Te Wharehou o Waikaremoana

The Waikaremoana Tribal Authority will be next to take on the Living Building Challenge. Tribal Chair Dana Rurehe says, “The building is designed to depict who we are as a people. This is the beginning of the return to the lake side of nā hapū o Tūhoe”.

Te Wharehou of Waikaremoana will house the Tribal offices, wānana, retail and tāona. It will be a positive representation of what is to come for the southernmost community of Te Urewera.

In 2013 Tūhoe signed a settlement agreement with the crown. Since the deed signing Tūhoe has taken charge of their destiny. Tūhoe has begun their positive journey to the future by developing new and innovative ideas for their people and generations to come. The award winning Te Kura Whare located in Tāneatua has set the precedent for future projects of Tūhoe. Te Kura Whare building followed the requirements of the Living Building Challenge to work in harmony with the ecosystem, an example Waikaremoana wishes to emulate.

Work begins this December and will be completed in December 2016. It’s planned that this building will raise skills, knowledge and the confidence of local people as they take on opportunities to participate. Arrow International is confirmed as the build team and Wellington firm Tennent and Brown as the architects.

Individual tradesmen and contractors are invited to submit an expression of interest to be part of this unique project. A full list of trade work, forms and details on Tūhoe and the Living Building Challenge can be found at www.ngaituhoe.iwi.nz.

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