Uncovering the layers of Te Wānanga — LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA

Auckland’s newest downtown space: Te Wānanga officially opened on July 2 - sitting on the seaward side of Quay Street at the epicentre of downtown.

Auckland Council says the richly meaningful design elements brought to the space by talented mana whenua kaimahitoi (artists) sit alongside preserved pieces of our past, dating back more than a century. Together they create a ‘uniquely Tāmaki Makaurau’ space.

To help us understand the many layers of the design the Council compiled the following list.

Te Wānanga was officially opened on July 2.

What’s in a name?

The name Te Wānanga was provided by mana whenua as part of the design partnership between Auckland Council, Auckland Transport and mana whenua. It conveys aspirations for a place for residents and visitors of all ages to come together, enjoy, share and learn. In the words of mana whenua: ‘It’s a place of learning, bringing together elements like Para Kore (resource optimisation), raranga (weaving) and whakairo (carving). It is also a learning place for sea ecology.’

The name Te Wānanga was gifted by mana whenua.

Organic shape

Te Wānanga is designed to reflect the feeling of being on a rocky tidal shelf, with apertures seeming like rock pools and steel balustrades styled like giant kina shells. The space takes its organic shape from the sandstone headlands of the Waitematā Harbour.

Marine and terrestrial habitats

Walk through a coastal grove of mature pōhutukawa and at the foot of the trees, see rongoa (medicine) species and harakeke (flax) plentiful in the gardens which beckon birds, insects and gecko.

Look deep into the water and view lines of kūtai (mussels) attached to the underside of the deck. Providing habitat and food for sea life and improving water quality, they are a living example of the importance we place on caring for the mauri (essence) and mana (standing / respect) of Te Waitematā.

Lines of kūtai (mussels) are attached to the underside of the deck at Te Wānanga.

Mahi toi

Run your fingers over the extraordinary work of Reuben Kirkwood (Ngai Tai ki Tāmaki) who has created and engraved a unique expression of Te Wairere into the timber handrails, a linking design element that extends across the downtown area. Te Wairere is a contemporary rendering of a traditional manaia form. Look out for him in other forms and materials in Quay Street and in the nearby Te Ngau o Horotiu ferry infrastructure.

Renowned artist and weaver Tessa Harris (Ngai Tai ki Tāmaki) has woven the handrails with natural fibre in a design unique to Te Wānanga. The binding design is an expression of toki (adze) and reflects waka which were traditionally crafted by toki. Both artists worked with Isthmus who designed Te Wānanga in partnership with mana whenua.

Century-old stone stairway

Lean over the eastern balustrade and you’ll glimpse a cherished reminder of Auckland’s ferry infrastructure from a century ago. Built for passengers boarding and disembarking vessels in 1920, the old stone stairway has been preserved and is now framed for future generations to view from the new deck. Read more here.

WWI Memorial Beacon

Spend time reading the beautiful inscriptions on a WWI Memorial Beacon. Erected in 1915, this emblem of another time has returned to a central position in Quay Street, next to Te Wānanga. The memorial was built to honour staff of the Auckland Harbour Board who served in the war and as a beacon for vessels approaching the launch landings on Quay Street.

The original bronze wreaths and a red orb, once mounted at the top, have never been found. It was said that the light stayed on to guide the soldiers home and, for those who fell, to bring their spirits home. Aucklanders can read the names of those who ‘gave their all in the cause of liberty and freedom.’

Kōrimurimu weaves art with technology, creating a world-first

Another much-anticipated detail has been installed at Te Wānanga in downtown Auckland. Woven green safety-webbing is now secured across an opening in the deck suspended above the water.

The name given to the piece is Kōrimurimu, meaning to be covered in seaweed. Rimurimu is a seaweed which is native to Te Waitematā

Mayor Phil Goff says, “Aucklanders are encouraged to lie on the flax-like surface of Kōrimurimu, breathe in the sea air, look up to the sky and hear the movement of the tide below.

“This is a fantastic innovation for Auckland’s new, world-class waterfront, which has been incredibly popular since it opened on 2 July.

“The combination of traditional Māori art and weaving with modern materials and inventive design has created a striking and enjoyable space for Aucklanders.

Artist Tessa Harris with her mokopuna enjoying Kōrimurimu at Te Wānanga.

“It’s a great reason to visit Te Wānanga and our renewed and upgraded downtown waterfront public space,” he says.

This innovative work is by artist Tessa Harris (Ngai Tai ki Tāmaki) in a co-design with Isthmus, taking traditional Māori weaving and reinventing it using hi-tech materials in a super-sized scale for a public place.

It is the product of a collaboration between Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Isthmus (designers), Airey Consultants (structural engineers), Cookes (manufacturer) and Mana whenua.

Tessa Harris explains that Kōrimurimu is a visual ecological response. She says the work lends itself to remembering a time when our shores were covered in seaweed and fish were abundant.

“We wanted to highlight the decline of seaweed in our waters, a principal food source for many fish species now also in decline,” she says.

This mahi toi takes traditional raranga Māori (weaving) and elements of Kōrimurimu and the kupenga (net) customarily used for fishing to tell the story.

Forming a bond between the land and the sea, Te Wānanga is on the seaward side of Quay Street at the epicentre of Auckland’s waterfront.

Councillor Chris Darby says bringing traditional weaving techniques and contemporary materials together like this in an unexpected and playful way is believed to be a first.

“It is important for us to deliver spaces that are uniquely Tāmaki Makaurau. Our design and construction teams have worked side by side with Mana whenua every step of the way to achieve this exciting outcome.

“We are grateful to Mana whenua for so generously sharing their stories of place, histories, values and ideas throughout this design process. What a beautiful space. Deeply layered with meaning, it’s in a class of its own,” he says.

Programme Director Downtown Eric van Essen says: “Throughout the design, engineering, manufacture and installation of Kōrimurimu, meticulous attention has been given to every aspect.

“I’m delighted we have brought Tessa’s original concept to reality. It’s a beautiful and intricately made piece. It might even prove to be the most popular element of the new space. It’s certainly one of the most unique,” he says.

Newly installed Kōrimurimu is now open for Aucklanders and visitors to experience.