Wednesday 22 April 2026
ORC will bring its Dunedin-based staff together in one central location, with teams moving into the Aonui building at 180 High Street next week.
ORC’s customer support will move from Philip Laing House on Rattray Street, with the last day for public visits there being Thursday, 23 April. Customer support will reopen at Aonui from Wednesday, 29 April, with six customer parks and two accessible parks available for visitors.
“Having all our Dunedin teams in one place will streamline how we work and provide a clear, central hub for people needing to access council services,” ORC Chief Executive Richard Saunders said.
Council apologises for any inconvenience caused during the two-day closure while staff relocate to the High Street location.
“The move only affects Dunedin-based staff currently working from two city offices. ORC’s regional depots and other offices across Otago will remain unchanged,” Mr Saunders said.
Mr Saunders said the move also addresses long-standing accommodation issues for Dunedin staff. The move was identified in ORC’s Long-Term Plan 2021–2031, with councillors approving the project in 2023 following several years of investigation into accommodation options.
The building has been purchased and redeveloped by Port Otago, which owns the site and is leasing the space to ORC as its Dunedin headquarters.
Customers needing assistance on Friday, 24 April and Tuesday, 28 April can still contact ORC via phone and email.
Phone: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm: 0800 474 082
Email: customerservices@orc.govt.nz
24/7 Pollution Hotline: 0800 800 033
Dunedin Location (from 29 April 2026): Aonui building, 180 High Street, Dunedin
The building’s design incorporates cultural elements developed in partnership with mana whenua, with works by Kāi Tahu artists integrated throughout both the interior and exterior of the building.
These designs reflect mana whenua values of kaitiakitaka, rakatirataka, manaakitaka and te mana o te wai — expressing care for te taiao, inclusive leadership, and the protection of freshwater and environmental quality for future generations.
Aonui was selected as the name for the building due to its mana and significance in both te ao Māori and Kāi Tahu tradition and was endorsed by kā Rūnaka across the region.
In recognition of ORC’s responsibility for the sustainable management of the environment, and its ongoing commitment to mana whenua, it was considered appropriate to bestow a name of distinction.
Aonui is associated with the pursuit of knowledge in the natural world. In the celestial realm, Aonui is the son of Rehua, known in western astronomy as Antares.
In Kāi Tahu tradition, Aonui is also linked to the waka Āraiteuru, where a crew member of the same name sought fresh water and found it at Mata-au (Clutha River).
Aonui is commemorated by the basaltic pillar known as Aonui (Cook’s Head), located north of the Tokomairaro River along the Āraiteuru coastline.
The site of the Aonui also has historical connections to the Toitū awa, a stream that once flowed through the area to the harbour.
