Auckland’s iconic Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre is transforming from the inside-out into a vibrant and versatile venue for the conference and events industry.
The Centre’s recently completed interior refurbishment provides a stylish backdrop for conferences, dinners, exhibitions and trade shows in the heart of the Auckland City Centre.
Contemporary soft furnishings, detailing on sustainably-grown native timber, bespoke carpet designs inspired by local flora and fauna, repurposed flooring, as well as updated lighting all add natural warmth and texture to the modern space while celebrating the Centre’s history in a considered, renewable way.
With visitor accessibility in mind, thoughtful design elements including automatic opening doors, accessibility bar and coat check counters, handrail lighting and reconfigured internal ramps form an integral part of Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre.
A finalist in the 2019 New Zealand Best Design Awards in two categories, the Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre’s new wayfinding signage complements the venue’s updated architecture, with key visitor information presented in clean, contrasting visuals in English, Te Reo Māori, and touch-level braille.
Officially opened by the legendary New Zealand soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in 1990, the Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre recently renamed its main auditorium in her honour. As New Zealand’s largest modern tiered auditorium, the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre provides seating for over 2,100 people.
Located in the Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Arts Quarter, the Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre is also home to a number of significant artworks on permanent display.
Presented across two 65m² floor-to-ceiling screens, the large-scale digital artwork ihi, by renowned New Zealand artist Lisa Reihana, was unveiled at Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in January 2020. Retelling one of Māoridom’s oldest stories, ihi is one of the largest and most significant works of contemporary Māori art in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Its open design, expansive foyers and configurable function spaces, make the Aotea – Te Pokapū | Aotea Centre world-class venue for business collaboration, networking and celebration in New Zealand’s largest city.
Related: Prime Minister unveils striking digital artwork in Auckland’s Aotea Centre
