Tāmaki herenga waka, Tāmaki herenga tāngata – Tāmaki, the gathering place of waka and people.

Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Britomart Group, Angus Muir Design, and Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland Council are pleased to present Tūhono for the enjoyment of all Aucklanders. Tūhono is the initial stage of a new immersive ara toi (art trail) that will form an ongoing part of our collective celebration of Matariki, the Māori new year, and integrates with the existing Matariki lightworks within the City Centre. 

These new works created by ringa toi (artist) Arama Tamariki-Enua (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Tumu-te-Varovaro (Rarotonga), Ara’ura (Aitutaki)) link together a string of culturally significant sites along the downtown waterfront area of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, linking Te Kōmititanga at the base of the Waihorotiu valley, through Takutai Square the heart of Britomart Precinct to Te Tōangaroa, the first tangata whenua urban precinct. 

Tūhono means “to tie together” and presents a succession of works which assume the form of a metaphoric waka, highlighting oceanic journeys of migration, trade and wellbeing for tangata whenua and tangata moana for this area, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Located in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau, where Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have upheld their ahi kā (continuous occupation), the trail draws a visual and spiritual line toward Takaparawhau, the ancestral stronghold where Tumutumuwhenua, their whare tupuna, proudly stands.

The story culminates at Te Tōangaroa in a spectacular laser projection mapped onto the eight-storey Nesuto building, located at the corner of Beach Road and Tangihua Street. Here, the narrative is brought to life through a striking digital display that fuses traditional Māori design with contemporary innovation. 

Inspired by the carving styles of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, the projection uses organic, serpent-like forms arranged in a hive-like pattern to evoke the presence of a hidden war party lying in wait. These circular motifs evolve into star-like shapes—a subtle homage to Matariki—suggesting both celestial guidance and ancestral presence. 

The work is rendered in a bold 2D geometric style that embraces digital media while reflecting the layered passage of time. Grounded in cultural motifs yet expressed through modern techniques, the projection embodies the evolving language of Māori design—blending whakapapa with future-facing creativity. 

As light ripples across the building’s façade, the story of arrival, ambush, and triumph unfolds—honouring those who reclaimed the land and the enduring connections that tie people to place. 

More than a visual spectacle, the laser show is a reclaiming of urban space, a projection of identity, and an invitation for all to bear witness to the rise of warriors in light and sound. 

Te Mātahi o te Tau is a light installation at Te Tōangaroa, designed by Extended Whānau and Angus Muir Design to celebrate Matariki. The installation is a luminous gathering point for our urban community in the heart of our precinct at Māhuhu ki te Rangi Park. A place to come together, reflect on the year that’s passed, and to look to the future.

For Māori, the cross hatches on tukutuku panel often represent stars shining in the night sky. This installation acknowledges that connection between whetū (stars) and whatu (weaving). Strands of light weave together to create the star Matariki, and a colourful lightshow takes us on a journey through Te Iwa o Matariki (The Nine Stars of Matariki).

It’s grounded in our Māori roots, while being firmly planted in our urban precinct, Te Tōangaroa.