Imagining community together
About us
Founded in 2019, the Āiotanga Trust was entrusted with the care of a community gathering space at 2F/22 Emily Place. This was a gift to the people of Auckland’s city centre from the Dominican Friars*, intended to serve as a peaceful urban sanctuary where people can gather, create and build a sense of belonging. From its beginnings, the Trust has recognised that while vertical apartment living in the city centre is vibrant and dynamic, building genuine community across high-rise corridors, elevators and secured foyers is not always easy. Community gathering spaces or ‘third spaces’ are essential to help bridge this gap. Named Āiotanga Community Space, a name gifted by the late Pa Henare Tate, has become an increasingly valued part of the social fabric of the city centre, hosting a diverse range of community initiatives and now HQ to a number of transformative projects building community around the city centre.
Through initiatives that build apartment-community emergency resilience, coordinate participation in urban gardening and environmental stewardship, and support resident-led cultural and social activities, Āiotanga Trust fosters meaningful connections between people and place.
By partnering with other community spaces and networks across the city centre, Āiotanga Trust nurtures a growing constellation of vibrant ‘vertical villages’. Working in alignment with Mana Whenua and local community partners, Āiotanga continues to cultivate resilient neighbourhoods where people feel connected to one another and to the unique landscape and heritage of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Dominican Friars – Thanks to these guys!
Chris, Joe and Luke lived in Auckland city centre in the Emily Apartments for nearly 20 years.
They dedicated their lives to the pursuit of peace and justice in the world and in their retirement years, founded Åiotanga Peace Place in partnership with Pax Christi NZ, as a place of study and dialogue towards these aims. In 2019, they founded the Åiotanga Peace Place Charitable Trust and gifted use of their space to help build community in the city centre.
Luke has since passed away but Chris and Joe, now 89, are still tireless advocates, championing Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership, joining in the Palestine peace marches and supporting those in poverty. Every Saturday, they come to Åiotanga Community Space to celebrate an informal and inclusive Catholic mass. People of all faiths or no faith tradition are welcome to attend and/or join them for conversation and breakfast afterwards.
As Dominican Friars, they are ordained priests in the Catholic church. Dominicans are a specific order established over 800 years ago for men and women, both single and married, dedicated to the development of community life, academic study, contemplation (meditative prayer) and speaking the truth; ‘Truth’ being the central motto and pursuit of the Dominican order.
They are internationally renowned for their leadership and contributions to democratic process, rule of law and scientific method as part of their philosophical and theological scholarship. The Dominicans played a major role in the establishment of universities throughout Europe and have been dedicated to the defence of indigenous people groups, writing what has often been described as the first universal bill of human rights in the early 1500s.
Te Rerenga-ora-iti
The historic Emily Reserve across the road is graced by stunning pohutukawa formations. This site was once a formidable point jutting out into the Waitematā harbour at the same height as the Auckland University that sits on the hill behind it.
Also known as Te Rerenga-ora-iti, this place was named by Ngāti Whātua upon their victory of territory at this exact point. That story is shared in the video clip below by Ngāti Whātua historian Ngarimu Blair. (2:42 min)