Taranaki Whānui gifted the name Tākina to the new Wellington convention and exhibition centre to celebrate the unique Wellington winds and the part they played in shaping Wellington.

“The winds express the shift of knowledge from one generation to another. They move things forward. They carry truths and viewpoints here from the universe and move them on to others, thousands of miles away.”

Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre is the home of inspiring exhibitions and informative conferences in the heart of Wellington CBD’s cultural precinct.

Designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, it was built in a way that reduces negative impacts on the environment. It has been awarded Five Green Star Design certification – the first convention centre in the country to achieve this standard. The rating represents New Zealand excellence for environmental sustainability, energy efficiency and green building.

The iconic design draws inspiration from Tākina’s maritime location and Wellington’s dramatic weather patterns and landforms. The Māori mythology of Te Upoko o Te Ika – the head of the great fish of Maui – is also represented within the architecture.