Te Kōpua Henderson’s creative scene has welcomed a new space to inspire creativity and innovation. Te Puna Creative Hub has opened its doors on Henderson Valley Road in the building previously occupied by Whoa! Studios.
While the popular restaurant The Grounds and beloved children’s playground continue to delight visitors, Te Puna Creative Hub now occupies the building that previously housed the children’s theatre.
Jasmine Millet, Head of Creative Industries at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited says the space has been refurbished to provide dedicated facilities to support creative collaboration, innovation and upskilling initiatives.
“The hub now boasts a multi-functional 159-seat digital theatre and a black box studio and really versatile spaces that are suitable for lots of different types of performance, filming, functions, conferences, award ceremonies and exhibitions. All these spaces are available for hire, and we’re really excited to welcome people and businesses to the hub”
With the theatre and studio now open, the focus has shifted to development of additional facilities including office space, a boardroom, mezzanine floor, shared kitchen, and podcasting production suites due for completion in April 2025.
“With these state-of-the-art tools and spaces in place, Te Puna Creative Hub will move into activation mode, offering training and upskilling initiatives and providing the local community and creative businesses with access to world-class resources and opportunities,” says Jasmine Millet.
A larger creative vision
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited – on behalf of Auckland Council and in partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki iwi – has opened Te Puna Creative Hub as part of its Te Puna Creative Innovation Quarter initiative, which builds on the area’s existing creative industries strength to become a world-class hub for creativity and innovation, supporting highly skilled, high-paying jobs in the local community.
Henderson was previously home to many manufacturing jobs, but with the decline of these over the past 30 years, few high-value jobs have filled the gap left. The area has seen just 200 new jobs in the past 20 years according to StatsNZ.
But west Auckland has a strong creative industries base, ripe for expansion.
“When you look around the world at what works, it’s the clustering of creative industries in one spot that allows for that collaboration, innovation, efficiencies and growth.
“Te Puna Creative Hub has Auckland Film Studios just down the road which has been integral to the area’s economy, filming things like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and long-running TV show Power Rangers. In the other direction, it’s a five-minute walk to Corban Estate Arts Centre, and there’s Henderson Station next door.”
A creative symphony
Te Puna Creative Hub’s community recently welcomed new tenant Crescendo, a social enterprise mentoring rangatahi and commercial studio specialising in sound recording and music production, to its community.
Cat Percy, CEO of Crescendo, says the team was excited to join the fledgling Te Puna Creative Hub community in October, drawn to the opportunity for greater impact through a shared kaupapa with Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and Te Kawerau ā Maki, the mana whenua authority for west Auckland.
“When looking for a new space, it was important for Crescendo to find a community where we would be supported in our mahi to empower rangatahi by helping them to realise their potential.
“Te Puna Creative Hub will expose our programme participants to myriad pathways in the creative industries through Crescendo programmes, Te Puna Creative Hub initiatives and direct engagement with industry professionals working from the hub, ultimately, expanding young people’s career horizons,” says Cat Percy.
Playground at Te Puna Creative Hub.
Community at its core
Jasmine Millet explains that community is central to Te Puna Creative Hub and encourages locals to call in to check out the new spaces and learn more about what’s on offer.
“One of the ways Te Puna Creative Hub will drive growth in Auckland’s creative innovation industries is through community, partnership and shared values. We can’t wait for Te Puna Creative Hub to take flight and welcome the local community to join us.”
