Te Puna Hapori Whanganui Courthouse

The new Whanganui Courthouse aims to transform the way justice is enacted in Aotearoa New Zealand, focusing on a holistic approach that prioritises hauora (wellbeing) to create better long-term outcomes for the community. With a $100M government investment, the building will replace the nearly 60-year-old city centre courthouse which no longer has sufficient capacity to accommodate large jury trials.

“It will have four courtrooms including two jury capable courtrooms, one of which is suitable for large multi-defendant jury trials…We need to ensure that courthouses are up to standard,” said Nicole McKee, Associate Justice Minister (December 2024).

Shifting away from a punitive justice model, the project has been developed in partnership with iwi, hapū and the community to embrace a whānau (family)-centric, wellbeing-focused approach. It aims to improve access to justice and timeliness of proceedings, and provide safer, more supportive spaces for victims, defendants, participants, and their families, while enhancing mana and maintaining the dignity of all those involved.

Alongside a new police hub, the courthouse project is a catalyst for Te Puna Hapori, an iwi and hapū-led wellbeing vision for Whanganui. The name of both the kaupapa and the physical site, Te Puna Hapori is located on the former Universal College of Learning (UCOL) campus and will serve as a community and wellbeing hub. A collaboration between iwi/​hapū, the Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police and Whanganui District Council, Te Puna Hapori is a shared vision of uniting the community to provide better social outcomes. The Rangahaua Marae complex will also be upgraded and remain on the site.

The wellbeing hub will support healing, improve access to information, and provide educational opportunities for those whose lives have been affected by the justice system, aiming to prevent individuals from entering the corrections system in the first place.