Wellington's waterfront 'fan zone' centrepiece completed

Wellington's Wharewaka o Poneke. Photo / Paul Harper

Wellington's $11.5 million Wharewaka o Poneke will be officially opened on Waitangi Day next week - just over one year after construction began on the project.

The Wharewaka - meaning boat house - was specifically designed to house the city's waka, Te Raukura, and sits on the waterfront near Taranaki Street Wharf and Te Papa.

It will also be the centrepiece for the city's Rugby World Cup 'fan zone'.

Wellington City Mayor Celia Wade-Brown said the city should be proud of the building.

"It's a building you couldn't see anywhere else in the world. Taranaki Whanui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika have delivered Wellington a wonderful asset that reminds us all of their place in the city - their history on the waterfront and their future as well."

The Wharewaka will house exhibition and function areas, a cafe, a commercial kitchen and office space. It will host powhiri and cultural performances and feature carvings and interactive history displays.

"We're very proud that our celebration of this global event will showcase Maori culture and specifically the important role of mana whenua," Ms Wade-Brown said.

Sir Ngatata Love, chairman of the Wharewaka o Poneke Charitable Trust, said he was excited to see the Wharewaka open.

"This has been planned since the 1990s and I'm delighted we're now able to bring waka culture to Wellington's waterfront."

The outside of the building is based on a korowai (cloak), which symbolises mana and prestige, and mirrors the traditional sails of the waka fleet. The Wharewaka's maihi or bargeboards, where the external walls meet the roof, also reflect the design of a waka.

The Government provided $7 million towards the project and the city council $1 million, while funding also came from the Port Nicholson Block Settlement Trust, Wellington Tenths Trust and the Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust.

A dawn ceremony will be held on Sunday to open the facility and while events inside the building are for invited guests only, the public will be able to see the ceremony on large screens at Odlins Plaza outside the Wharewaka.

Waka and Waka Ama demonstrations among other Maori performances will be held throughout the morning and guided tours will be available throughout the day.