We recently reconnected with Steve Leitch of Biggins Interiors, whose specialist interior construction skills have significantly helped bring Te Whare Whakarauika | Wellington Town Hall back to life.

What we witnessed was craftsmanship at its finest. On site, strengthening and restoration work have progressed with precision. In the workshop, fibrous plaster moulds are being run, shaped, and finished by hand. Every ceiling rose, cornice, and architectural detail is being carefully recreated to match the original 120-year-old design.

Wellington Town Hall, a prestigious Grade One listed heritage building, has been closed since 2013 after being deemed earthquake prone. Construction is now on track for completion in July 2026, with doors set to reopen in early 2027.

When it reopens, Te Whare Whakarauika will return as a strengthened, world-class musical and recording venue, with enhanced rehearsal and performance spaces. It will support the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington’s New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī, while continuing to serve as a key civic gathering place.

For Steve, the project is personal. “It gives you the rare opportunity to see exactly how things were done 120 years ago - and to faithfully recreate them,” he says.

Each day, the team studied original detailing, worked through how it was achieved, and determined how to reproduce it. Whether restoring an existing feature or crafting a new element to sit seamlessly alongside it, the goal is the same: it must look as though it has always been there.

This is heritage restoration with discipline and respect. Not simply preserving history but bringing it back to life.

BCITO extends its thanks to Steve, Carlene, and Jackson Leitch for welcoming us into their workshop and on site.