Far North building a world-beater

Te Mirumiru staff and whanau celebrate the building's international success. PICTURE/PETER DE GRAAF

A ground-breaking building in Kawakawa designed to minimise energy use and tell the stories of its iwi has won a major international award.

Te Mirumiru childcare centre beat 57 other entries from around the Asia- Pacific to win the top honour at the World Green Building Council's awards in Singapore on Thursday NZ time.

The bilingual childcare centre, which is owned by the Ngati Hine Health Trust and provides early education to about 70 children aged 0-5, was the only Australasian building to make the final eight.

The win puts Northland on the global green building map. Opened in 2012 at a cost of $2.2 million, Te Mirumiru has previously been shortlisted for international awards but this is its first big win. Team leader Arona Tipene said the award had given staff, Ngati Hine and the Kawakawa community a great sense of pride.

It had also put Ngati Hine tupuna (ancestors) on an international stage because the building was inspired by the tribe's eponymous ancestor Hineamaru and the nearby caves at Waiomio.

Ms Tipene said Te Mirumiru aimed to look after children and build them into leaders of tomorrow. "This award will open up all sorts of opportunities and possibilities for them," she said.

Alex Cutler, the head of New Zealand's Green Building Council, said the award was a "stunning achievement".

"These awards are hotly contested. New Zealand's design and construction industry can hold its head high among the world's very best. Te Mirumiru was up against a wide international field and has shone through.

"This is testament to the strong vision of its iwi owners and the technical skill of the architect and project team," Mr Cutler said.

World Green Building Council chief executive Jane Henley said Te Mirumiru was an outstanding example of a building that engaged and educated children about their culture, customs and the environment.

It was designed by Phil Smith of Casa Architects in Auckland to reflect Ngati Hine culture and values. He wanted to create a genuinely Maori building rather than the usual Western building overlaid with Maori carvings.

New Zealand's first commercial earth-bank building, it is built into a grass-covered, crescent-shaped mound of earth. Its north-facing glazing maximises sun in winter with heating kept to a minimum by an underfloor solar hot water system and the "superinsulated" roof. Exposed concrete and natural ventilation allow passive cooling in summer. All spaces are naturally lit and rainwater is used to irrigate the green roof.

It is one of only three buildings in New Zealand with a 6 Green Star rating and the only Green Star-rated early childhood centre in Australasia.

Its symbolism includes the earth bank's womb-like shape with the building formed inside, like a child of Papatuanuku (the Earth Mother). A cut in the north facade, its only entrance, represents the caesarean birth through which all Ngati Hine trace their lineage (Hineamaru is said to be the first Maori to deliver a child by caesarean section and survive).

The earth mound refers to Ngati Hine-pukerau (Ngati Hine of a hundred hills) while the interior represents the Waiomio caves and Ruapekapeka pa, where warrior chief Kawiti used underground shelters in the final battle of the Northern Wars.

Mayor John Carter said the win was a great achievement that showed what Far North communities were capable of. It reflected well on Ngati Hine and on Northland, he said. Former Kawakawa Business Association chair Richard Duley said the win was one more success the town could take pride in.

"It's wonderful that another iconic building in Kawakawa has been recognised," he said.

The full name of Te Mirumiru's award is the Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance trophy, presented at the World Green Building Council's Asia-Pacific Regional Network Leadership Awards. The building is on Rayner St, between the Ngati Hine Health Trust headquarters and Kawakawa's Three Bridges.