Community benefits from another three years of Whirinaki Whare Taonga

Mayor Wayne Guppy and Deputy Mayor Hellen Swales today met with Whirinaki Whare Taonga’s Charitable Trust Chair, Zoe Juniper, and Trustee Angele Toomey, to sign a new three-year Deed of Lease and Management Agreement between Upper Hutt City Council and the Whirinaki Trust.  

Mayor Guppy says the signing of the lease and management agreement acknowledges the important work of the team at Whirinaki Whare Taonga. 

“The team does fantastic work to engage, enrich, inspire and connect people with arts, culture, and events in our community,” he says. 

“It’s important for the community to have this agreement in place, as Whirinaki continues to be a focal point for arts, culture and events, for both the Upper Hutt community and the wider region.” 

Council owns the land and the building that houses Whirinaki Whare Taonga, and the management and lease agreement has been renewed every three years since its inception in 2003. 

Council also makes an operational grant to the Trust each year to assist them in funding the day-to-day operation of Whirinaki Whare Taonga. 

The Council’s commitment to providing an operational grant to Whirinaki ensures that the Trust has the appropriate financial support for the purpose of building social cohesion and improve citizen wellbeing through engaging, enriching, inspiring and connecting people with art, culture and events in the Upper Hutt community. 

Mayor Guppy says the collaborative approach taken in drafting the Deed of Lease and Management Agreement, incorporating feedback from trustees, highlights a strong partnership that prioritises community interests. 

The agreement will be reviewed again in 2027. 

Photo: Mayor Guppy (left) and Chair, Zoe Juniper signing the Deed of Lease and Management Agreement (lease) for the next three years.