Waiaroha - Heretaunga Water Discovery Centre
Waiaroha at Night. Photo Credit: Shannon Bray.
In 2016, the drinking water in Havelock North became contaminated with Campylobacter. It’s likely that the contamination event contributed to the death of four people, and over 5,500 of our whānau became ill. As a result, our community lost trust in our water infrastructure, and many questioned how we could improve our systems to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of everyone.
From this event, two significant workstreams emerged. The first was a Government inquiry and the development of the Water Services Entity legislation (commonly known as Three Waters). The second was a $100m investment in water infrastructure by the Hastings District Council.
It was as part of this second workstream that Wayfinder was engaged to assist Council. Amongst the various projects emerged the requirement to install two drinking water storage and treatment facilities within Hastings. These needed to be close to the water bores and easily connected to existing mains water supply lines, on available land (with no connotations of being near any contamination – ruling out industrial sites), and on a large site that was already owned by Council or could be purchased quickly. Our role was to help Council find the most suitable sites, and then consider how these could best be integrated into their respective locations.
General Arrangement - Site Plan. Image courtesy of Shannon Bray.
For North Hastings, several sites met the criteria. In the end, Frimley Park was identified as the best location, and a site plan was developed that integrated the facility into existing trees. Various visualisations of the proposal were developed, and minor tweaks to the layout were made through the community engagement process (including reorientating the treatment plant, and redesigning its layout to avoid working areas being visible from neighbouring properties). We also eliminated as much site fencing as possible, retaining the ability for dog walkers to traverse the perimeter of the park and allowing people the opportunity for a tactile, close up experience.
A grey-blue tank colour was adopted that reflected the hue under the trees, and simple timber slats were added to the treament plant building to mimic the surrounding trunks.
Waiaroha: Tank, art and water feature. Photo credit: Shannon Bray.
The result is that the facility integrated into the park seemingly effortlessly, with numerous people commenting on how it is the ideal location. There is a strong sense of connection between the green, natural qualities of the park and the function of the facility in providing drinking water to the community.
The facility in South Hastings was potentially more challenging. Although a site was identified (and largely preferred by Councillors), it would have meant the loss of several netball courts, with the storage tank potentially being directly adjacent to many residential properties. Therefore, although having the potential to be significantly more prominent, a site in the central city was selected for the facility, directly adjacent to the Council buildings.
At this point we could have developed a planting plan, obtained a consent by way of necessary infrastructure, put some trees in the ground, and called it a day. But we were keen to dig deeper and find a more appropriate method to integrate the facility with its urban setting.
This lead to an investigation into the values of the project – this was, ultimately, a response to an event that had significant effects on many people, affected the relationship between the community and Council, and had resulted in a loss of trust in Council’s ability to manage the drinking water network. Our integration solution had to be one of community engagement and trust restoration, rather than visual screening.
Waiaroha Opening Day. Photo Credit: Hastings District Council.
It was from this thinking that Waiaroha was born. Rather than put the treatment plant in a dark box, we opened views into the facility by changing one side of the building to glass. We then focussed on the surrounding site providing the opportunity to explore the value of water, showcase its journey, and celebrate its cultural significance.
A design team was established that included Ngāti Kahunungu at its core. We explored the legend of Kāhu flying across the Heretaunga Plains, and established the core project theme of ki uta ki tai – the journey of water from the mountains to the sea. A concept was developed that showcased water in its different environments, from the misty mountains through a river to an underground aquifer on the site. This was aligned with the water treatment plant, its internal workings fully visible to the public, showing the treatment and distribution process, before finally ending at the sea.
Carved Panels now on site. Photo Credit: Hastings District Council
An educational building is sited to provide visual interest from the street, and to help visually mitigate the facility from the residential properties opposite. The design narrative for this building was influenced by Tāne (god of the forest), and it was designed to provide a multi-functional space for interactive learning, community hui on water issues, or as a function space around water-related events. Further landscape development helps to soften the bold engineering forms, whilst provide functionality for school groups and community gatherings. The whole site is also designed to function as a marae, with the beautifully carved waharoa and mahau (together with internal tukutuku panels) embedding the cultural narratives of water.
Waiaroha opened to the public in October following 5 years of development. It was blessed at dawn through a pōhiri attended by over 400 people. It has already been recognised globally as one of the most significant drinking water facilities to be developed this century. It provides all visitors the opportunity to engage with the water treatment process, whilst learning about the cultural, natural and municipal aspects of our most important resource.
Opening Ceremony. Photo Credit: Shannon Bray.
Getting the project to completion was certainly challenging, it survived political pressures through a local body election, Covid and a cyclone. Testament to its success was the clarity of the vision and the full embracement of the project by mana whenua. The co-design process showcases how culture and infrastructure do not need to be mutually exclusive, and that only by achieving full integration of cultural values, narratives and process into a project can it survive the rigours of today’s world.
It’s not often you hear the words “you must check out the local water treatment plant”, but we hope you do. Wander around Frimley Park and search out the infrastructure, or set an hour aside at Waiaroha to watch the wave machine in action, pump some water into the clouds and experience the rain, or simply get inquisitive on the internal workings of a municipal water network.
Project Team:
· Client: Hastings District Council
· Iwi Co-Designers: Ngāti Kahunungu (with particular mention to Hira Huata)
· Overall Concept and Site Design: Wayfinder Landscape Planning & Strategy Ltd
· Architecture: Designgroup Stapleton Eliott
· Site Engineering: Strata Group, Jacksons
· Storage and Treatment Facility Design: Stantec
· Education and Branding: Stitchbird
· Project Manager: Focus Project Management
· Lead Site Contractor: Gemco
· Water Tank Contractor: Reliant
· Water Treatment Plant Contractor: Drainways