A New Cultural Centre in the Heart of Kawkawa
The town of Kawakawa in the Bay of Islands is set to be transformed through the creation of a new arts, culture and environment Centre that celebrates the town’s connection with Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and will be a ‘hub’ to the rich culture in the area.
TE HONONGA
The Joining of Cultures
Tena koutou katoa,
Te Hononga o nga whakaaro, hei tuapapa mo te mahi tahi, tutuki noa to tatou kaupapa. A melding of ideas as a firm foundation for combined effort and realisation of our collective vision.
Our Vision – Te Pae Tawhiti
Inspired by our friendship with Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Te Hononga is a community-led project and will fuse environmental build and design with natural materials, Toi Māori art, culture and shared community spaces.
Located in Kawakawa, behind the world-famous Hundertwasser Toilets (opened in 1999), Te Hononga will be a centre for our local community and manuhiri (visitors) alike. A place to celebrate arts, culture and a connection to each other and our environment.
The proposed Park Centre
- Interpretive centre / memorial to Hundertwasser
- Public gallery & viewing platform
- Community workshop
- Library & Council service centre
- Atea & town square
- Improved public amenities & parking
- Connections to the Hundertwasser Park, native nursery, sculpture, walking and cycle trails
Construction started February 2019 with an aim to open during 2020, 20 years after the opening of the original Hundertwasser toilets.
The Centre will be a showcase of environmental building and design. A wider kaupapa of arts, culture and environment will be at the heart of the centre, its exhibitions and community programmes run by the Trust and Ngati Hine. The project will be made of local materials, by local hands, and involve a large number of local, world-class artists in the creation of elemts for the Centre.
Facilities will also be developed for cyclists and freedom campers. These will include bicycle racks and coin-operated ablution facilities such as 24/7 showers and toilets (for the large number of freedom campers).