Te Puna Hapori Whanganui Courthouse

A bold step forward in transforming the justice experience

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A holistic approach to justice

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.

Reimagining the traditional courthouse

To transform the traditional courthouse model, five key principles underpin the project: community focus, inclusivity, a strengthened sense of place, mana enhancement, and harmony.

Aiming to uplift mana and reduce anxiety, the entrance to the courthouse is via the Puna, a ceremonial space located at the heart of Te Puna Hapori. A canopy links the Puna with the building, filtering light and encouraging people to lift their eyes skywards as they transition into the building. The ground-floor entry is a generous space, allowing visitors time to pause, collect themselves, orientate and prepare for their journey. A calming interior combining natural materials with warm, home-like furniture,contrasts with the confrontational, cold spaces typical of the past.

Courtrooms are located on the upper three levels around an internal courtyard. Views toward the Whanganui Awa (river), Taranaki Maunga and Te Maunga o Ruapehu create a visual connection to taiao (the natural environment), which plays an essential grounding role for all, where traditional courtroom models are closed off from the outside world and inward-looking.