| 29 Richard Loader Beacon for community The blessing of the Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga site - the name was a special gift from local Iwi Ngati Ruanui. South Taranaki District Council: Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hāwera’s new multi-purpose civic centre, which is in the early days of development, is aptly named Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga. Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga means the beacon or signal fire of Ruapūtahanga, a famous Taranaki Māori ancestress. Ruapūtahanga would light the beacon as a signal for Iwi to meet so they could talk, share ideas and knowledge. Perfectly symbolising the centre’s purpose as a place for the community to meet in order to share information and gain knowledge, the name Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga was a special gift from local Iwi Ngati Ruanui. In 2011 an independent review of all library services in South Taranaki identified that Hawera’s Library was too small for the number of people using it, which limited the services and programmes normally provided by a modern library. “The review recommended Council create a combined facility for library, arts, culture and heritage services,” says South Taranaki District Council’s Communication Manager Gerard Langford. “This recommendation was timely given that Council was also considering ways of revitalising Hāwera’s town centre in order to encourage private investment and keep existing and attract new residents and businesses to the district.” As part of its 2015 – 2025 Long Term Plan the Council decided to build a new civic facility which would include a bigger library (including meeting rooms, computer suite and multi-use spaces), public toilets, art gallery, café, i-SITE visitor centre and bus stop. “Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga is a key anchor project in the Hāwera Town Centre revitalisation strategy and will contribute significantly to the district’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery. By effectively combining a number of facilities onto one site, and providing people with a wide-range of services, information, cultural and educational resources right in the heart of Hāwera, the centre will bring much needed foot traffic and visitors to the town centre.” But Gerard says the centre won’t only be a community hub. It will also be a catalyst for driving change which will create new vibrancy, create jobs, economic stimulus and improved connectivity for both the South Taranaki community and for visitors to the district. The new facility will not simply revitalise — it will transform the town centre. Costing approximately $15.5 million to construct, the new Warren & Mahoney designed 1605m2 building takes environmental sustainability into account wherever possible, with the added benefit of keeping ongoing operational costs to a minimum. Project Coordinator Phil Waite says the building’s design includes a sawtooth roof, which references the region’s rural/farming heritage, and many of the old dairy factories around district that were built with a similar style roof line. “The roof also enables a lot more natural light. The upside of the sawtooth is glazed, allowing natural light to flood the building’s interior. On some of the north facing sawtooth shapes there are solar panels. The use of floor to ceiling glazing on the exterior walls also maximises natural light. The idea is for the building to be iconic, in terms of its modernity, while not overpowering the heritage buildings that surrounds it.” There are also many special features included inside the building. Inspired by Mount Taranaki, a raised structure in the form of a maunga will be built in the children’s library, creating a point of difference to encourage children to sit and read in the mouth of the maunga. Next to the maunga, is a sunken area, with seating that children can also make use of. Part of that inspiration comes from caves around Mount Taranaki that early Māori inhabited. Due to be completed early 2024, the Centre is being constructed by Livingston Building, who placed strong emphasis on using local subcontractors and suppliers in their tender and many South Taranaki businesses will be working on the project. Gerard says the Council are currently working with its iwi partners to include a sculpture of Ruapūtahanga at the main entrance, providing that beacon for learning, ideas and knowledge. +64 6 348 8007 | www.saunders-stevenson.co.nz Saunders Stevenson are proud to be the Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors for this exciting project. DOMESTIC | FARMING INDUSTRIAL | INSTRUMENTATION Proud to be supporting South Taranaki District Council Stratford • New Plymouth • Hawera Subdivisions • Constrution Monitoring • Land Development Property Layout • Planning • Civil Engineering 06 759 0904 51 Dawson St, New Plymouth info@jsl.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=