32 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Putauaki Trust T T Kelly Deeks Te Whare Ohaaki a long journey Te Whare Ohaaki, was finally opened in March 2024 after being proposed back in 2019. Good things take time and for Putauaki Trust in Te Teko, its new architecturally designed office hub, Te Whare Ohaaki, was finally opened in March 2024 after being proposed back in 2019. Located in the middle of Putauaki Trust’s industrial zone and adjacent to the Putauaki Trust dairy farm in Kawerau, Te Whare Ohaaki provides a magnificent setting for all of the Trust’s strategic decisions. Developed as a place to meet and work, Te Whare Ohaaki is named after long-standing trustee Charles Ohaaki Elliot in recognition of his long service and continued contributions to the Te Teko community. The building features tall glazing units and skylights, maximising views of Mt Putauaki as well as capturing sunlight for psychological and energy-saving benefits. Putauaki Trust CEO John O’Brien says the Trust has come a long way since the days of trustee meetings being held in an old shearer’s quarters. “Our brief to our architects DD2 Architecture was the building had to focus on our maunga, should be environmentally friendly, and ideally incorporate natural and sustainable materials and solar energy, and use local labour and contractors,” he says. “The focus is on Putauaki as it is the maunga of all of our shareholders and descendants, and we do have tupuna buried on the maunga.” As well as being available to the trust’s shareholders, trustees, and staff, the boardroom will also be available for the community to hire for hui. John says as community groups sit back and look at the maunga, they may start to set some lofty goals and objectives. The planning process was long and plagued by Covid price escalations and supply chain issues, however the project’s construction contractor GF Builders took a mere nine months to build it. At a well-attended opening ceremony on March 28, John paid tribute to past trustees who had set the foundations for where Putauaki Trust is today, and to the board from 14 years ago who made the courageous decision to rezone about 110ha of Putauaki Trust’s rural whenua to industrial. 240ha of property in this same location continues to be Stainless steel – fabrication and welding Design Supply Install Steve King 027 4095 0054 Will King 027 615 7922 Robbie Hall 027 807 1312 * Ef uent & irrigation * Feed systems * Frost protection * Animal health * Detergent * Rubberware & Consumable * Trenching service c1107kwKing Milking & water systems specialists since 1988 Main Street, Edgecumbe Ph 07 304 9640 anytime Proudly supporting Putauaki Trust Visit our website WWW.JCLCONTRACTING.CO.NZ Your agricultural contractor in the greater Bay of Plenty Services Grass silage • Cultivation Maize silage • Earthworks • Feed supplement Get in touch P: 07 533 1828 | M: 021 244 9481 office@jclcontracting.co.nz
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=