Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Wellington Central Library has won the Heritage and Interior categories, plus a Resene Colour Award, at the 2026 Wellington Regional Architecture Awards in Pōneke.
Athfield Architects, who designed the original building in 1991 with Tihei Limited, say it was hugely gratifying to see Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui recognised by the architectural profession.
“Most importantly, the public have responded with their feet by filling every space, nook and cranny of their urban living room,” the company said in a statement.
The team from Tihei Ltd say they appreciated the support of stakeholders and mana whenua, who entrusted them with expressing the work on their behalf.
“It has been one of our most rewarding projects to co-design alongside Athfield Architects and the wider team. This experience is due to Wellington City Council’s enduring commitment, which was instrumental in achieving the outcome,” a Tihei spokeperson said.
“We are amazed to see the Wellington community reclaim the space again, to see the design language brought to life through their energy and to see the hāpori continue to add their own marks to an evolving Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui identity.”
Wellington City Council Mayor, Andrew Little says the awards recognise the place of Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui as both an indelible part of the city’s cultural heritage and the beauty of the local environment.
“Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui is a magnificent asset for Wellington and our many communities. The design inside and out reflects our diverse communities, culture and whenua that is wild at heart, ambitious and resilient. I congratulate everyone who’s efforts are celebrated through this award,” the Mayor said.
The jury praised the project as a “thoughtful renewal of an important civic landmark” that showed how buildings can adapt to contemporary social, cultural, and technical needs while retaining character.
Since reopening its doors in March, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui has already welcomed over 350,000 visitors, and is on track to reach 1.8 million visitors in its first year.
The restored building brings together the central library with Nōku te Ao Capital E and Wellington City Archives to deliver a suite of integrated services – including galleries, three Makerspaces, Tō Tātou Pōneke, a playspace for under 5s, creative facilities for rangatahi, a bookable recording studio, bookable meeting rooms, and community spaces.
The 30 shortlisted projects were selected from entries in the awards programme of the Wellington Branch of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects.
The panel of judges was led by Amanda Bulman of Three Line Studio and rounded out by James Fenton (James Fenton Architect), Severin Soder (Architectus) and lay juror Haley Hooper (Studio MØN and Wellington City Council).
