As part of Taupō District Council’s commitment to the provision of social services in the district, a project to rebuild Waiora House, a social services hub and affordable home to a number of not-for-profit organisations, was initiated.
The project involved a partnership with the Waiora Community Trust, an independent not-for-profit entity responsible for the day-to-day management of Waiora House and the distribution of community grants on behalf of Council.
Located in the former Taupō Maternity Hospital, Waiora House was highly valued by the community until it was demolished in 2019 following the discovery of friable asbestos. This resulted in the displacement of several organisations, thus scattering essential social services around the district.
The project not only provides a flexible, fit for purpose and future-proofed building, but also provides the catalyst for the Trust to re-imagine their role and future ways of working at Waiora House to be financially self-sufficient and to better support the needs of the social services sector in the district for years to come.
