NewsAwards
Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery awarded prestigious Purple Pin at DINZ Best Awards
Designed by WAM in close collaboration with Te Rūnanga o Tupoho, Tihei, Sarjeant Gallery and Whanganui District Council, Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery received the supreme Purple Pin at the DINZ Best Awards, and two Gold Pins for Spatial and Toitanga on Friday.
Standing as a landmark cultural project, the newly restored gallery is the result of more than two decades in the making. Located in Whanganui, a regional city on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island, the redevelopment transforms a nationally significant heritage gallery into a symbol of cultural partnership, environmental respect, and architectural renewal.
The design embraces Māori design principles and storytelling, recognising the river’s sacredness and its central role in Māori identity. The black granite façade, embedded with stainless steel tioata (crystal-like shards), reflects the river’s shimmering surface, capturing the phenomenon of kānapanapa—light dancing on dark waters. A waka (canoe)-inspired bridge symbolically links the old and new structures, bridging Māori and colonial perspectives. This bridge is not only a physical link but also a cultural and symbolic one, acknowledging the unique relationship between Māori and the land, and between past and future generations.
This architectural intervention is a profound act of reconciliation, acknowledging the impacts of colonisation while opening a pathway towards a restorative future. Rooted in authentic design processes and deep collaboration, the work stands as a blueprint for the future of Aotearoa architecture. So much poetry in this project. A cultural landmark that holds who we are.
The integration of Māori cultural narratives into the Sarjeant Gallery makes it more than just an extension; it is an act of cultural repair, reconciliation, and renewal. By honouring the Whanganui River’s spiritual significance, the design fosters cultural sustainability and reinforces the identity of the Whanganui region. It transforms the Sarjeant Gallery into a space that bridges past and future, grounded in place, culture, and shared vision.
WAM was delighted to also celebrate a number of other prestigious awards on the night.
Purple Pin
Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery
Gold Pins
Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery – Toitanga
Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery – Public, Private and Institutional Spaces
Hiwa – University of Auckland Recreation Centre designed in association with MJMA Toronto - Public, Private and Institutional Spaces|
Te Ramanui o Ruapūtahanga - Public, Private and Institutional Spaces
Beca House – Workplace
Wainui Church Conversion designed in association with Objects – Repurposed Spaces
InterContinental Hotel – Hospitality
Silver Pins
Isite - Retail
Bronze Pin
Horizon Hotel designed in association with Moller Architects - Hospitality
