Museums • For Kids

Te Ahu

Client

Location

Completed

Far North Regional Council

Kaitaia, Aotearoa New Zealand

2012

The Project

An integrated town centre, combining Museum, Library, Council and Tourism.

Kaitaia is a small town in the remote North of New Zealand. It has a large Māori population, with an average age under 18. Story Inc designed all elements of this successful centre with young people in mind. Our aim was to re-engage the town’s youth with their history, culture and the joy of reading.

A key factor in the success of Te Ahu was Story Inc’s ability to work with the many and disparate stakeholders. The region is home to five Māori tribes, generations of Dalmatian immigrants, and the descendants of ‘first-settler’ Europeans.

Te Ahu is also a hub for tourists. Story Inc’s visitor experience allows travellers to interact with locals and with the history of the region.

The centre opened in April, 2012.