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A new Archives building for our nation’s taonga and heritage

Construction has begun on one of the most significant public buildings of our time – the new Archives building in Wellington. Find out about our progress.

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Our new Archives building will provide a state-of-the-art archives repository, including digitisation and conservation facilities for Archives New Zealand, National Library of New Zealand and Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision.

Enacting Te Tiriti o Waitangi

DIA worked with architects Warren & Mahoney and design agency, Tihei Ltd (Taranaki Whānui Te Āti Awa creative representatives) – to co-design this building of national significance.

A couple looking at a new building with glass exterior on a background of clear blue sky.
Archives new building

The vision of Taranaki Whānui iwi for their whenua Pipitea and for the new Archives building and future heritage campus have been articulated by Pou Tikanga, Kura Moeahu in this whakatauki.

Whakamana te whenua me ōna uri – Honour the land and its descendants

Whakamana te Tiriti me ōna pūtanga – Honour te Tiriti and its potential

Taranaki Whānui look forward to becoming increasingly active, relevant, and positive participants in the work required to care for this whenua, the people, taonga and activities happening in our institutions. This is their obligation and right as tangata whenua of this area.

Construction progress

Since February, we have been able to see, hear and sometimes even feel construction progressing at 2-12 Aitken St in the Wellington parliamentary area. Our construction partners LT McGuiness have driven in 18 of 38 piles, some of them 12 metres below ground!

Before the end of the year the piles for the link bridge will be completed. This highly-engineered two-level link bridge will connect the new Archives building to the National Library, spanning Guthrie Lane. The bridge allows for easy transfers between buildings and better collaboration and access across a vibrant new heritage campus.

The first purpose-built national archives in Aotearoa is expected to be open to the public in 2026. Find out more about this new state-of-the-art archival repository and the co-design process.