they are proud to be supporting the establishment of Tūranga. They see Tūranga as a true digital heart for the city and on the ground floor they have established Auaha Hīhī | Spark Place, a multi-purpose space capable of sorting presentations, seminars and workshops. They are looking forward to creating and hosting events for businesses to learn how they can make the most of the opportunities our digital economy presents, and they will make Auaha Hīhī | Spark Place available for others to share their learnings too.


Tūranga will offer everyone in the city, and its visitors, the opportunity to experience an innovative, welcoming community space. Southbase is a strong supporter for the improvement and development of our communities by delivering projects that matter. Their wider team is proud to have had the opportunity to provide this exceptional example of world-class collaborative design and construction.



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