The story of the new 100-metre mural at Ākau Tangi

The mural was planned in partnership with Te Āti Awa Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika as part of developing improved walking and biking connections in the area and the wider bike network. 

It spans the length of a building that borders the new walking and biking path beside Ākau Tangi Sports Centre that connects Tahitai, the coastal pathway around Evans Bay to Kilbirnie, Rongotai and Lyall Bay. 

The name of the mural, Tāwaha ki Te Ao Mārama, when translated means, ‘realms to the world of light’ and speaks to the physical connection of people to the land and water while acknowledging a spiritual connection to the earth and the universe.  

This is closely linked to the name of Ākau Tangi, which speaks to the sound and energy of the wind and waves crashing along the coastline. The name is made up of two parts – Te Ākau, meaning the coast, and Tangi, to make sound, cry out.  

The circular forms of the mural represent the array of realms that mana whenua connect to spiritually and physically, says Len.

“The blues and greens represent the waters and lands, and the fiery oranges and golds, the inner belly of mother earth acknowledges the mana whenua narrative of Te Ara Tupua and the pathways created by Whātaitai and Ngake, the two seismic activity phenomenas that formed Te Whanganui-a-Tara."

Len says visualising stories is an important way to educate people and to uplift the prominence and mana of space and place. For this project, the artwork uplifts Ākau Tangi. 

“The design was developed over six months and refined over another couple of months to ensure the composition worked and the impact would be strong. The wall was painted black before the artwork, printed on Aluminium Composition Material and then was installed panel by panel. The installation process took around five weeks.

“Tāwaha ki Te Ao Mārama speaks to the cultural heritage of this area, the narrative expressed through design, form, and colour. Integrating art into the environment enables us, Te Āti Awa – Taranaki Whānui, to articulate our heritage, traditions, and spiritual connections back to te taiao. Artworks act as powerful enablers, connecting the past to the present.”

Look for more artworks with auripo and kowhaiwhai at the neighbouring Ākau Tangi Sports Centre, and within Parliament Grounds and at other sites across Te Whanganui-a-Tara. These designs acknowledge the presence of mana whenua and speak to the cultural heritage of the wider region. 

The Council would like to acknowledge Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, SB Maintenance, DZine Signs, and the Kilbirnie, Rongotai and Lyall Bay Business Group for their support of this project, and Wingnut Films Productions for permitting the work on their wall.