The Whakatane Community Hub Project is sponsored by a group of social service providers in the small New Zealand town of Whakatane. The town is very beautiful but has some of the worst social statistics in the country. This project aims to address these statistics with a new kind of facility - a Community Hub, developed, organised and operated by the community for the community. Two designs were developed by local High School students and 2nd Year Architecture students from the Unitec School of Architecture in Auckland. It has the approval of the service providers, the local community, both Maori and non-Maori, the local and regional Councils, of all major political parties. Completion date is aimed at late 2015.

1. THE WHAKATANE COMMUNITY HUB
Also available at: www.tonywardedu.com/images/critical_practice/Hub-Design-Final.pdf
A DESIGN COLLABORATION BETWEEN POU WHAKAARO
&
UNITEC SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

2. THANKS
We wish to thank the staff and students of the Unitec School of Architecture, and in
particular the 24 Second Year students (of 12 different ethnicities) of the Whakatane
Hub Project for their hard work, their talent and their brilliant design skills. Without
them, this project would not be progressing to a successful completion.
We would also like to thank the tangata whenua and the many Social Service
Providers of the Eastern Bay of Plenty who supported us over the last two years, by
attending our workshops, and by sharing their knowledge, their needs and their
hopes for a better future for our community.
We would like to thank the Whakatane District Council and the Bay of Plenty
regional Council for their enthusiastic support and for their endorsement of our
proposal.
Finally, we would like to thank the many individuals and groups who make up the
Whakatane Community for their faith, their resolve and their support. In particular,
we would like to mention the staff and students from Whakatane and Trident High
Schools, especially those who participated in our surveys and who worked on the
design proposals.
This has truly been an exemplary community development project.

3. COMMUNITY HEALTH
Health is a multi-faceted, interactive phenomenon
Physical
Spiritual
Mental
Economic
SocialCultural
Environmental
IntellectualPolitical
HEALTH
Is about building, nurturing, developing and healing relationships

4. COMMUNITY HUB
NOT THIS
BUT THIS
Community skills, resources and knowledge
A MULTIPURPOSE HEART AND HUB FOR THE WHAKATANE COMMUNITY

5. WHAKATANE: A TALE OF TWO CITIES
• Sunshine Capital
• Best beach
• Unparalleled outdoor activities
• Spectacular fishing
• Highest truancy rates
• Lowest academic achievement rates
• Among highest unemployment rates
• The second-highest child abuse rates
• Highest family violence rates
• Highest youth suicide rates
• Among lowest income rates
Why would anyone choose
to live in such a divided
community?
The Best of Towns The Worst of Towns

6. WHAKATANE: A PLACE FOR EVERYONE
“Healthy towns reflect healthy populations and cohorts,
across the lifespan. Unhealthy towns reflect this in the
untimely or premature deaths of its young and most
vulnerable populations”.
Dr. Cookson-Cox, Kawerau Youth Suicide Enquiry
• In the community
• By the community
• For the community
• Operated by the community
DEVELOPMENT WITH A HUMAN FACE
It’s time to address the needs of the community
It’s time to build a community!

7. DOES WHAKATANE NEED
A COMMUNITY CENTRE?
A FEASIBILITY STUDY
by
Pou Whakaaro and Supporting Families
January-March 2012
Project Manager Tony Ward BArch PhD.
A PDF version of this report can be downloaded at:
http://www.tonywardedu.com/content/view/481/95/
Initial Conception
Study Framework
• Brief National Overview
• Provider Workshop
• Public Survey
• Location Study
• Facility Study
REPORT AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.tonywardedu.com/content/view/481/95/
2012 FEASIBILITY STUDY

8. RESULTS
PRELIMINARY STUDY
• Identified 104 Community Groups operating in Whakatane
• Dispersed over numerous locations
WORKSHOP 1 (Providers)
• Desire to coordinate and co-locate, sharing facilities and systems
• Desire to cut costs and be more effective
• Initiated community wide survey
SURVEY RESULTS REVEALED
•bored and depressed youth
•lonely and depressed elderly
•adults with unmet social, economic and physical support needs
•unmet needs of numerous community groups
•a lack of coordinated transport and referral services
WORKSHOP 2 (Providers)
•Determined the need for a community facility
•Supported development of a concrete proposal (Stage 2)

9. SURVEY RESULTS Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Youth (under 20) 59.0% 203
Adult (20-60) 31.7% 109
Older Adult (60+) 7.8% 27
NZ European 40.7% 140
Maori 19.8% 68
Other 9.9% 34
answered question 344
skipped question 0
RESULTS REPORT AVAILABLE AT:
http://www.tonywardedu.com/critical-design-praxis/item/144-a-community-hub

