Te Iho connecting public service organisations

Te Iho, previously Bowen House, embraces the commitment to a unified public service and exemplifies the future approach to government office accommodation.

The building offers a space for government agencies to work together and will be progressively occupied by 10 government agencies.

Te Iho korowai staircase. Photo: Supplied by GPO.

The co-location space will provide a home base for up to 1,600 employees from across the public service.

A dawn blessing was held on Friday 11 April, led by local iwi, Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui.

During the ceremony iwi gifted the name Te Iho to the site. Iwi has been integral to shaping the redesign of Te Iho with Len Hetet, local sculptural artist and designer, working with the architects Warren and Mahoney on the design of the building.

Te Iho is designed to support the changing needs of the public service encouraging flexible use. It’s an example of a modern workplace that enables a flexible and joined-up public service and allows agencies to share spaces, reducing costs and government office accommodation footprint. The design supports and encourages connection and collaboration between agencies by removing physical barriers and creating truly shared spaces.

This is the first site delivered under the recently established Government Property Office (GPO). As government's property system and functional lead, GPO leads best practice across the government’s office accommodation portfolio.