Koha Turns 25: A World-Class Invention from Horowhenua - Library Notes
Published on December 01, 2025
Koha Turns 25: A World-Class Invention from Horowhenua
By Wendy Fraser, Library Services Manager
Not everyone in Horowhenua may know this, but one of the world’s most widely used library systems was created right here in our district.
Twenty-five years ago, our local library service launched Koha, the world’s first open-source library management system. What began as a practical response to the Y2K challenge is now powering libraries in more than 50 countries, including the British Library in the UK, as well as libraries across the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Turkey.
Back in 1999, Horowhenua libraries were facing serious technology limitations. The system we were using was outdated and expensive to maintain, and it wasn’t going to survive the turn of the century. After exploring commercial options that proved either unaffordable or ill-suited to our community, the decision was made to invest in building something new, something that would work for Horowhenua.
In partnership with Wellington-based Katipo Communications, a new system was developed from the ground up. It was designed to be web-based, adaptable, and flexible enough to support multiple library branches. And in a move that was both visionary and generous, it was released as open source — meaning it could be freely shared and improved by anyone.
Koha officially went live in January 2000. Word soon spread among the library community, and interest grew quickly. Over the years, librarians and developers from around the world have contributed to Koha’s development, making it more powerful, more accessible, and more widely used.
The impact of Koha was quickly recognised in Aotearoa as well. In 2000, Koha received New Zealand’s prestigious 3M Innovation Award for outstanding achievement in library and information services — a testament to the bold thinking and practical innovation that made the system possible.
Today, thousands of libraries globally use Koha to manage their collections, memberships, and daily operations. From major institutions like the British Library and the National Library of Singapore to small rural and community libraries, Koha has proven itself to be flexible, reliable, and widely adaptable. Here in Horowhenua, it remains the backbone of our library service. It supports everything from book borrowing to online access, helps us stay modern and responsive to the needs of our community, and continues to be a cost-effective and sustainable solution for managing library resources.
As we mark 25 years of Koha, we reflect with pride on the role our district played in its creation. We recognise the early innovators who saw the need for a better system, and we honour the many library staff who have supported and maintained Koha over the years. Most importantly, we acknowledge the ongoing support of Horowhenua District Council, which continues to invest in innovative, community-led services like our libraries.
To our local community — thank you for supporting your libraries. Every time you borrow a book, use our catalogue, or access digital services, you are part of a world-leading story that began right here in Horowhenua.