Waipapa Taumata Rau leaders joined with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in the blessing of Building 201. Back row (from left): CJ Gilbert, Te Aroha Grace, Robbie Paora, Kaumatua Temepara Morehu, Michael Steedman. Front row (from left): Professor Robert Greenberg (Dean of Arts), Adrienne Cleland (Director of Operations), Marama Royal (Chair Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust), Paora Sharples, Charlotte Rudolph, Iritana Watene, Leah Harriman, Monique Maihi-Pihema, Professor Mark Barrow (Dean of EDSW), Wyllis Maihi
On 13 September, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei opened Building 201 with a dawn karakia service.
Lead by Michael Steedman, Kaiarataki from the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Māori, the blessing saw nearly one hundred people tour the building, which will house staff and students from the three faculties, following the move by Education and Social Work into the City Campus from Epsom.
Built some 50 years ago, the refurbished Social Sciences Building was awarded a 6 Green Star Design rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council. This puts it in the ‘world leadership’ category. It will be officially opened for business by the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins next week.
During the ceremony, Michael Steedman acknowledged the history of the building and the connection it had had with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the University’s iwi manaaki, over the past half century.
“Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei has supported the city of Tāmaki Makaurau since Hobson landed in Aotearoa in 1860, and the University of Auckland since its earliest days 140 years ago.
“The University acknowledges this important partnership; the karakia service allows the mana of tangata whenua to weave their mauri into the journey ahead.”