Location: Whangārei, New Zealand
Project Type: Cultural Centre Refurbishment

The Manaaki project involved the thoughtful refurbishment of an existing building within the Hihiaua Cultural Centre, transforming it into a vibrant café and restaurant space. The brief called for the integration of kitchen and bathroom facilities while maintaining a cohesive design narrative established in earlier phases of the centre’s development.

Big River Panels Firesafe Décorply Plywood was selected for the interior wall linings in both the bathroom and restaurant areas. This non-perforated panel features a clean plywood face, fire-rated to Group 1S, making it ideal for interior spaces where fire compliance is critical. The panels were supplied pre-finished with a factory-applied UV coating in the popular ‘Nude’ tone, offering both aesthetic warmth and long-lasting protection.

"Manaaki was a refurbishment of an existing building into a café restaurant with new kitchen and bathroom facilities. Big River Panels were used in a similar way to Stage One with some wall linings to the bathroom and restaurant areas. Fixed in the same way with stainless steel countersunk screws and cup washers. We had used Firesafe Décorply on Stage One and continued the same design theme. It has now become part of the design language of Hihiaua Cultural Centre and part of their brand." – Craig Moller, Moller Architects

The choice to use Firesafe Décorply across multiple stages of the Hihiaua Cultural Centre’s development highlights its success as a durable, attractive, and compliant interior lining solution. The consistent use of this product has not only provided visual and textural continuity but has also embedded it as a defining element of the centre’s architectural identity.

The finished Manaaki café space reflects a harmonious blend of cultural sensitivity, practical design, and modern safety standards. The use of Big River Panels Firesafe Décorply panels contributes to a warm, inviting atmosphere while ensuring compliance with fire regulations – an essential feature for public venues.