ARawhetū is an immersive public sculpture trail that transforms the pathway between Myers Park and Aotea Square into a celestial journey through the stars of Matariki and Puanga.
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Featuring a series of site-specific works by leading Māori artists, the trail invites visitors to move through the landscape as they encounter each whetū represented through contemporary sculpture, storytelling and digital experiences. Beginning at the Myers Park entrance with Matariki, the pathway unfolds through the stars Ururangi, Tupu-ā-Rangi, Tupu-ā-Nuku, Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, Waipuna-ā-Rangi, Waitī, Waitā and Pōhutukawa, before culminating with Puanga suspended above Aotea Square as a beacon visible across the city.
Featured artists:
Matariki – Jared Wikeepa
Ururangi – Zac Haumaha
Tupu-ā-Rangi – Noah Bastion
Tupu-ā-Nuku – Johnson Witehira
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi – Kereama Taepa
Waipuna-ā-Rangi – Ephraim Russell
Waitī – Reweti Arapere
Waitā – Brendan Poi
Pōhutukawa – Maddison Taepa
Puanga – Kereama Taepa
Curated by Kereama Taepa, each artwork expresses the unique attributes and significance of its respective star while reflecting the artistic voice of its creator. Together, the works create a collective narrative of remembrance, aspiration, environmental stewardship, food cultivation, freshwater and ocean ecosystems, weather, and the interconnected relationships between people and the natural world.
Designed as both a cultural experience and a place of reflection, the trail encourages visitors to journey at their own pace, discovering the stories of Matariki through sculpture, artist narratives, kaupapa and digital interpretation. The experience connects traditional mātauranga Māori with contemporary creative practice, transforming the city into a living constellation that honours the Māori New Year.
ARawhetū is both an artwork and a gathering place, a celebration of renewal, remembrance, hope and connection that invites Aucklanders and visitors alike to walk amongst the stars.
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