Jasmine Meachen

Community Centre for Elders

The Kaumātua Community Centre in Newmarket’s retail district reimagines retirement as a place for connection, shared knowledge, cultural and intergenerational exchange, purpose and meaning. Inspired by Te Tī Tūtahi (the sacred cabbage tree standing alone) and the gathering of people beneath trees to share stories, the centre allows Kaumātua (respected elders) to share their skills, knowledge, experiences and traditions with the wider community.

Interconnected spaces arranged around the Falling Leaf Foyer support workshops, performances, exercise, hobbies, reading and social interaction, weaving older generations’ stories and skills into everyday community life. Biophilic design and natural materials, including wood, stone, lava stone and ceramic tiles, connect people to nature and the land, offering relief from the modern concrete jungle.

The centre is a place for life, connection, celebration and reflection. We are one community and should support and appreciate one another at every stage of life.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.