It’s the first place most visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand will arrive, and the intention of Auckland Airport’s new flagship hotel – Te Arikinui Pullman – is to welcome all with an authentic Indigenous experience alongside a personalised offering of understated luxury.  

Following four years in construction, the Warren and Mahoney (WAM)-designed 5-star facility is a fusion of culture and leading contemporary architecture just 200 metres from the country’s largest international terminal.

The Accor Pacific operated hotel is a 50:50 joint venture between Indigenous Maaori organisation, Tainui Group Holdings - the commercial arm of Waikato-Tainui, and Auckland Airport. The name ‘Te Arikinui’ was gifted to the hotel by New Zealand’s Maaori King, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII and its meaning of ‘Supreme Ariki’ or ‘Supreme Paramount Chief’ is intended to reflect the facility’s premium experience and status.

The design for the new hotel complements WAM’s previous work on the Novotel Auckland Airport hotel that sits some 100 metres to the east of the new Te Arikinui Pullman. Both are shaped under the design narrative of ‘Sea to Sky’ – inspired by the journey of adventure and discovery by the people of Tainui waka (canoe) who arrived from Hawaiiki to the Manukau Harbour in Aotearoa New Zealand around 1350.  

Warren and Mahoney Project Principal Jonathan Hewlett outlines that the 311-room hotel is designed with a deep understanding of travellers’ desire for authentic, personalised experiences that sincerely embody the essence of the local culture.

“The hotel’s unique shape with three points is a nod to key geographic sites of significance associated with the journey of Tainui waka, while materials and designs used in the hotel reference the cultural and historical wealth of Aotearoa and draw inspiration from the local environment.

“The black tiling exterior of the hotel references the feathers of the exterior of a korowai (feather cloak), with gold-coloured external and internal soffit representing the inner lining of the korowai and referencing the metaphor ‘under the protection of the korowai’.

“This design element was inspired by a story shared about the past Maaori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu who extended her korowai to welcome all. It reflects her love and warmth for her people and those seeking refuge.

“The hand-laid terrazzo floor of the lobby is an artwork inspired by ripples left in the sand by receding tidal fingerprints of historic weather patterns along New Zealand’s foreshore. Scattered throughout the floor are seashells from the Manukau and Aotea harbours that were gathered and gifted by tribal members."

Visitors will note from the lobby to guestrooms, a soft, seamless earth-to-sky transition is mirrored with subtle changes in texture, colour and softness as they move from ground level (darker tones representing the land) to the upper levels (lighter tones representing sky).

Cultural design patterns featuring throughout Te Arikinui hotel are inspired by Kiingitanga (the King Movement), celestial voyages, stories of great taniwha (mythical creatures), and the precious korowai.

Designed by Pou Whakairo (Head of Carving) for Waikato-Tainui, Renata Te Wiata, these are brought to life in a range of materials including aluminium, stone, wall fabric, glass and timber.

One example is the external columns and glass etching designs, inspired by five taniwha of special significance to Tainui and are intended to provide a threshold of protection for the hotel and its occupants.

The guestrooms are designed by Space Studio, who were also responsible for reflecting the narrative through considered integration of the design into elements that enhanced the guest experience. The rooms embrace understated luxury in a way that emphasises simplicity, comfort, and light, with subtle overlay of the custom designed carving into stone and cabinetry elements.

Te Kaahu restaurant, executive club and bar on the 9th floor, designed by Space Studio, captures and celebrates the extensive harbour and landscape views, including the runways of Auckland Airport. Te Kaahu, references the affectionate name for the Maaori Queen Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, the hawk of the morning sky with the soaring gull wing ceiling and signature light feature floating through the space and visible from the approach to the hotel.

The hotel also incorporates a number of sustainability features such as a high-performance ‘thermal envelope’ to reduce energy demands, energy efficient lighting, use of FSC-certified timber throughout and recycled materials where these can be seamlessly integrated.

Tukoroirangi Morgan, chair of the executive committee of Waikato-Tainui, said the finished result expresses the significance of this location to the iwi of Tainui waka.

“Everything from the chiefly name of this hotel to its three-pointed star shape and the unique cultural designs, express the mauri (essence) of this important site for Waikato,” Mr Morgan said.

Auckland Airport Chief Commercial Officer Mark Thomson echoed this pride in the hotel as a distinctive new marker at the international gateway to Aotearoa New Zealand and said it will support a thriving aviation precinct that connects travel, employment opportunities and doing business.

“We believe Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel sets a new global standard for its fusion of authentic cultural designs with understated luxury. This addition to the Auckland Airport precinct is one of New Zealand’s most unique hotel experiences and a memorable way to start or finish a journey to or from Aotearoa New Zealand,” said Mr Thomson.

The project, operated by Accor Pacific, is one part of Auckland Airport’s multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment programme, set to transform the traveller experience at the airport precinct over the next decade with everything from a new integrated terminal, transport centre, and smart luggage systems to premium shopping.

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IMAGES: The external images are taken by Simon Devitt and the interiors shots are by Nicole England.