Named one of New Zealand’s 20 best new buildings in the 2012 Architecture Awards, te Wharewaka o Poneke, or the canoe house, symbolises the waka form. It is a purpose-built function centre with a café, work spaces and function rooms. Two ceremonial waka taua on permanent display on the lower ground floor can be launched directly into the harbour.

A distinctive aspect is the korowai or cloak, an outer steel layer that covers the body of the building and drapes down its sides.  The extensive glazing includes high performance low-E double glazing units to reflect solar energy (heat) out of the building.  The building capitalises on the famous Wellington wind to naturally ventilate the interior, drawing fresh air in through low level windows and expelling stale air through roof louvres concealed below the korowai panels. The windows and louvres operate automatically in response to signals from the Building Management System, enabling quick response to changing weather conditions and CO2 levels.