Tāmaki Makaurau, herehere waka, herehere tāngata. Tāmaki, the gathering place of waka, the gathering place of people.
Te Wānanga is the newest downtown public space, a beautiful spot for all to enjoy close to transport hubs and connecting the land to the sea. The new space is an elevated coastal shelf, with tidal pool apertures letting light into the depths below. Mature pōhutukawa and native gardens float above Te Waitematā, providing shade and space to relax.
Two unique features can be found at Te Wānanga. Kōrimurimu is the woven green webbing that is secured across an opening in the deck suspended above the water, where you can sit with the movement of the tide and the salty sea air coming up from below. The name given to the piece is Kōrimurimu, meaning to be covered in seaweed. Rimurimu is a seaweed which is native to Te Waitematā. 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.
Peering down into the tidal pool apertures, you can see a series of seeded mussel lines. These are here to monitor aquatic health and help filter the seawater in the ferry basin.
Come and explore the new Downtown waterfront!