Exciting times ahead with Crown Worldwide NZ’s new facility in Porirua now nearly completed! We know many of you have been following along since the beginning, and are looking forward to completion as much as we are.
It’s the final countdown before key handover, and Crown staff moving in to get everything ready for our current and future customers.
A New Name Gifted for a New Beginning
Crown’s new Wellington build has been gifted the Māori name of Te Whare Tuia by Ngāti Toa Rangatira. Te Whare Tuia can be translated as The House Woven Together, or The House of Connection.
This name, Te Whare Tuia, comes from tui which means to sew, thread or bind. Tuia expresses the idea of being woven or bound together. The name reflects the two interconnected purposes of the building. Firstly, weaving each of Crown Worldwide’s businesses into a unified and strong organisation. And secondly, connecting and supporting people while caring for their belongings, records and taonga.
There is also a connection to the tūī, the native bird found around Crown’s new building in Porirua, known for being swift, purposeful, and agile.
Leon Hulme, Managing Director of Crown Worldwide NZ, shares his response to Te Whare Tuia: “I am amazed by the name chosen by Ngāti Toa Rangatira. It perfectly signifies the coming together of our people and brands into a single Wellington location. It also acknowledges how our services support customers through change and relocation, connecting them with new homes and new lives in a purposeful way.”
Making Real the Possibilities Ahead
Moving into a brand new facility takes a huge amount of planning and co-ordination. Staff moving into a new building can often experience mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation with such a big move. Very similar to moving from the home you’ve been comfortable living in to a brand new home filled with possibilities going forward.
And that’s the reason behind such a big move for Crown Wellington – making all the possibilities that are now in reach with our own purpose-built building become a reality for our customers and staff. Moving from three leased properties to a Crown-owned building not only shows long-term commitment to Wellington, but also our commitment to current and future customers.
Customers have long been asking for a building that addresses their concerns around storage spaces. “Wellington has seismic concerns and the weather is well known. This new building is more resilient so customers can enjoy greater peace of mind,” notes Leon. Alongside resilience, sustainability has been woven in from the very beginning. Designed to protect customers’ goods for the long term, Crown’s new warehouse has already achieved a 4 Star Green Star Design rating.
Having all the Wellington Crown business units together under one roof will also enable customers to experience a more streamlined transition between the different services we offer. As Leon puts it, “a stronger sense of connection and belonging for our people will be beneficial for our customers too”.
Who’s Moving In First
The Crown business units moving in first are the three largest: Crown Relocations, Crown Workspace, and Crown Information Management. This includes Crown Workspace Furniture who will use the downstairs showroom to showcase the variety of quality new and used items available to buy for your business or home office. Moving from three leased properties around Wellington into one central Crown hub means it will be much easier to provide our range of services more seamlessly to our customers.
Both Crown Relocations and Crown Information Management (CIM) are moving in from separate premises in Seaview, Lower Hutt, while Crown Workspace is moving just one street over.
Regardless of the distance, Crown approaches these moves with the same planning, coordination and expertise we give to all our customers. So no matter if you have business records being stored with CIM, or household belongings with Crown Relocations, you can be assured your items will be moved to our new warehouse with the same dedication and care as always.
Staff are looking forward to new modern facilities, updated technology, and harbour views in the new lunchroom. Most of all, it’s the chance to finally work alongside colleagues from other Crown business units after years in separate sites.
What’s Next
The first teams moving into Te Whare Tuia is just the beginning.
Signage is going up, and Crown’s Māori name will be proudly displayed on the exterior and internally throughout the building, including in the reception areas. This will ensure the identity and cultural significance of the name is reflected throughout, creating a welcoming and cohesive experience for both staff and visitors.
Look out for our next update where we’ll share some of the stories from staff and customers about what Te Whare Tuia means to them.
