April 09, 2018
Maori design principles for bus centre
Te Aranga Maori design principles have been embraced in the new Manukau bus station which opened at the weekend.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the $49 million station includes high environmental standards and great design, including Maori art, and will transform the old Manukau city centre.
The station has room for 23 buses at a time and will handle 470 buses and around 5500 passengers each day.
Auckland Transport worked with mana whenua on the design and construction.
It’s the first Auckland Transport project to factor social outcomes into the procurement process, which led to contractor NZ Strong employing 13 South Auckland Maori and Pasifika trades training graduates. All now have full-time jobs.
In addition to the use of natural timber and prominent iwi creative expressions. Te Aranga Maori principles guided the design of the vital stormwater management system and the passive temperate controls methods.
The principles were developed a decade ago by Maori design professionals who were concerned at the lack of a Maori voice in urban design and pushed for planners to recognise the Maori cultural landscape in their work.
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