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He Tohu Document Room, Wellington

Studio Pacific Architecture

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Designer
Studio Pacific Architecture
Client
New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs
Floor area
120.00 ㎡
Completion
2017

The brief for He Tohu asked to display, preserve and interpret Aotearoa New Zealand’s most precious and delicate documents. The balancing of achieving the technical requirements while making the documents readily accessible for all, and creating a meaningful and respectful place was always going to be crucial. The documents in the exhibition: 1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni – Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand; 1840 Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Treaty of Waitangi; and 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition – Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine are iconic constitutional documents and priceless national treasures. He Tohu aims to bring them alive for future generations and enhance learning opportunities about the historical, constitutional and cultural significance of the documents for young New Zealanders. There is something very powerful about being able to personally and intimately inspect these handwritten documents which have so profoundly shaped, and continue to shape the history of a nation. All three documents are highly sensitive to light, humidity and temperature. Any one of these aspects could cause irreparable damage however putting the documents away in the dark was not an option. They had to be protected while being accessible, they had to be legible, and they had to live in a beautiful space - a place where all New Zealanders can engage and reflect on the taonga’s (treasures) multiple narratives and meanings.