Haier

Recently, Fisher & Paykel, a subsidiary of Haier Smart Home, held a kāwanga whare—a traditional Māori building blessing ceremony—at its new campus in Auckland, joined by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Fisher & Paykel employees, partners and project teams to mark a defining moment in the brand's history.

The ceremony began with a blessing by kaumātua from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, kaitiaki of the rohe where the campus stands. It acknowledged the significance of the site, the importance of partnership and the shared responsibility to care for this place for future generations.

A central part of the ceremony was the presentation of the building's kōhatu mauri, or foundation stone. Named Green World, the small John Edgar sculpture is carved from Chinese granite and Aotearoa New Zealand serpentine. It is emblematic of place and speaks to Haier's support, as well as the guidance, shared understanding and mutual respect of mana whenua and partners. Following the placement of the stone within a carved basalt and brass feature alongside a pōhutukawa transplanted from Fisher & Paykel's former East Tāmaki site, the ceremony marked the beginning of Fisher & Paykel's next chapter—a continuation of its roots and spirit into a new home, and a commitment to a long-standing relationship with this land.

The new campus serves as the global headquarters for Fisher & Paykel Appliances and Haier Australasia. From the mass timber office building to the wetland oasis at its heart, every aspect gives physical expression to the brand's commitment to sustainable design and global innovation leadership.

Daniel Witten-Hannah, CEO of Fisher & Paykel Appliances, said this is a defining investment in the future of the business. The new campus marks a significant leap in R&D capability and serves as a key hub for the global rollout of Haier Smart Home's smart home strategy, accelerating the localization of ten core competencies—including R&D, manufacturing and logistics—in the Australia-New Zealand market, and driving mutual growth between the regional and global markets.

Over the coming weeks, the team begins the transition into the new home, with open days for staff and whānau to experience the campus first-hand. The campus is set to open in October this year.