Community leaders and senior Ngai Tahu representatives celebrated the near-completion of the $55 million Post Office Precinct with a dawn blessing today.
About 100 people were expected to join Sir Tipene O'Regan for the blessing at 5.15am.
They included Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes, council chief executive Duncan Field, Lakes Environmental chief executive Hamish Dobbie, future tenants, contractors and senior delegates from Wakatipu marae and many of Ngai Tahu's distinguished kaumatua.
The ceremony was a milestone in the 10-year development of the two-time Property Council of New Zealand award-winning complex.
The $19.5 million block, named Te Ahi (Refuge Point), on the corner of Camp and Ballarat Sts, was the final piece in the five-building jigsaw.
Permanent public art by Ross Hemera, of Wellington, was unveiled.
A "culturally priceless" 17kg piece of pounamu named "Manatunga" and plaque form the centrepiece in the public piazza beside the creek, Ngai Tahu Property Ltd development manager Gordon Craig, of Christchurch, said.
The stone was recovered by a 13-strong party of Ngai Tahu kaumatua and property and tourism staff from an undisclosed location, the first recovery in more than 200 years, Mr Craig said.
New Zealand Post, Anderson Lloyd lawyers and WHK accountants move in between October 16 and 18.
Fashion store Decode takes the front Camp St lease in early October. The National Bank and Post Office Cafe open in November.
