Te Whare Whakapapa wins prestigious awards

Ngāi Tahu Property has taken home two awards at the 2016 Property Council of New Zealand Industry Awards.

Te Whare Whakapapa, a purpose-build facility built for the New Zealand Blood Service completed in 2014, was judged as best in category for the Health and Medical Property Award and the Urban Land Developments Award.

The Property Industry Awards are regarded as the country’s most prestigious commercial property awards. Recipients are judged on economic and financial factors, project vision and innovation, design and construction, owner and user satisfaction, and sustainability and efficiency of operation.

Te Whare Whakapapa was purpose-built for New Zealand Blood Service. The property in central Christchurch comprises a donor centre, manufacturing and testing laboratories, specialised warehousing and offices.

Ngāi Tahu Property owns and manages the building with the New Zealand Blood Service as a long-term tenant. That allows the service to focus on its core operations, collecting blood and saving lives.

David Kennedy, Ngāi Tahu Property chief executive, says the awards reflect the partnership approach taken to the build.

“We are committed to developing properties to the highest standard and winning these awards is a great recognition of our high standards and innovative design,” Kennedy says.

“Because of the specialised services offered at Te Whare Whakapapa, we ensured that the building was fit for purpose by working in partnership with all teams involved.”

Kennedy says this collaborative approach allowed Ngāi Tahu Property to meet all the needs of the client, while also finishing the build ahead of time and just below budget. 

Ray Scott, New Zealand Blood Service National Manager Technical Services, says the project was an excellent example of a Public – Private ‘partnership’ which achieved the objectives of both parties.

“The result was the creation of a state-of-the-art facility to meet New Zealand Blood Services’ requirements well into the future,” Scott says.

“The design incorporates a number of technically complex aspects and has been designed to be flexible in layout to meet future workflow, capacity and technology changes. Apart from the critical functionality requirements, the building provides features to ensure both blood donors and staff satisfaction.”

Ngāi Tahu Property Limited is a leading New Zealand property development and investment company with assets valued at approximately $500 million.