David Lambie, TwentyTwo’s Practice Lead for Advisory and Assurance, has led the negotiation on behalf of Taupō District Council with Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa Limited Partnership and joins the celebrations for the agreement of key commercial terms for the proposed new Civic Building in the Taupō town centre.
TwentyTwo led the site selection and evaluation process, specifying Council’s premises requirements and reporting/recommendations to Elected Members.
“We also prepared and negotiated the key commercial terms and worked with Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa Limited Partnership (the body representing various Ngāti Tūwharetoa trusts and companies) to reach agreement after several iterations” says TwentyTwo’s David Lambie. “We now provide expertise to close out the detailed agreement document and ongoing support and leadership as TDC embark on its premises fitout project and related workstreams.”
Under the agreement, Tūwharetoa will buy the former Taupō RSA site at 67 Horomatangi Street from Taupō District Council, where they will construct and own a three-storey building and lease 3000sqm of it to the Council for use as council offices. Staff from Love Taupō, Towncentre Taupō, Amplify and the customer service centre staff at Taupō i-Site will also be included, as well as a council chamber.
The building will be constructed to Importance Level 4 standard, so that it can accommodate emergency operations in a civil defence emergency.
Ngāti Tūwharetoa entities Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Tūwharetoa Settlement Trust and Ngāti Tūwharetoa Fisheries Charitable Trust will be co-tenants in the building, with further opportunity to house other businesses or organisations.
Gareth Green, Council Chief Executive, said the new premises will not only bring Council and iwi together, but also bring Council staff back into one home since being scattered across temporary locations in 2018.
Taupō District Mayor David Trewavas says the partnership between Council and Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa is a positive step forward for the district and both entities – and the community will benefit from a closer working relationship.
“We are pleased that despite the challenging construction environment, we are still able to proceed with this development project. We are also encouraged by the potential this project has to build an enduring partnership between the Taupō District Council and our Ngāti Tūwharetoa entities” says Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa Limited Partnership chairman Rakeipoho Taiaroa.
“The partnership with Te Whare Hono o Tūwharetoa is the conversion of a robust relationship between the parties and a great example of how a local body organisation and iwi can partner together” agrees David Lambie. “The challenges negotiating the needs of both parties in a market experiencing unique conditions is testament to the strength of the relationship and becomes a template for similar organisations to achieve partnering-based property outcomes”. The building is expected to be ready for occupation around late 2024.
“While the key for us here has been about the commitment to an enduring relationship with iwi, the lease arrangement was also the most competitive price received following requests for proposals from developers” says Gareth Green.
“It’s been a long journey and we’re delighted to have led and successfully achieved agreement on behalf of Council” says David Lambie. “Our sincere gratitude and congratulations to Council’s Elected Members and leadership team for their vision and support. We especially acknowledge and thank the Tūwharetoa Partnership and their advisers for their positive and forward-thinking approach.”
