Waimakariri Libraries Achieve Hāpai Access Card Accreditation

Published: 02-Jul-2026

In a step towards providing better customer service for people living with disabilities in Waimakariri, Trevor Inch Memorial Library, Oxford Library and Service Centre, and the Ruataniwha Civic Centre have achieved Hāpai accreditation.

Martin Pugh and Luke Sole standing outside the entrance to Waimakariri Libraries, with a Hāpai “Welcomed Here” access card sticker displayed on the glass door behind them.

Based off of the UK Access Card, the Hāpai Access Card enables those living with a disability to quickly show what barriers they face and recieve a customer experience that meets their needs. The card can have up to nine icons which represent different potential barriers a disabled person might face, such as needing a toilet urgently and not being able to stand for long periods of time.

District Libraries Manager Luke Sole said becoming Hāpai accredited was a ‘no brainer’.  

“We want Waimakariri Libraries to be an inclusive and accessible space for all members of our community.  Joining the Hāpai Access Card Scheme meant a small change to how we deliver our services but a big impact on the experience of those with disabilities in our spaces.”

The Oxford Library and Service Centre is the first provider in its area to achieve Hāpai accreditation. The Trevor Inch Memorial Library and Ruataniwha Civic Centre are the second providers in their area to receive accreditation, following Coffee Culture.

Achieving accreditation is no small feat. Library and Service Centre teams reviewed their customer service practices and facilities against each accessibility barrier represented on Hāpai Access Cards. This process identified improvement areas to make visiting these facilities with a disability easier.  For example, at Rangiora's Trevor Inch Memorial Library, two heavy doors had to be opened to access the public toilets. For someone with the ‘Urgent Toilet Access Required’ barrier, this presented a challenge. As a result, one of the doors was removed to improve accessibility.

Councillor Shona Powell, Chair of the Waimakariri Access Group, said the accreditation reflects what can be achieved when people with lived experience help shape Council services.

"Our Access Group has worked closely with Council to identify barriers and find practical ways to make facilities more accessible, and we congratulate the staff for the work they have put into achieving accreditation. These improvements might seem small, but for someone living with a disability they can make a real difference because they know they are welcome and can more easily access services independently. It's wonderful to see our libraries and service centres taking this important step towards being more inclusive for everyone."

Waimakariri Libraries strive to be accessible and inclusive spaces for all. Achieving Hāpai accreditation is just the beginning, follow up compliance visits and further staff training will ensure that accessibility becomes second nature and continues to develop over time.

Waimakariri residents who have disabilities can visit the Hāpai website to view pages for each location, which provide detailed information about the facilities and how staff can support access based on the needs identified on patron’s Hāpai Access Cards.

In becoming Hāpai accredited, social stories of Rangiora and Kaiapoi Library were created, with an intention to create one for Oxford Library in the future. Social stories are plain language, image-based narratives used to explain new experiences and places in an accessible way to those living with disabilities. Preparing them for what they can expect when they visit one of our locations, what they might see, and where they will find certain things. You can view the social stories for Rangiora and Kaiapoi Libraries on our Locations and hours page.