Saying Goodbye to the Norman King building

18 February 2025

Northcote
News
Urban regeneration

There was a very special farewell to the Norman King Building (65 Pearn Crescent) in Northcote Town Centre last week.

Kate Cumberpatch, the Priority Location Director at Eke Panuku, said, ‘A big thank you to Mahuika Rawiri and Zaelene Maxwell-Butler from Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki for leading a beautiful karakia whakawātea, or blessing, and to everyone that attended. It was a fitting farewell to a community building that had come to the end of its life.”

“This aging building is now being removed over the next month to enable the extension of Ernie Mays Street to go ahead later this year.

It’s the beginning of the revitalisation of the heart of Northcote. With lots of improvements planned over the next ten years, we’ll build on Northcote’s unique character to create a more thriving heart for the community - a place where locals, culture and businesses can flourish.”

Northcote Norman King Karakia 202502 VLD 1202

Attendees at the karakia included Iwi Mana Whenua representatives from Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngaati Whanaunga and Ngāti Maru, as well as elected members from Kaipātiki Local Board, and representatives from TROW Group (our deconstruction contractor), Awataha Marae, Auckland Council, Wairau Zero Waste Hub, and the community tenants based in the building: NorthArt, Hearts & Minds and The Fono.

Also, in attendance was the son of Norman King. Norman King was an Aucklander who was brought up in a state house and despite having no secondary schooling, went on to become a Labour Minister of Welfare, from 1972-1975, and introduced humanitarian measures to help solo parents, pensioners, the disabled and at-risk youth.

To continue to celebrate Norman King, the Norman King Square, in front of the Norman King Building, is being retained, enlarged, and upgraded with more trees and plants to create a visually appealing community space.

Zero waste

Rather than simply demolishing the Norman King Building, it’s being sustainably deconstructed. Where possible, construction material will be reused, recycled, or sold for affordable prices from the Wairau Zero Waste Hub, to limit what is sent to landfill.

It’s all part of our zero-waste approach to the redevelopment of Northcote’s town centre.

Find out more about the plans for Northcote, see here.