Client: Archives New Zealand
Project: Heke Rua Archives Building
Location: Wellington
Value: $290 million development | $6 million fire protection package
Case Study
Heke Rua Archives – Protecting Aotearoa’s documentary heritage
New Zealand’s Largest Pre-Action Fire Protection System
The new Heke Rua Archives is one of Aotearoa’s most important buildings. Designed to be the country’s most earthquake-resilient structure, it safeguards irreplaceable national taonga and documentary heritage. Protecting this facility demanded a fire protection system of unparalleled sophistication, and AquaFire was chosen to deliver it.
Key Capabilities Demonstrated
Full design of first time fire system integration in a building with no existing protection
Collaboration with fire engineers to complete a complex design which required a high level of coordination and diligence to ensure efficiency
Tailored solutions for non-disrupted suppression methods to preserve archives
The challenge
The project represented one of the most technically complex fire protection installations ever undertaken in New Zealand. Key challenges included:
- Unprecedented Scale. New Zealand’s largest pre-action sprinkler system, with no domestic precedent.
- Heritage Protection. Fire suppression had to be highly responsive but non-disruptive to temperature and humidity-controlled archive spaces.
- Seismic Resilience. Full compliance with seismic design standards, ensuring the system remains operational after an earthquake.
- Complex Integration. Tight coordination is required across 10 levels of a highly serviced building, with congested ceiling spaces and critical environmental controls.
”Aquafire were a key delivery partner on the Heke Rua Archives project. Their team approached a highly complex scope with professionalism, strong technical capability, and a collaborative attitude that helped drive the project’s overall success. Both their design input and installation delivery were of a high standard, and their solutions-focused approach gave confidence to all parties involved throughout the build, resulting in a handover to the client that was on time, fully compliant, and defect-free.
Adam PughNational Building Services Lead – LT McGuinness
Our solution
AquaFire designed, supplied, and installed the complete active fire protection package, including:
- 20 pre-action sprinkler, providing protection without the risk of accidental water discharge.
- 19 VESDA aspirated detection systems for ultra-early smoke detection.
- Gas suppression systems to safeguard critical archive areas.
- Complex zoning, sequencing, and control systems to manage risk across multiple environments.
- 3D REVIT design, ensuring millimetre-perfect accuracy and seamless coordination.
With up to 34 technicians onsite at peak, installation was delivered under the strictest QA regime. Every joint was checked, tested, re-tested, and documented with zero tolerance for error.
”AquaFire did an admirable job in designing and installing a particularly complex and challenging fire protection system.
Chris MakManager, AON
”This was a complex design which required a high level of coordination and diligence to implement correctly, and AquaFire did an excellent job.
Cameron KnowlesEngineer, KCL Engineering Services
The outcome
- Delivered on time, on budget, and with zero defects: A gold standard in critical infrastructure protection.
- National Significance: Provides long-term fire safety for New Zealand’s most valuable documentary records.
- Future-Proofed: Systems designed for resilience, adaptability, and integration with building management.
- Industry Recognition: Entered into the Fire Protection Association (FPA) Project Excellence Awards 2025.
Summary
The Heke Rua Archives project demonstrates AquaFire’s ability to deliver fire protection on a truly national scale. Combining technical innovation, precision execution, and deep respect for the building’s purpose, AquaFire has helped create a facility that will protect Aotearoa’s stories and taonga for generations to come.
