Introducing Waitāheke | The Symphony Centre

Introducing Waitāheke | The Symphony Centre

A place with people at its heart.

RCP and MRCB are thrilled to unveil two new names for our landmark development project The Symphony Centre, The Lanes, and Atrium that have been gifted by local mana whenua - Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei - and will take the development into the next phase and beyond.

The gifted names are Waitāheke for The Symphony Centre, along with Te Kōrepo for The Lanes and Atrium that complete the precinct.

The gifted names reflect the unique place in which The Symphony Centre stands, the ever-present connection to Te Waihorotiu stream that runs beneath it, and the community it will create.

Anchored in the history of Te Waihorotiu stream that, to this day, runs beneath the heart of Auckland city, The Symphony Centre | Waitāheke honours the land and sky; a living, thriving village. The name Te Kōrepo celebrates the many branches and watercourses of Te Waihorotiu where life and vitality flourish.

Ngāti Whātua's Kīngi Makoare shared further insight on the names.

"The naming process includes understanding and connecting with the ecology of the surrounding area. Naming is about reviving identity or bringing forth new identity in line with the surrounding environment. Names have to be functional and bring a depth of whakapapa to the space. he said"

"For this project, we were working with the already named Te Waihorotiu station. Thinking about how we can reactivate, elevate and amplify this precinct was also a consideration. Water as a healing agent that revives life was a natural option, it references the original waterways of the area and ties into the water-inspired names of many surrounding landmarks. Waitāheke is also a play on the word waiata meaning song which ties into the Symphony name and themes of harmony.

"The poutama design from the train station continues into the building facade, allowing water and the baskets of knowledge to connect and flow down the building to what was originally a lagoon. The combination of all these elements brings the cultural identity of the space to life"

RCP Development Director Cristean Monreal emphasised a deep appreciation of the significance of the names.

“Waitāheke and Te Kōrepo represent a long-lasting expression of our place and purpose. We are grateful to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for this special gift,” he said.

“The gifted names strongly reflect the sense of The Symphony Centre | Waitāheke being a home with people at its heart, located in Auckland city’s soon-to-be revitalised Aotea Arts Quarter.

“The meaning behind the names speak strongly to the history of the location, and we are committed to elevating the names and accompanying narratives across the life of this project, featuring them prominently across all forms of branding, communication and community activation beyond its completion.”

Words from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei on The Symphony Centre | Waitāheke – Life in Harmony

Wai nui, wai roa, wai kōnehunehu

Taka rawa mai rā i ā Ranginui e tū iho nei

Kōpatapata mai ki runga ki te arapiki a Tāne

Tāne toko-i-te-rangi, ko Tāne te Waiora e

He wai ka rere, he waiata ka rongo, He waitāheke e!

He reo waitī, he reo waitā

Ka heke, ka heke ki a Papatūānuku e takoto nei

Ki Waihorotiu tatū atu rā ki te kōmititanga, ki Waitematā Kupenga Rau

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Waters great, waters vast, water’s mist

Waters that fall from Ranginui above

Fall now onto the sacred steps of Tāne

A water that flows, a flow that sings, a symphony of water

The sweet harmonious sounds

Falling and rolling to Papatūānuku below

To Waihorotiu, finally to the confluence of Waitematā of one hundred nets

Te Whakapapa, Te Wātū, Te Wāheke

The pou that uphold our lives.

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As Te Waihorotiu stream once visually flowed through the valley of now Auckland’s Queen Street, so too does The Symphony Centre story flow from first arrival in New Zealand in 1840 to your present journey to realise Tākiri-ā-Rangi through building Tākiri-ā-Nuku.

Your journey is one that harmonises whakapapa, people, and place, and connects with Papatūānuku below and Ranginui above.

In harmony with this vision, we humbly present The Symphony Centre as the potential realisation of your vision.

Centred in the heart of Auckland’s CBD and Aotearoa’s premiere Arts Precinct, Symphony | Waitāheke is a home with people at its heart.

As New Zealand’s first fully transport-oriented development, The Symphony Centre synthesises transport accessibility, community, life, and work seamlessly.

Anchored in the history of Te Waihorotiu stream that still runs beating beneath the city, Symphony| Waitāheke reflects our ever-present connection with land and sky. It is a living village.

Waitāheke – Waterflow, waterfall.