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Unitec - Te Pātaka Art Trail Opening - October to December 2022 - PAGE ONE
Te Pātaka
This project brings together mauri rocks from the rivers from which Wairaka
comes, which were gathered over two weeks from Te Puna o Te Waikamihi
(Sacred Spring of Te Tawera), Te Awa o Te Atua (River of the Gods),
Te Awa o Rangitaiki (Rangitaiki River). A mauri stone was also collected from
the Three Kings area, where Rakataura founded the Aquifer where the spring begins.
"Te Pātaka Art Trail is a community project involving the development of a 3-month long
programme of public art and creative placemaking activities in the current and former
campus areas of Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka (Unitec Institute of Technology)
at Ōwairaka (Mt. Albert).
The trail is intended to encourage public engagement with significant heritage, cultural
and environmental qualities of the site, such as Te Wai Unuroa o Wairaka, Te Auaunga
and Rangimarie PāHarakeke, at a time of unprecedented housing intensification
and urban change.
Serving as a prototype for the future, the trail took place between October and December
2022 and included a multidisciplinary programme of events and activations."
re-produced from the dedicated website (link)
Pouroto Ngaropō, PhD, MNZM - Tohunga, Founder, Chairman, Leader of Te Tawera Hapū,
Iramoko Marae, Ngāti Awa Ki Te Awa o Te Atua.
As a descendant of Wairaka, he is deeply connected to the stream and site.
Mrs Mataora (Cook Island Consulate), Leon Tan (School of Creative Industries, Unitec),
Pouroto Ngaropo (Chairman Te Tawera), Martin Cooper (Te Kei o Te Waka o Tainui),
Godfrey Rudolph, Ngaire Lasika (Kīngitanga Representative),
Keu Mataora (Cook Island Consulate), Maara Maeva (Mauke Representative),
Mereana Hona (Te Tawera Representative) and
Jody Hiroti (Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa and Te Tawera Representative).