March 21, 2022
Wānanga takes Living Building Challenge
Te Wānanga o Raukawa is aiming for Living Building certification in the rebuild of its Ōtaki campus.
The living building challenge looks at the site, water, energy, health, materials, equity, and beauty, with the aim being an environmentally friendly, carbon neutral performance.
Chief executive Mereana Selby says that fits with the wānanga’s kaupapa, particularly with kaitiakitanga.
The tender criteria for the main contractors, McMillan Lockwood and Pritchards Civil Engineers, includes employing local and contributing to the Māori economy.
Phase one, which is due for completion in a year, includes four new buildings including the administration block, a car park and a courtyard.
The student centric central courtyard will encourage walking, cycling and other such modes of movement.
The newer part of campus will produce 105% of daily energy needs via solar power, capture rainwater for all potable and non-potable needs, treat sewage on site, and have extensive planting of rongoā (medicinal native flora) and hua rākau (fruit trees).
The country’s first living building was Tūhoe’s Te Kura Whare in Taneātua.