Whiti Ora Starship Foundation

"Under the dawn sky, the name of this building was unveiled. Whiti Ora means Spring, the planting of new seeds, signifying Starship Foundation’s mission to nurture a nation of healthy children."

Starship Foundation were bequeathed a gift to fund a new centre for Research Innovation Collaboration and Excellence, to accelerate world-class health for all tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa. This involved the
refurbishment of a three-story building in Grafton, housing an Education and seminar space, Innovation lab, Content and experience hub and a workspace for the Foundation team and Research Clinical Hub.

The Foundation were gifted a Cultural Narrative by Dame Naida Glavish, the ADHB Cultural Advisor, which tells the story of the Pīpīwharauroa placing its eggs into the Riroriro bird’s nest, to take care of and nurture. This kōrero is embedded in the design, throughout the exterior and interior of the building; the kōwhai tree (and the pīpīwharauroa’s call) indicating the first sign of spring, the curved decking representing Tangaroa and the pīpīwharauroa’s journey to Aotearoa, the glazing manifestations representing Matariki and Mahuru (spring), the thresholds at each level indicating the transfer between spaces ‘gifting over’.

Part of this kōrero and design also speaks to Te Waonui a Tāne, where the pīpīwharauroa lives. This is represented in the levels of the building; the ground level being the forest floor and shrubs, where we get our nutrients and rongoā māori, where manaaki and kai are provided. The first-floor level being the tree canopy where the branches reach new heights for Ranginui , this is where the Foundation and Innovation Teams live. The layout of the walls on this level represents the feeling of ‘swooping’ between the tree tops. This kōrero is also reflected in each of the feature walls throughout the building.

TOA also took into consideration, the tikanga around pōwhiri, manaakitanga and tiakitanga, to care for others.

Donations, large and small, have a real impact on the lives of New Zealand’s really sick and injured children. The Starship Foundation raises funds for projects and initiatives that transform and enhance paediatric healthcare. We couldn’t do this without our generous supporters all around New Zealand.