Yule love Paihia Library’s festive flavour

Paihia Library has opened its Christmas chapter thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Williams House volunteers.

Each year, the volunteers bring a touch of Christmas magic to the town’s library, using Christmas swags with shells and ornaments created by the late Barbara Traviss and other locals in the past.

These much-loved decorations are refreshed and displayed at the library each year, bringing festive sparkle to the tourist hotspot over the holiday season.

Children, families, locals and visitors are encouraged to pop down to the library to enjoy these hand-crafted decorations and get into the Christmas spirit.

The Friends of Williams House, Paihia Library Inc. were incorporated in August 2003 and have played a key role in preserving local heritage and supporting the Paihia Library.

Working closely with the community board and the Far North District Council, the Friends have enhanced the gardens and buildings surrounding Williams House while also supporting the library’s needs. Their projects include restoring the Historic Stone Shed, replacing the pump and the wire fence around the Village Green, and restoring the Kissing Gate. They also created a historic garden trail with signage, provided garden seating, and restored the garage, which now houses a second-hand bookshop that raises funds for their projects.