Te Hono – New Plymouth Airport Terminal by Beca Design Practice

Te Hono, the new terminal at New Plymouth Airport, is far more than an infrastructural upgrade—it is a statement about place, identity, and reconciliation. Designed by Beca Design Practice, the project redefines what a regional airport can be, positioning it as both a cultural and architectural gateway to the Taranaki region. From the earliest stages, the project team recognized the importance of integrating local narratives, histories, and identities into the design. This led to the unique collaboration with Puketapu hapū (subtribe), who became a core part of the design process, ensuring that the building would be deeply rooted in its ancestral landscape.

The very name “Te Hono,” meaning “to connect,” encapsulates the terminal’s dual mission: to connect travellers with the wider world while also reconnecting the region with its own heritage. Built on ancestral land confiscated in the 1960s, the project is both a gesture of acknowledgement and a step towards restorative partnership with mana whenua (territorial rights holders). Sixty years later, the terminal stands as a meaningful response that puts iwi stories, values, and presence at the heart of its architecture.

Design Narratives and Spatial Concept

A major design driver was the representation of ancestral narratives in the fabric of the building. Six key design stories were selected, with the central theme being The Ascension from the Earth; Descending from the Sky. This story tells of Tamarau, a celestial being who descends to meet Rongo-ue-roa, a terrestrial being, captivated by her earthly beauty. The narrative is a natural fit for an airport—an environment defined by movement between earth and sky—and became the inspiration for the terminal’s distinctive roofline.

The roof appears to rise from a landscaped mound symbolizing Rongo-ue-roa before stepping up to meet a descending form representing Tamarau. This dynamic interplay creates a powerful architectural metaphor and provides a sense of movement and connection. The geometry also references the fractal patterning of bird feathers, evoking flight and subtly linking the project’s symbolic narrative with its functional role.

Orientation, Wayfinding, and Experience

Beyond symbolism, the spatial planning responds directly to ancestral and geographical alignments. The spine of the building is oriented along a path reflecting the ancestral journey from Maunga Taranaki (Mount Taranaki) to the mouth of the Waiongana River. This orientation is not only culturally significant but also enhances user experience, creating a clear and intuitive flow from car park to departure gate. On clear days, travellers in the concourse enjoy striking views of Maunga Taranaki, grounding the airport experience in the local landscape and offering visitors an immediate sense of place.

The building’s entrance and airside façades are shaped with softly faceted, curved forms that seem to embrace arriving and departing passengers. This gesture is rooted in the Māori concept of manaakitanga, the act of hospitality, ensuring that travellers feel welcomed and sheltered from the elements as they transition through the space.

Interior Expression and Cultural Integration

Inside the concourse, cultural storytelling continues with a 70-metre tukutuku panel serving as a striking backdrop to the terminal’s operations, retail, and hospitality spaces. The panel depicts Rongo-ue-roa in scarlet, referencing the endemic local hebe plant, and Tamarau in a vibrant yellow that symbolizes celestial energy. The tukutuku pattern is made of crosses and plus signs, representing togetherness and connection, and these motifs are echoed subtly throughout the interior architecture, reinforcing the theme of unity.

Material selections and color palettes further embed the narrative, using natural and locally resonant tones that complement the surrounding environment. The result is an interior that balances functionality with storytelling, creating a space that is as educational and reflective as it is efficient for travel.

Process of Co-Design and Reconciliation

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Te Hono is its inclusive design process. The project team, the New Plymouth Airport Company, and the New Plymouth District Council worked closely with Puketapu leadership from the outset, not only to consult but to genuinely co-create the building’s form, meaning, and detail. This collaborative approach allowed the terminal to transcend the typical expectations of infrastructure, producing a space that has emotional and cultural significance for the entire community.

By bringing Puketapu voices into the decision-making process, the project became a platform for dialogue and healing, acknowledging past injustices while building a shared vision for the future. The airport is no longer just a place of transit—it is a symbol of partnership, respect, and renewal.

A New Benchmark for Regional Airports

Te Hono demonstrates how regional infrastructure projects can become vehicles for cultural expression, environmental sensitivity, and reconciliation. Its bold architectural forms, narrative-driven design, and deeply collaborative process create a facility that offers a uniquely Taranaki experience for visitors and locals alike. In its name, its orientation, and its materiality, Te Hono connects earth and sky, past and present, community and traveller—perfectly embodying the spirit of connection at the heart of its concept.

Photography: Patrick Reynolds