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Manaia House, a specialist mental health facility recently opened in Whangārei, provides a vital connection point for the communities of Te Tai Tokerau and aims to fulfil a vision providing an accessible, centrally located, fit-for-purpose facility for tāngata whaiora (people in recovery), whānau (families), and staff. By leveraging its central Whangārei location and consolidating previously fragmented services into one building, it creates a welcoming, safe environment for individuals seeking support, while improving overall service efficiency.
Aurecon had the privilege of providing the building services and structural design for the Manaia House Community Mental Health Hub in Whangārei, alongside Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, and Mandeno Design.
The project has been nearly 10 years in the making, with fit-out work having to be extensively redone after a burst pipe flooded two floors in October 2023. The project cost $21.6m, including $19.5m from the Government and the balance funded by then-Northland District Health Board and other contributors. Manaia House has 75 consultation rooms in one location, bringing together services previously spread across four separate locations Whangārei-wide.
Until the development of the complex, the various mental health and other support services were located in disparate locations across Whangārei. Bringing together the full suite of Community Health and Addiction services into one central hub was not only a co-location decision but also one which brings these important services “into the light” rather than being located out of sight and out of mind.
As Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau Group Director of Operations Alex Pimm said, bringing all the services together under one roof created efficiencies, especially when patients needed to access more than one service. “It’s important to have mental health services prominent in the city, not only to increase access, but because it lifts the profile of mental health and addiction services – that’s one way of reducing the barriers to access and reduces stigma.”
The Aurecon team worked with a range of local contractors and a local architect to retrofit the former office space, playing a key building services role as well as altering the structure to suit the purpose of the health facility. This included the installation of a new glass partition within the main stairwell and operable walls.
This reuse of existing infrastructure is an excellent example of capital re-purposing and re-investment rather than building from new.
Aurecon worked closely with local contractors to bring this community-focused project to life.
One of the key aspects of this project was the ability of the team to project manage and collaborate in the face of unforeseen circumstances. When a valve failure in 2023 caused flooding just before the scheduled opening, Aurecon, as lead consultant, worked closely with local contractors to navigate the recovery process.
The project team had already demonstrated adaptability through COVID-19 lockdowns and drew on this experience to manage the extended timeline as a result of the flood. Despite regional infrastructure challenges, including repairs to the Brynderwyn highway following the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods, the collaborative approach between Aurecon and local contractors ensured the project's successful completion and delivery to the community.
While not the largest of projects, Manaia House is a key success for our Buildings team, with the connection to the local community, a bit of a Northland vibe, and a real sense of delivery of on-the-ground outcomes for those in need.
For the Aurecon team, the development of Manaia House has provided significant experience in working closely with a range of local contractors to bring a community focused project to life.
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