10 | Waitangi Treaty Grounds Kim Newth New facilities energise grounds staff The new 530sqm facility includes ample garaging for mowers, tools and vehicles, as well as modern staff amenities. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROUDLY SUPPORTING WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS Home, Business, and Rural Security CCTV SYSTEM HDMonitoring • IP System • Remote Viewing ALARMS & ACCESS CONTROL Intruder Alarms • Access Control • Intercoms GATE AUTOMATION Sliding Gates • Swing Gates • Repairs & Servicing 09 407 8788 | 027 953 4160 | info@northlandcctv.co.nz | northlandcctv.co.nz FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE A new grounds and maintenance base for the Waitangi National Trust is providing a significant upgrade for the team that takes care of the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds and surrounding estate. The new 530sqm facility, which opened in late March, includes ample garaging for mowers, tools and vehicles, as well as modern staff amenities. It replaces an older, much smaller workshop that was no longer fit for purpose. “The original workshop was too small to fit any vehicles inside and, on wet days, poor design caused rain to flood through the floor, so it was far from ideal,” says project manager Lara Thorne. “With visitor admissions barely covering operational costs, funding was secured from MBIE’s Regional Infrastructure Fund to enable this infrastructure to be replaced.” Last July, the old workshop was demolished. Parts of the building deemed suitable for recycling were salvaged, with materials shipped for re-use on projects in the Pacific region. The new workshop, built to serve an eightstrong grounds team, brings all equipment and vehicles together under one roof. With a mezzanine at one end, it contains brand-new office spaces and other facilities to support staff. “Most of the downstairs area is garaging, with a wood workshop, but there’s also laundry, bathroom and shower facilities for people to use after doing tasks that require PPE changes,” Lara explains. “The building design separates out dirty and clean areas that have been set up, so staff go through a transition space with laundry and bathroom facilities before heading up to the mezzanine level, where there is a meeting room, an office and staffroom for the team. All staff now have dedicated PPE lockers to store their safety gear, uniforms and personal equipment.” Compared to the previous cramped, outdated facilities, the new building with all its modern features and spaces is a big step change for staff. “It has been really good for staff wellbeing – it has brought a whole new Waitangi Treaty Grounds are part of an estate comprising over 500 hectares. It is a place of belonging and a nationally historic site. The grounds staff members now have a home base that truly reflects the importance of the work they do. Looking ahead, this new building is set to vastly improve workflows and efficiencies. Meanwhile, a range of other projects are occurring to revitalise and upgrade infrastructure across the estate as a part of the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Works have recently begun on repurposing a former bowling club building into a new education centre, Te Akomanga. “It will be a complete renovation and extension, doubling the size of the building,” Lara says. “We’ve never had a dedicated teaching space for the thousands of students who come to the Treaty Grounds. Having this dedicated centre will help us to further engage that learning and support our adult Te Tiriti o Waitangi workshops too.” As well, toilets that service the Upper Treaty Grounds have been rebuilt, the Haruru Falls lookout has been renovated with new picnic areas, walkways and gardens, and the Treaty House has been fully repainted. energy to the team and the mahi they do for the grounds.” Lara says the design of the new building grew out of discussions with the grounds team. HB Architecture then brought the plans to life. “It has been a collaborative journey involving SmartSteel Buildings Auckland South and Bay of Islands, Henwood Construction, and a team of Northland contractors to bring it all together efficiently and economically.”
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