Anchored by the whenua and driven by local aspiration

The Punangairi Visitor Experience Centre in Punakaiki | Dolomite Point is the result of a decade-long process and a collaborative vision to revitalise one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most iconic tourism destinations while strengthening the cultural presence and economic well-being of Ngāti Waewae.

Part of a broader redevelopment initiative, Punangairi replaces dated and inadequate facilities with an award-winning architecturally designed space that serves as a centrepiece for engaging with the site's history and the surrounding landscape.

Location

West Coast

Worked with

Ngāti Waewae
Sheppard & Rout Architects
Naylor Love
Powell Fenwick Consultants
RCP
WSP

Project date

2022 - 2024

Awards

Merit Award | Tourism and Leisure | PCNZ Rider Levett Bucknall Property Awards
Public Architecture | NZIA Nelson & Marlborough Architecture Awards
Special Award | New Zealand Commercial Project Awards
Gold Award - Tourism & Leisure | New Zealand Commercial Project Awards

Photo by Jason Mann

Boffa Miskell’s involvement with the project commenced with the Dolomite Point Redevelopment Opportunity Study (2016 - 2019) and continued through the Punakaiki Community Masterplan (2018), the subsequent Dolomite Point Environmental Investigations and Approvals (2019 – 2022) and concluded with the opening of the Punangariri Visitors Centre in 2024.

Dolomite Point Redevelopment Opportunity Study set out a concept diagram associated with the future spatial development of Dolomite Point in Punakaiki. Significant infrastructure improvements surround the Visitor Centre. A new pedestrian/cycle pathway now winds through Punakaiki, providing a safe and scenic route for exploring the wider area, and the carpark has been upgraded to accommodate an increased number of visitors.

Photo by Jason Mann
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Photo by Jason Mann