Te Uru is a home for contemporary culture that is fresh, relevant and essential to the wellbeing of our diverse community. With our unique perspective, located in the forested outskirts of Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Uru is a regional gallery with an international programme that reflects our place in Aotearoa and the wider Moana region, connecting new ideas and diverse practices with local and global networks.

As a destination gallery, Te Uru operates from an award-winning building that is part of the recently redeveloped Lopdell Precinct. The gallery originally opened in 1986 as the Waitemata City Arts and Cultural Centre, later known as Lopdell House Gallery, sited in the historic Lopdell House building in scenic Titirangi, gateway to the Waitākere rain forest and en route to Auckland's famous west coast beaches. In 2014, we reopened as Te Uru in new purpose-built facilities, offering extraordinary exhibitions, dramatic architecture and spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Our name, Te Uru, makes reference to Te Hau a Uru, the wind that blows from the west, a powerful characteristic of the region and an important story for local iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki, who have bestowed us with this kaupapa. The west wind carries fresh voices and ideas across the region from Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa – the great forest of Tiriwa – often called the Waitākere Ranges, a fitting framework for a contemporary gallery.

Te Uru receives core operational funding from Auckland Council through the Waitākere Ranges Local Board.