Tira Ora – Whangārei Child Health Centre

A defining feature of the Child Health Centre is its integration of bespoke artwork and cultural narratives, thoughtfully embedded to create a welcoming, healing environment for young patients and their whānau. This includes the prominent main mural alongside artworks featuring local wildlife (tuatara, kūkupa and tūī) by Te Ara Kopeka Henare, the striking soffit canopy designs by Tash Nikora, a bespoke 3D wind lobby sculpture by Dorothy Waetford, and a mural created by the tamariki of Horahora Primary School in collaboration with graphic artist Symphony Morunga. Glazing manifestations designed by Jade Kake of Matakohe Architecture and Urbanism help ground the facility in the identity and stories of Te Tai Tokerau, turning clinical spaces into comforting, imaginative environments that reduce anxiety and support holistic care.

Europlan supplied and installed the furniture across Tira Ora’s ground and first floors, from open-plan staff workspace, training and meeting rooms through to consult, treatment and quiet rooms, plus staff amenity spaces. The fit-out includes ergonomic task and clinical seating (TAG 3.40, Spin and Haworth Aloha Active chairs, and Alpha Tech stools), meeting and visitor seating (Ola, Ven and Marcelo chairs), height-adjustable Tidal sit-to-stand desks and UR flip tables, Proceed tambour and slimline pedestal storage, and staffroom dining and bar seating. Every product came from Europlan’s healthcare-tested range, selected for infection-control-compatible finishes, durability under high-traffic clinical use, and comfort across everyone from waiting families to clinical staff.

Our project management team ran a considered delivery programme to meet Health NZ’s schedule for the wider Whangārei Hospital Redevelopment. Delivery and installation took place over four working days, with access coordinated across the ground floor and the lift-served upper level, and rubbish removal included as part of the install. Karla Newman led the project for Europlan, drawing on a delivery team with healthcare fit-out experience across other major hospital builds including Tōtara Haumaru, Mason Clinic and Te Wao Nui.