Te Puia design wins at Property Council New Zealand Awards
The redevelopment of New Zealand’s most established cultural tourism attraction has taken out the top award in the Tourism and Leisure Property category at the 2008 Property Council New Zealand Awards.
The award is the latest in a line of national and international accolades for the four main constructions that form the new Te Puia which has contemporised cultural tourism in New Zealand whilst still remaining true to its heritage and traditional values.
Te Puia is New Zealand’s largest and most established cultural tourism attraction and has been sharing the spirit of Manaakitanga for 135 years when the first European was deftly guided across the maze of geothermal pools and geysers.
Te Puia - Māori Arts and Crafts Institute and the Te Whakarewarewa Thermal reserve are an iconic part of New Zealand’s tourism heritage. Te Puia is gaining wide recognition for its presentation of cultural tourism and design in a 21st century context without compromising the treasured heritage of its site, people and stories.
Te Puia chief executive, Te Taru White said that the latest award was a “well earned celebration of the passion, effort, innovation and commitment that the design and construction teams put into the redevelopment of Te Puia which held many challenges and learning experiences for all of those involved as they worked to retain the cultural integrity of a much revered site whilst pushing the limits of design and construction.”
Property Council of New Zealand chief executive, Connal Townsend commented on the Te Puia development as “successfully focusing on providing a broader cultural and visitor experience which has produced an excellent increase in returns whilst ensuring that the facility will retain its leading role in the Rotorua tourism market.”
The redevelopment of Te Puia now presents New Zealand’s most comprehensive cultural tourism experience that includes the award winning Te Whare Tapere interactive gallery featuring leading edge tourism technologies and an exciting retail gallery showcasing contemporary and traditional arts, crafts and souvenirs.
1 July 2008
