Te Pae ō Ōruamōkai Narrative Wall
2026
The Narrative Wall at Te Pae ō Ōruamōkai | Upper Waitematā Marine Centre was created to honour Te Kawerau ā Maki, the tangata whenua of Te Onekiritea (Hobsonville Point) and long‑standing kaitiaki of the Upper Waitematā. The land on which the Marine Centre stands is part of their ancestral takiwā, a place woven with deep cultural, spiritual, and historical connections to both the land and the sea. Developed in close partnership with Te Kawerau ā Maki, the Narrative Wall shares these stories with the community and celebrates the iwi’s enduring relationship with this coastline.
At the heart of the concept is the hue — a calabash or gourd traditionally used to store precious items. In this project, the hue symbolises a vessel of mātauranga (knowledge and wisdom) and kōrero tuku iho (stories, myths, and ancestral teachings). Its vine, te aka hue, becomes the guiding design element. The centre’s board‑and‑batten façade, designed by Strachan Group Architects, was reimagined so that the battens at the entry twist and braid like the vine of the hue, creating a woven structure that holds the narrative panels.
Within this weave sit two carved symbols that express the meeting of land and sea at Te Onekiritea:
Ki Uta — the view from sea to land, represented by a triangular form inspired by ancient landmarks and the ranges of Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa.
Ki Tai — the view from land to sea, represented by a diamond form reflecting the obsidian sparkle of Te Waitematā.
Designed by Te Kawerau ā Maki artist Tyler Taua‑Gordon and CNC‑carved into the timber battens, these symbols anchor the narrative physically and conceptually. Five leaf‑shaped panels sit within the braided structure, sharing stories of the takiwā, the iwi’s long history here, and the gifting of the name Te Pae ō Ōruamōkai — a reference to the watching or gathering place at the lair of Mōkai, a taniwha who protects the inner harbour.
The Narrative Wall is the first step in a wider cultural landscape for the Marine Centre. It supports the restoration of iwi presence at Te Onekiritea following historical land loss and ensures that the stories of this place are visible to all who visit. In 2027, Te Kawerau ā Maki plan to install a Pou Whenua on the waterfront, standing in direct dialogue with the wall and further anchoring their identity and guardianship at this important coastal site.
Together, these elements create a place where land and sea, past and future, community and culture meet — a place to learn, gather, and continue our shared journey of growth.
What we did
Storytelling
Concept Design
Detail Design
Prototyping
Design for construction