A new look for an historic laneway

In 2013 Boffa Miskell developed the Hawera Town Centre Strategy for the South Taranaki District Council. This long-term strategy is set to revitalise the Hawera town centre, including several High Street laneways providing connections between the main retail area and other public amenities.

Korimako Lane is the second of its kind in Hawera by the South Taranaki District Council. This site, like Campbell Lane which was completed in 2017, started as a building with a rich history but unfortunately had become earthquake prone. Notably the previous building was once a wine bar and butchers' shop. The design team took inspiration from this history and other existing site features such as old sliding doors and gantry. 

Location

Taranaki

Project team

Marc Baily
Helen Baggaley

Worked with

Clive Cullen - Architect
BTW Company - Engineers
BECA - Electrical Engineering
Mark Herring - Lighting Designers
Streetscape - Outdoor furniture

Project date

2016 - 2018

Following community and iwi consultation, the lane itself takes its name from the indigenous Bellbird commonly seen in South Taranaki. The Korimako, or Bellbird, has cultural significance to local iwi and particularly to Ngati Ruanui as local mana whenua.

In this lane stormwater is captured by a long raingarden, defined by a perforated concrete seating wall inspired by precast troughs which can be seen through the Taranaki agricultural landscape. The idea of a ‘washdown’ surface underpinned this and the approach to levels.

As part of the project, Council also redeveloped the adjacent Grubi Building which previously provided the connection that Korimako Lane now provides. This building now holds two retail business which front onto the lane.

Korimako Lane plays an important role in connecting people to Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga - Library, Culture and Arts Centre, which is positioned directly opposite the lane on the Main Street.