The rising of the Matariki star cluster heralds the beginning of the Māori new year. It is during this time that we acknowledge those who have passed on, spend time with families and prepare for the year ahead.

The sustainable lighting display tells the story of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and their story of Matariki rising with the whakataukī of ahi-kā-roa (burning fires).

Hikaia ngā ahi o Matariki Hikaia ngā ahi o Te Kahu Tōpuni o Tuperiri. (Light the ceremonial fires of Matariki Light the ceremonial fires of our lands).

Sitting inside is a giant-scale stainless steel sculpture of Captain James Cook, the first European explorer to chart New Zealand (1769). Cook’s feet are not touching the ground as he did not set foot on Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland).

Surrounding Cook are clusters of neon lights, ‘chandeliers’ but not ones that hang from the ceiling but that represent the star constellations.

This is a site for regular, contemporary public art programming. It is a 110-metre-long, 13-metre-high light wall that wraps around the western façade of the port’s car handling building. It is visible from busy Quay Street, city wharves, local buildings, and the water.

Pictured: Pūtahitanga kura 2021, Abigail Aroha Jensen (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare, Te Whānau-a-Tuwhakairiora, Belfast, Ballymena) and Georgina Watson (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Mutunga, Moriori, Portuguese, French, British)

Created for Matariki -Pūtahitanga kura, pictured, traces bi-cultural lines - ancestries, boundaries, histories and stories as they meet in our urban environment.

Turama is a series of six works created to celebrate Matariki (Māori new year). Māori follow the maramataka Māori lunar calendar rather than the European calendar, so the dates for Matariki change each year, usually June-July depending on the rise of the star cluster in the winter skies and the relevant moon phase.

Te Wehenga is a giant waharoa (gateway) marking where the land once met the sea. Face Te Waitematā Harbour and you’ll see symbolism of the Tangaroa and the moana (sea). Face Queen Street and plants and birds adorn the surface of the waharoa representing Tāne Mahuta.

Turama is a series of six works created to celebrate Matariki (Māori new year). Māori follow the maramataka Māori lunar calendar rather than the European calendar, so the dates for Matariki change each year, usually June-July depending on the rise of the star cluster in the winter skies and the relevant moon phase.

Inspired by manu (native birds) by artist Fred Graham, Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, these two flocks of manu dance above the street forming a chorus of birdsong. These works celebrate manu whose characteristics are seen by Māori as a metaphor of our own individual personalities.

Turama is a series of six works created to celebrate Matariki (Māori new year). Māori follow the maramataka Māori lunar calendar rather than the European calendar, so the dates for Matariki change each year, usually June-July depending on the rise of the star cluster in the winter skies and the relevant moon phase.

This 9-meter-high work represents resident kaitiaki (guardian) figure Horotiu. The Queen Street valley and Te Wai Horotiu, its river, now buried under the street, were the domain of Horotiu, an enduring presence reminding us and challenging us to look after this valley.

These works were created to celebrate Matariki (Māori new year). Māori follow the maramataka Māori lunar calendar, rather than the European calendar, so the dates for Matariki change each year, usually June-July, depending on the rise of the star cluster in the winter skies and the relevant moon phase.

Pātaka kai (food storehouse) symbolism is suspended above the street in fluoro- neon art. One definition of the term Taurima is to treat with care. Taurima expresses this philosophy as part of Matariki ki te Manawa – Matariki at the heart - part of Matariki Festival.

These neon works were created to celebrate. Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori / Māori Language Week, Mahuru Māori is in the fourth lunar month of the Māori year - approximately equivalent to September.

There is a saying that says -
Ko te reo kia rere
Ko te reo kia tika
Ko te reo kia Māori
Let the language flow
Let the language be correct
Let the language come from a te ao Māori worldview.

Te ao Māori emphasises the importance of relationships between nature and people.

Snaking between Canada Street and Nelson Street, this 8.5-kilometer path provides safe passage for cyclists and pedestrians amidst Auckland motorways.

A redundant section of the Nelson Street motorway, it was repurposed as part of a city-wide campaign to make cycling safer. Entrance pou (pillars) and koru (spiral) designs by artist Katz Maihi supplement the 300 LED light towers affixed to the path’s railings. These are programmable and have motion sensors, so the lights respond to movement on the path.

The image shows a lighting design by 2018 manaaki iwi (hosts) Te Kawerau a Maki and Iion creative studio to celebrate Matariki, (Māori New Year). The programming changes via artist commissions and for special events.