The official opening and blessing ceremony this morning (March 6) of He Whare Hono ō Tūwharetoa marks a historic moment for the Taupō rohe (region) as Ngāti Tūwharetoa entities and Taupō District Council come together under one roof.
The building, behind Taupō Primary School on Horomatangi Street will house several Tūwharetoa entities, Taupō District Council, Amplify, and Love Taupō.
The whare was established and is owned by Te Whare Hono ō Tūwharetoa Limited Partnership, a body that includes the Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust, Tauhara Properties Limited, Tupu Angitu Limited, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Fisheries Holdings Limited, and Lake Rotoaira Trust.
It is hoped the shared space will enable improved collaboration among Tūwharetoa entities as well as strengthening partnerships with the wider community.
Partnership chair Rakeipoho Taiaroa, says the building is a testament to the power of hononga (unity) and shared purpose, deepening the iwi partnership with the district council.
“It’s a space where we can work side by side for the benefit of our whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community,” Taiaroa says.
Taupō Mayor David Trewavas says the co-location with Tūwharetoa entities will ultimately benefit the entire community to drive economic development and community wellbeing.
The three-story building celebrates Tūwharetoa’s cultural identity, featuring artwork by renowned Tūwharetoa artists that bring cultural narratives to life in a modern context.
Key installations such as Ngā Mata o Tūwharetoa and the Celestial Waka draw on knowledge from the late and well-respected kaumātua Te Kanawa Pitiroi aim to create a space where culture, governance, and innovation come together.
The building will house the council chambers and mayoral office on level one, though the council’s customer and visitor information centre will remain on Tongariro Street.
