b'gold standardI f you have had the pleasure of visiting Kawakawa, Just theisyouknowthattheresnoplacequitelikeit.Its charmingmainstreetbrimswithwhimsyand uniquecharacter,whereinterestingcoloursand forms aboundthanks in part to Austrian-born artist FriedensreichHundertwasser,whoresidedthere from 1975 until his death in 2000 and designed what ticket A heritage-focused project inlikely the countrys most famous toilet block. But Kawakawa is even more famous for the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway, which runs through the centre of its main street, earning it the moniker Train Town. the heart of Kawakawa sits at thePopularwithtourists,therailwayoperatesona junction of colour and culture. portion of the former Opua Branch line. The station building, built in 1900, remains largely in its original condition. Now, the adjoining Te Hurihanga Training and Service Centre offers even more for visitors to enjoy. Its a component of a much larger project funded byKnoa,theRegionalEconomicDevelopment& Investment Unit. The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway is also working with Northland Adventure Experience (NAX) partners to restore the 1880-84 heritage rail line to Opua, repair Gabriel the steam engine, theirtraditional coal mining architecture of the local area,opposite: The new Te Hurihanga Training and ServiceResenecarriages, the Minerva steamboat, reinstate the Pourepresenting four separate coal miners cottages. TheCentre in Kawakawa was funded by a provincial growthColonial WhiteHerenga Tai Twin Coast Cycle Trail and other projectsbarge boards reflect the Mori heritage, whakapapafund grant by the government to Northern AdventureResenefromKawakawatoOpuathataresuretoattractandidentityoftheareaandtheseworkswereExperience (NAX), a joint venture short life entity set up toLaseradminister the funds and successful delivery of the project plenty of interest over the years to come. completed by local artists. objectives. The building will be used to enhance training,ReseneGiven that the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway hasThecolourselectionwasofhighsignificancetoeducation and tourism and connects the significant cultureFuel Yellowsuch great historical and cultural importance, the Tethis project, with each Resene hue intentionally andand history of Kawakawa and the Bay of Islands to Opua.ReseneHurihanga Training and Service Centre is the productauthenticallychosen.TheprojectteamwantedaIts carefully considered and eye-catching exterior featuresWild Westof many dedicated stakeholders who have had a handbalanced representation of the project partners and toResene Laser, Resene Fuel Yellow, Resene Colonial White,Resenein ensuring the carefully considered project reflectsreflect the unique bicultural heritage of the community.Resene Paddock, Resene Parsley, Resene PermanentPioneer Red theculturalnarrativeandhistoryoftheKawakawaEven though it is a small building, we wanted toGreen, Resene Wild West, Resene Pioneer Red, ReseneReseneLonestar, Resene Ironsand and Resene Blackearning it Resene LonestarRailway. With the support of cultural design guidance,be bold and playful with highlighting the Kawakawaa Resene Total Colour Commercial Exterior Award. Walls the Bay of Islands Railway and NAX, MODE Designhistoricalcoalminingstoryusingthearchitecturalare finished in Environmental Choice-approved ReseneReseneand Avail Pacific collaborated on the buildings designstyle of buildings from that time as well as local iwi andSonyx 101 semi-gloss waterborne paint and trim andPaddockResene which is quickly becoming a much-loved and highly- community kaupapa, says Pip Bolton, Director andjoinery in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. Gondwanaphotographed destination. Founder of Avail Pacific. We are really pleased withabove: Beyond its brilliantly-coloured faade, the TeReseneTheprojectteamworkedcloselywithNgtithe final outcome. Hurihanga Training and Service Centre houses a traineesParsleyHine throughout the project to confirm the culturalLaurellPratt,DevelopmentManagerforNAX,space, kitchen, utility room, boardroom, offices forResenenarrative, says Charles Fisher, Senior Technical Leadworked together with Pip on the colour selection for therailway operations and public toilets. The interior echoesPermanent Greenat MODE Design. Te Hurihanga, meaning turningproject. The colour palette works on a couple of keythe energy and palette used outside, featuring Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Half ColonialResenepointorjunction,providesanimportantbookendlevels, she explains. Firstly, it recognises Ngti HineWhite, Resene Parsley, Resene Laser, Resene FuelResene Ironsandfor the railway as it embarks on restoring the historicas tangata whenua and the combination of red, green,Yellow, Resene Wild West, Resene Permanent GreenReseneline back to Opua. The unique frontage reflects theyellow and black are significant to their tribal identity.and Resene Gondwana. Black54 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 55'