10. What would you like to see offered in a community centre? Please check all that are of
interest to you.
Answer Options
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Workshop space (art, yoga, weaving, budgeting, etc) 73.1% 79
Community Festivals 63.9% 69
Computer Centre / Internet Access 58.3% 63
Linking to Community services 58.3% 63
A place to get help 57.4% 62
A place to play live music 57.4% 62
Community Garden 55.6% 60
A cafe w/ a child play area 53.7% 58
Flea markets 50.0% 54
A place to learn how to use technology (computers,
graphics, programs)
43.5% 47
A Place to Hang Out 42.6% 46
Somewhere to exercise and stay fit 41.7% 45
Somewhere to host a conference 40.7% 44
A rock climbing wall (surprisingly!) 38.2% 42
What would you like to see offered in a community centre? Please check all that are
of interest to you.
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
A Place to Hang Out 80.7% 163
Ten Pin Bowling 73.3% 148
A place to play live music 59.4% 120
Computer Centre / Internet Access 51.5% 104
A place to show and see special movies 51.0% 103
Free Shuttle bus to services 44.6% 90
Rock Climbing wall 44.1% 89
Community Festivals 38.1% 77
Somewhere to exercise and stay fit 36.1% 7336.1% 73
YOUTH
What would you like to see offered in a community centre? Please check all that
are of interest to you.
Answer Options
Response
Percent
Response
Count
Workshop space (art, yoga, weaving, budgeting, etc) 55.6% 15
A cafe w/ a child play area 55.6% 15
A place to get help 51.9% 14
Community Festivals 51.9% 14
Free Shuttle bus to services 48.1% 13
Linking to Community services 48.1% 13
A place to learn how to use technology (computers,
graphics, programs)
48.1% 13
Community Garden 44.4% 12
Rock Climbing wall 44.4% 12
A Pla ce to Hang Out 40.7% 11
Computer Centre / Internet Access 40.7% 11
Flea markets 40.7% 11
Multi-Cultural celebrations 40.7% 11
Ten Pin Bowling 40.7% 11
Somewhere to host a conference 40.7% 11
Somewhere to exercise and stay fit 37.0% 10
Community BBQ’s 37.0% 10
A place to play live music 33.3% 9
Cooking Space 33.3% 9
A place to show and see special movies 33.3% 9
Dances 29.6% 8
Central Booking place for area services, sites, resources 29.6% 8
Commercial Kitchen (to make and sell cooked items) 29.6% 8
Monthly open mural space 22.2% 6
Childcare 22.2% 6
ELDERS
Answer Options
Response
Percent
Response
Count
A Place to Hang Out 83.8% 57
A place to play live music 72.1% 49
Computer Centre / Internet Access 66.2% 45
Ten Pin Bowling 66.2% 45
Community Festivals 54.4% 37
A place to show and see special movies 51.5% 35
Somewhere to exercise and stay fit 47.1% 32
Community BBQ’s 45.6% 31
Workshop space (art, yoga, weaving, budgeting, 44.1% 30
Multi-Cultural celebrations 42.6% 29
Flea markets 41.2% 28
Free Shuttle bus to services 38.2% 26
Dances 38.2% 26
A cafe w/ a child play area 36.8% 25
Rock Climbing wall 36.8% 25
A place to get help 36.8% 25
A place to learn how to use technology
(computers, graphics, programs)
30.9% 21
Community Garden 30.9% 21
Cooking Space 30.9% 21
Linking to Community services 25.0% 17
Commercial Kitchen (to make and sell cooked
items)
25.0% 17
Somewhere to host a conference 25.0% 17
Central Booking place for area services, sites,
resources
20.6% 14
Childcare 13.2% 9
MAORI ADULTS
THE RESULTS WERE CONSISTENT ACROSS AGE AND
CULTURE

