Complete Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Maori Arts Gallery

Famed artist and New Zealand citizen Friedensreich Hundertwasser resided in Tai Tokerau Northland for over 30 years before his untimely death in 2000. Along with his acclaimed artworks, he is known both locally and internationally for his design and construction of the Kawakawa Hundertwasser toilets, which were completed in 1999. Perhaps less known, Hundertwasser was invited by the then Mayor of Whangarei to undertake an architectural transformation of a building to an art centre for Whangarei, the ideas and location for which were sketched by Hundertwasser in 1993.

This project seeks to realise Hundertwasser’s vision for Whangarei, establishing the Hundertwasser Arts Centre with Wairau Māori Arts Gallery at Whangarei’s waterfront Town Basin area. The Centre and Gallery will include commercial and visitor offerings, and house collections of both Hundertwasser’s original art and contemporary Māori art.

This project is in the Visitor Industry workstream of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action PlanFor more information visit https://www.northlandnz.com or Phone 09 438 5110

Location: Whangarei

Action Complete HundertwasserArt Centre with WairauMaori Arts Gallery

Lead Whangarei Art Museum Trust

Key outcomes • Attraction of an increased number of visitors to Whangarei, generating local revenue

• Creation of new employment opportunities

Timeframe 2017 - 2021

Key deliverables • Construction of Hundertwasser Arts Centre and Wairau Maori Art Gallery, including procurement of Hundertwasser’s original works from Vienna and contemporary New Zealand art collection(s)

• Establishment of operational resource and systems to market and manage the centre ongoing

Key partners Prosper Northland Trust, Northland Inc, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Culture and Heritage