Long awaited Hundertwasser Arts Centre opens in Whangarei

The doors to Whangārei’s much-discussed Hundertwasser Art Centre are finally open.

The centre was officially opened on Sunday 20 February, 29 years after the late Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser first sketched his original design for the building.

The new cultural tourism destination, which took a little over three years to build and is itself considered a work of art, includes a gallery of 80 Hundertwasser artworks, as well as New Zealand’s first public gallery for contemporary Māori art, the Wairau Māori Art Gallery.

The Hundertwasser Arts Centre in Whangarei. Image credit - Greg Hay.

In addition to the two galleries, the Hundertwasser Art Centre contains an activity centre, gift shop and restaurant. the biggest afforested rooftop in the southern hemisphere, and an eight-metre-high gold cupola.

The $33million project was completed with $18.5million in funding from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund, managed by Kānoa (Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit). Northland Regional Council contributed $1.5million. As a result of a referendum in 2015, Whangārei District Council provided $2.97million towards the cost of earthquake strengthening. Community funds of $10million were raised from Lotteries, Foundation North and Oxford Sports Trust. Funds were also raised from private and public donations, as well as from sales.

Hundertwasser Art Centre chief executive Kathleen Drumm said the new attraction, which has just been awarded a Silver Tourism Award by Qualmark, provides Whangārei and Te Tai Tokerau with a world class cultural tourism destination.

“When people experience the level of detail and quality of craft that has gone into the building, I believe they will recognise that what has been created here is totally unique and quite remarkable. It is a destination that will bring immediate and continued economic benefit to the city and to the wider region” Ms Drumm said.

Hundertwasser is one of the 20th century’s most celebrated European artists. He lived for 24 years in the Bay of Islands and was a New Zealand citizen. He committed himself to the preservation of our natural surroundings.

Regional Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash says the project is a tribute to the dreams, hard, work, perseverance and fund-raising efforts of thousands of Kiwis, Austrians and global supporters of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s vision.

“The stunning new Hundertwasser Art Centre and Wairau Māori Art Gallery is a work of art to house works of art,” says Nash. “Hundertwasser disliked straight lines and preferred irregular and uneven designs. That is reflected in the journey to opening day, which has been far from straightforward. The idea for a Hundertwasser art gallery was first proposed in 1992 but construction didn’t begin till June 2018. The project employed over 500 people and was a major contributor to the Whāngarei economy through COVID-19.

Hundertwasser disliked straight lines. Image credit - Tessa Paton.

“The project employed local architects, designers, project managers and builders. Skilled plasterers, tilers and bricklayers faithfully realised Hundertwasser’s trademark details on the striking façade. The eight-metre-high gold cupola on the roof is another signature feature of his architecture. Hundertwasser’s ecological beliefs and the flora of Te Tai Tokerau are reflected in the work of local horticulturalists and gardeners. The building’s distinctive look includes a highly engineered roof planted in native trees and shrubs from a Tutukaka nursery,” says the minister.

The Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery was created in collaboration with the Hundertwasser Non Profit Foundation in Vienna, which manages the artist's estate and legacy.

Foundation head Joram Harel said the Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery champions the notion of life being in harmony with the laws of nature. “The tree tenants in the facades and the forest on the roof symbolise a gesture for a peace treaty with nature. Visitors of the Hundertwasser Art Centre will encounter and experience a celebration of art, beauty and individual creativity in harmony with nature,” Mr Harel says.

Chair of the Wairau Māori Art Gallery Charitable Trust, Elizabeth Ellis said the Wairau Māori Art Gallery has been created to profile the best of Māori art and provide New Zealand with its first public Māori art gallery solely dedicated to profiling Māori artists and curators.

You can find out more about the centre here.