11. STAGE 2 THE COMMUNITY HUB: THE CONCEPT
• Community facilities that serve both Kopeopeo and Whakatane.
• That these facilities, if separate, be linked by a free shuttle
service
• That they include co-occupancy of a wide range of service
providers at an affordable rate
• That they include a centralised booking service for community
resources (halls, etc.)
• That they also include recreational and leisure facilities that
cater to youth, adults and the elderly, both Maori and pakeha
• That these facilities include:
• A place to hang out for youth
• A place to play and hear (and record) live music
• A drop-in space/ a place to get help
• A place for indoor and outdoor sports, including
basketball, table tennis, badminton
• A cafe with a free, safe children’s area available
• A computer centre with free and fast internet service and
available for education/classes
• A workshop space or spaces to make and display art,
craft.
• A space for performances and dancing
• A place to show and see special movies
• A commercial kitchen
• A community garden
Such facilities would also be able to cater to:
• Multicultural festivals
• Community BBQs
• Flea markets
• Farmers markets

12. SOCIAL SERVICE HUB

13. A SOCIAL/CULTURAL HUB
A Public/Private facility dedicated to mutual self-help with:
• Social Services
• Disability Support
• Family Support
• Budgeting Advice
• Legal advice
• Health support groups
• Education
• Adult Learning
• eLearning
• Leisure
• Drop in space (Youth, elderly, young parents)
• Fitness classes
• Dance classes
• Art Classes
• Hobby groups
• Indoor/Outdoor Sport and Recreation facilities
• Fitness and Exercise facilities
• Meeting/Exhibition spaces
• Café and Childcare
• Commercial Kitchen
• Music: Entertainment, Performance and Recording
• A Community Garden
• Commercial Enterprises (Rockwall, Bowling Alley, skating etc.)

14. SUSTAINABILITY, ACCESS, INCLUSION
Economically sustainable
•Self-funding after three years
Environmentally Sustainable
•State of the art building
•Carbon neutral
Inclusive
•Economically inclusive
•Culturally inclusive
•Ability inclusive
Accessible to all
•Free shuttle bus service
•Time Bank
•Green Dollar,
•”Whakatane Fiver”

15. OTHER EXAMPLES
This idea is not entirely unique. Here are
a few illustrated examples from the past
and the present:
•Peckham Health Centre, London, 1935
•Te Takere, Horowhenua
•Te Ahu Kaitaia
•Nga Purapura, Otaki
•Karori Community Centre and Event Centre

16. 1935 THE PECKHAM HEALTH CENTRE

17. TE TAKERE, HOROWHENUA
• Library materials and resources
• Free WiFi and access to the latest
technology
• Libretto Café
• Visitor Information
• AA Vehicle licensing and driver
testing
• Toilets and baby changing facilities
• Lounges to relax in and spaces for
study
• Fully equipped meeting and function
facilities
• Exhibitions, performances
• Family and local history displays and
resources
• A well resourced children’s area
• Business, Council and Community
support services.
http://www.tetakere.org.nz
Resources

19. TE AHU: KAITAIA
http://www.teahu.org.nz/

20. Te Ahu- Kaitaia
Opened 2 years ago
800 – 1000 visitors per week
Accommodates:
Council Offices
Library
Museum
Computer/Internet access
Weekend Movie Theatre
Hall
Meeting rooms
Cafe
Information Centre

21. NGA PURAPURA OTAKI

22. NGA PURAPURA OTAKI: INTERIOR

23. The facility comprises the following features:
• 2x multiple-purpose indoor sports courts
• 1x resistance training (weight training) and cardiovascular exercise room
• 1x nutrition-based classroom with cooking and food preparation
capabilities
• 1x nohopuku room for collective kawa engagement (for sports, exercise
and/or lifestyle modification-based kawa), whakatau manuhiri, karakia,
pre and post-sport and exercise preparation and conclusion
• 2x classrooms
• 1x facility café with a primary focus on healthy kai and inu
• Shower, changing and ablution facilities
• Staff Offices
• 1x mezzanine viewing platform overlooking the main sports court (also
doubling as a warm-up area for sports teams)
• 1x exercise science lab (located within classroom) • Facility reception,
car-parks and disabled user access to all areas
NGA PURAPURA OTAKI: ACCOMMODATION

24. KARORI COMMUNMITY AND
EVENT CENTRE
LIBRARY
RECREATION
CENTRE
COMMUNITY
CENTRE
PROPOSED
AUDITORIUM

26. ACTIVITIES
•Alcoholics Anonymous
•Community Lunch
•Drop-in Centre
•Karori Red Cross Branch
•Mahjong
•Gracenet Community Church
•Samoan Assembly of God
•Dayan Qigong
•Exercise to Music - Low impact aerobic
•Feldenkrais: (regain balance) Exercise
•Indoor Bowls
•Karate
•Parkinson Wellington
•Pilates—adults - various levels
•Pilates/Yoga
•Pilates
•Tai Chi
• ZUMBA
•English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)
•Homework Support Programme (Primary)
•Brownies
•PORSE (in Home Childcare) Music
•Windmill Music for Kids
•Plunket B4 School Checks
KARORI YOUTH CENTRE
•Pool
•Table Tennis
•XBox
•Drop in, Hang out
The Youth Centre is an integral part of the Karori Community Centre. It is
staffed by a youth worker, whose job it is to work with Karori young people,
setting up programmes and activities for them.
Monday to Friday 3.00—6.00pm
Fridays 3.00pm until 10.00pm.
Open in school holidays 3.00—6.00pm—some outings arranged.
It’s all about making Karori a better place for young
people.

