Alexander Library - Te Rerenga Mai o Te Kāuru

03/06/2026

Bring the mokopuna to the Davis Library Wed 17 June at 10am, to hear about our own celebrity bird. Tania Te Huna will share her children's book about the Kuaka (Bar tailed Godwit) "ADJ". ADJ makes an epic journey from the Whanganui River Estuary to Alaska every year via Korea and Japan and then returns home.
Taikura o te Awa Tupua will sing the waiata composed by Tania for the Kuaka.

25/05/2026

Greased Lightning is rolling into the Alexander Library Lounge this Wednesday night! 🎶 Make sure you get your booking in as spaces are limited! https://events.humanitix.com/grease-at-the-alex

Grab your leather jackets, warm up those vocal cords, and join us for a fun-filled Grease Sing-A-Long screening at 6pm! 💋🕺🎤

✨ BYO kai
✨ Sing your heart out
✨ Dress-ups encouraged
✨ All ages welcome

Whether you’re a Pink Lady, a T-Bird, or just here for the nostalgia, come along for a relaxed night of music, laughs, and iconic movie moments at the Alexander Library.

22/05/2026

Busy day in the Alex yesterday! We were excited to host lots of wonderful local rangatahi for a heritage think tank as part of the Rangatahi Tech Expo. We wanted to hear what they would do to bring our Biographical Index into the digital age. The biographical index is one of our most powerful tools for researching whakapapa and Whanganui family history. They gave us lots of great ideas and we love working together with our community in this way!

14/05/2026

Coming in hot and bringing you not one, but TWO awesome events in one afternoon! Don't miss out on either of these amazing sessions today. First, a very special gig just for our library whānau from Bobbi Rae at 1pm, and then we're bringing some historical content with Andy Dolling remembering resistance and activism on the International Day of Conscientious Objectors at 2pm.

14/05/2026

We know we have a reputation for being a 'quiet' space, but if you've met any of our librarians, you'll know that we most definitely aren't a quiet bunch 😁 So music at the Alex?! Why not?! Come and check out the Alexander Library's wonderful acoustics with a special gig from Bobbi Rae tomorrow (Friday 15/05). Swing by on your lunchbreak and enjoy a perfect start to your Friday afternoon 😎

11/05/2026

We Stand for Peace – Songs & Stories

Join us for an afternoon of music, storytelling, and history exploring the legacy of conscientious objectors during World War I.

Andy Dolling shares stories of figures like Archibald Baxter, alongside songs and reflections which inspired the illustrated book We Stand For Peace.

🕑 2pm, Friday 15 May
📍 Alexander Heritage and Research Library
🌿 International Day of Conscientious Objectors

Please note: this session follows Bobbi Rae’s 1pm Music Month set, so feel free to arrive flexibly.

08/05/2026

We’re stoked to be filling the Alex with live music next Friday 15th May! We may have twisted the arm of one of our patrons, the incredible Bobbi Rae, into giving a special NZ Music Month acoustic session for our library community (thanks Bobbi!🙌). Come hang out on your lunch break and hear this Whanganui legend live — good vibes, great music, and a chance to catch one of our local favourites up close.
https://events.humanitix.com/library-live-acoustic-session-with-bobbi-rae

29/04/2026

Come along and celebrate Archaeology Week! Join our WDC Heritage Planner Scott Flutey (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Māmoe) and archaeologist Hamish Crimp for a special walk around Pukenamu Queens Park this Saturday 2nd May at 2pm - meet at the top of the Veteran steps!

People are invited to get involved in the first Archaeology Week observed in Whanganui.