8 May 2025 
 
 
File Ref: IRC-8273  
 
 
 
 
Miguel Angel  
[FYI request #30640 email] 
 
 
 
Tēnā koe Miguel 
 
 
Thank you for your email of 7 April 2025 to Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council (the 
Council) requesting information regarding the trial of the Māori deity-based shelving system. Your 
request has been considered under the Local Government Of icial Information and Meetings Act 1987 
(LGOIMA). Please find my response below. 
 
1. Total expenditure on the development, implementation, and promotion of this shelving 
system, broken down into itemized costs. This includes, but is not limited to: 
 
- Staff time (planning, consultation, training, implementation) 
- Cultural consultancy or advisory services 
- Design and production of signage, branding, or printed materials 
- Modifications to library systems or cataloguing software 
- Public engagement events, surveys, communications, or feedback platforms 
 
We estimate the total project expenditure to be $6,100, with $6,000 allocated for staff time 
(140 hours) and $100 for printing costs. 
 
The Council did not engage suppliers or contractors for any aspect of the project, nor make 
modifications to library systems or cataloguing software. 
 
2. The source(s) of funding for this project. Specifically: 
 
Whether ratepayer or taxpayer funds were used 
Any external grants or funding sources applied 
The relevant budget lines and departments from which these funds were drawn 
 
This project used the existing libraries' operating budget. This operating budget is funded by 
ratepayers. 
 
3. The names of any organisations, consultancy firms, or publicly contracted service providers 
engaged for cultural advisory, design, implementation, or evaluation of this shelving system. 
Where applicable, please include the role or title of any individual consultants, and the nature 
and cost of their contributions. 
 
No service providers were engaged on this project however, librarians at several 
organisations were contacted to provide input as part of its design.  These included the 
National Library of New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka.  This 
was informal feedback during onsite meetings with library staff before or during the trial. 
 
4. Internal documentation related to the planning and execution of this project, including: 
 
Project briefs, reports, or rationales 
 
 
 
 

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Meeting minutes or internal communications summarizing decision-making 
Any documentation outlining budget approvals, projected outcomes, or implementation 
strategies 
I am requesting only factual or procedural content, not free and frank opinions. 
 
The below information has been attached as appendices to this response. 
  Appendix 1** 
LCS Leadership Team Minutes Wednesday, 
21 February 2024 
Appendix 2 
Brief Background to Creating a WCL Māori 
Classification / Living Room Scheme  
Appendix 3 
Email sent to library staff 28/8/2024 and 
accompanying internal information page 
**some information has been withheld as it is out of scope of your request. 
 
5. Evaluation materials, including: 
 
Any criteria, key performance indicators (KPIs), or assessment frameworks being used to 
evaluate the success or failure of the shelving system 
Any early results, internal reviews, or summaries of public feedback collected to date 
 
The trial has focused on the theoretical concept behind the classification system, which does 
not have formal KPIs. Future evaluations will incorporate additional criteria, though these are 
still in development. 
 
Internal reviews have involved presenting an early iteration of the theoretical concept to small 
groups of knowledgeable staff. Feedback, while anecdotal, has been positive. 
 
Feedback from members of the public has also been predominantly positive. A Wellington 
City Council social media post on 26 March received 26 public comments. The most 
substantial written feedback has come from librarians from other organisations who visited Te 
Awe in a personal capacity. 
 
If you require further information, please contact [email address].  
 
 
Nāku noa, nā 
 
 
 
Chelsea McHugh 
Senior Advisor Of icial Information 
Of icial Information & Privacy 
Wellington City Council 
Wellington City Council   |   2 of 2 
 
 

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