Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
25 seconds ago
A limestone mauri stone that survived Cyclone Gabrielle has been placed at the heart of EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale, marking the opening of the new Te Papa o Kiwa quadrant and a fully refurbished student hub.
The Tim Twist Building, formerly the Twist Library, is now the campus’s main student hub. It houses Te Pārongo (Reception, Information, Library and IT Support) and Te Kuhunga (Registry and Enrolment), bringing key services together in one place.
The building connects directly to Te Papa o Kiwa – the landing place of Kiwa – the enhanced quad designed as a central point of orientation for students, staff and visitors.
The redevelopment follows widespread damage to the campus caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, when floodwaters from the Tūtaekurī River breached stopbanks and severely affected 85 to 90 per cent of ground-floor buildings. In the aftermath, the focus was firmly on supporting students and restoring key services as quickly and meaningfully as possible.
At the entrance to the quad sits a limestone mauri stone, formally named Te Taupunga o Parawhenuamea, meaning “the anchor that withstands the floodwaters of Parawhenuamea”, by local kaumatua. Relocated from beneath a kauri tree, the stone symbolises strength, recovery and connection in the wake of the cyclone.
The stone was placed as part of a dawn ceremony on Tuesday, attended by staff, students, kaumatua and community representatives.
EIT Operations Lead Glen Harkness said the redevelopment reflects EIT’s commitment to putting students at the centre of recovery.
“Our main focus has always been our students. This redevelopment symbolises our collective resilience and our commitment to providing a supportive and inspiring environment for all who study and work here,” Harkness said.
The Tim Twist Building and Te Papa o Kiwa follow the reopening of B Block and Te Ara o Tāwhaki marae in February. B Block, now named Te Pae Hono (a threshold of connection), houses Māori, Pacific and Disability Student Support Services and a multipurpose council room.
The building also features contemporary Māori and Pacific design elements created in collaboration with Poutiaki Taonga (Archive and Collections Manager) Chris Bryant-Toi, postgraduate artists Kylarni Tamaiva-Eria and Tim Whaitiri-Henderson, kaumātua-led community groups, Chow Hill Architects and other industry professionals.
Storytelling walls, tāniko-inspired flooring, river motifs and a suspended waka sculpture bring cultural narratives to life within the space.
“The creative starting point for us was Jacob Scott’s stained glass window representing Tāne, Te Aho a Māui and Te Ara o Tāwhaki Marae.
From there, we could connect to other cultures and shared histories, taking something seemingly old and revitalising it with cutting-edge digital technology.”
Chris said the designs reflect both the experience of Cyclone Gabrielle and ongoing rangahau research.
“We’ve created new imagery that contributes to global conversations around resilience, identity and the climate movement.”