27. KARORI
BUSINESS PLAN
TENANTS
•Wellington West Citizens Advice
•Karori Community Toy Library
•St John's Trust Op Shop

28. THE DESIGN GROUP
24 STUDENTS FROM 10 COUNTRIES
•Iran
•Iraq
•Afghanistan
•India
•Pakistan
•China
•Chile
•Argentina
•Bulgaria
•New Zealand
PLUS 7 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
• Whakatane H. S.
• Trident H. S.

29. SITE NO. 1 EX-COUNTDOWN BUILDING
KOPEOPEO

30. GROUP DESIGN PROCESS
• Individual Designs
• Group Designs (6 groups of 4)
• Group Designs (4 groups of 6)
• Whole Group Design
• 4 Public Presentations

31. THE COUNTDOWN SITE PROPOSAL
STAGE 1
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
Stewart street
KingStreet
PARKING
COURTYARD
WasherAvenue

32. STAGE 1 GROUND FLOOR
PROVIDERS
COMPUTE
PROVIDERS
(and above)
ART
CLASSES
CAFĒ
CLIMBING
TOYS
ELDERS
PROVIDERS
PERFORMANCE
(Recording Above)
SOCIAL SPACE
RECEPTION
NORTH
GAMES
YOUTH

33. FIRST FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
NIGHT FROM KING STREET
EXISTING VIEW
COMMUNITY
GYMNASIUM
PROVIDERS
COURTYARD
CLIMB
PROVIDERS
Workout

34. COURTYARD
Courtyard from the north West
Gymnasium
Community/Performance Space Courtyard from the North East

35. Bird’s Eye from the North East Explaining the design

36. HIGH SCHOOL SITE
PLAYING FIELDS
ALL WEATHER
NETBALL
COMMUNITY HUB
ST. JOSEPHS
GOULSTONE ROD
View from North East
View from East
View from North West
SITE PLAN

37. HIGH SCHOOL SITE
GROUND FLOOR PLAN FIRST FLOOR PLAN
Providers
Community Education
Workout
Climbing
Youth
Void
Net/Basketball
Mens Shed
Art
Social/Performance
EldersCafe
Climbing
Youth
ENTRANCE
NORTH
Class
Yoga
Zumba
Providers
Void
Class
Compute
Toy Lib.
Kitchen
Music

38. PUBLIC PRESENTATION: WHAKATANE

39. OCCUPANTS
1. Pou Whakaaro
2. Supporting Families
3. East Bay Time Bank
4. Tipu Rakau
5. Budget Advisory
6. Toy Library
7. Baywide Community Law
8. Relationship Services Aotearoa
9. Community Education programmes (20)
10. Mens’ Shed
11. Wera Aotearoa Charitable Trust
Operators
• Gymnasium
• Café
• Climbing Wall
Previously interested Providers to be confirmed
1. Te Puna Ora o Mataatua
2. Whakatane Arts and Crafts Society
ACTIVITIES
• Community Education
• Ultra-fast Internet studio
• Café
• Childcare
• Rock-Climbing Wall
• Toy Library
• Youth Drop-In Facilities
• Elder Drop-In Facilities
• Church Services
• Recording Studio
• Cultural Activities
• Meditation
• Performance Space
• Dance
• Music
• Poetry
• Rap
• Exercise and Gymnastics
• Physiotherapy/Massage
• Indoor Sports
• Games Room
• Art Facility
• Woodworking/Crafts
• Exhibitions

40. NEXT STAGES
• Comparative Capital Costs Done
• Due Diligence Almost Done
• Choice of Location Done
• Consent Timeframes Done
• Economic Analysis Started
• Engagement of Provider Partners Started
• Business Plan
• Establish a Governing Board Almost Done
• Public Awareness Campaign
• Development of Design
• Funding Processes
• Working Drawings and Specs
• Consent Processes