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Te Raukura, Te Wharewaka
There are three parts to Te Raukura - The Wharewaka (waka house),
Whare Tāpere (conference/events and entertainment house), and Wharekai (eating house).
01
Te Wharewaka -
Waka House
The Wharewaka (waka house) is open to the public during the day and on permanent public display through the glass sides of the building.
Waka can be launched into the lagoon for ceremonial occasions via the slipways.
Waka ama will be used on a more regular basis for training and competition.
02
Whare Tāpere -
Conference/ Events & Entertainment
Impress your guests in the modern and beautiful Wharewaka Function Centre, a purpose built facility offering 4 spaces, with a modern contemporary look and feel, this venue is a “must see”.
Bookings from 20 – 230 seated, up to 500 standing.
Indoor, outdoor flow on the ground floor and stunning views on the first floor.
03
Wharekai -
Eating House
Karaka Café named after the Karaka Grove on the Harbour side of the premise by the late Kaumatua Sam Jackson, Te Atiawa Iwi.
Māori bought the karaka seed on waka as they travelled to settle in Aotearoa, enabling them to harvest the karaka (orange) fruit.
The Karaka grove brings with it a connection to the history and story of our ancestors.
This building was given its name of Te Raukura at an opening dawn Ceremony on Waitangi Day, Sunday 6 February 2011.
Previously the building was known as Te Wharewaka.
Te Raukura is of special significance to descendants from Taranaki iwi of Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngati Ruanui, Ngati Tama and Ngati Mutunga.
Previously the area where the building is located was harbour frontage to Te Aro Pā, one of the largest Māori communities in Wellington up until the 1880's.
The building sees the Taranaki Wharf, notably absent on the waterfront since that time.
Kaitiakitanga | Sustainability
Glass Recycling
All glass is collected for recycling as part of the Waste Watch programme and by commercial suppliers due to the quantities we use.
Glass bins are collected daily and taken to central locations in the Wellington region. This process is huge in reducing the amount of landfill we produce.
Plastics & Aluminium
The same process as with the glass the bins, applies to our plastics and aluminium bins recycling.
Again, a large amount of product that does not end up in our landfills.
Cardboard & Paper
One of the largest bins due to product packaging. Flattened and placed in the cardboard bin, and collected 3-4 times a week.
Waste Oil
Collected on request, then treated and recycled for products such as soaps, bio-fuels and stock feeds.
General Rubbish
Since changing to the above recycling system we have reduced our general waste by 70%.
It is an ongoing process in educating our team on the need to be vigilant in recycling, but it is an system that we will continue to use.
Inlaid into the forecourt of Te Rauku is the Ātea, the traditional Polynesian star compass.
The Polynesian star compass has its origins in traditional voyaging navigation by waka hourua which locates the stars and constellations as the broach the horizon.
The waka themselves are used as a star compass.
The 360° horizon around the canoe was divided up into different sectors named 'houses' and these were marked on canoe railings.
Navigators would know that the arcs of the sun and other stars cross the sky at different heights depending on the time of year.
Star Compass on the Ātea - Aronga Mana
Statue of Kupe
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The statue of Kupe, in front of Te Raukura, shows the legendary Polynesian explorer with his wife, Hine Te Apārangi, and his tohunga, Pekahourangi.
Mākaro
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Named after one of Kupe's daughters.
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Also name of one of the islands in the harbour.
Matiu
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Named after Kupe's other daughter.
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Also the name of one of the islands in the harbour.
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Can be seen from this room.
Mokopuna
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Named after a small island in the harbour.
Te Puni
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Named after a great Chief for the Taranaki Whānui.
